Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne 2023
Latest News from the Race
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10 conclusions from Opening Weekend 2022
Jumbo-Visma emerge as a force, QuickStep falter, Sagan suffers, Russian invasion of Ukraine not forgotten -
Arkea-Samsic continue UCI points quest with Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne podium
Hofstetter grabs third in sprint finish as McLay finishes fourth and Capiot seventh -
A close up of the new Cervélo S5: Tiesj Benoot's bike from Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
Subtle updates to headset and seat tube areas for Cervélo's latest aero bike
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne is a one-day race in Belgium that forms part of the Spring Classics campaign.
Together with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on the preceding Saturday, it forms part of what's known as the Opening Weekend of the Belgian Classics season – a tone-setter ahead of the bigger prizes to be won in the main spring period.
While the Omloop shares a similar race identity to the Tour of Flanders, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne is more geared towards the sprinters, with Mark Cavendish a two-time winner.
That has been changing in recent years as the organisers have sought to intensify the route and racing has become more open, but two of the last four editions have culminated in bunch sprints, with Fabio Jakobsen and Mads Pedersen speeding to glory.
As indicated by the name, the race starts and finishes in Kuurne, but, although it heads southeast through the Flemish Ardennes, it doesn't come anywhere near Brussels.
The winner of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne receives a toy donkey, stemming from the not-so-affectionate nickname for locals of this sleepy town just outside of Kortrijk.
2023 Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne teams
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Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne race history
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne was first held in 1945 and is now about to hold its 74th edition.
Valère Olivier was the first winner and Belgians have gone on to dominate the race, with a total of 53 home winners. Of them, the decorated Tom Boonen holds the record of three victories, in 2007, 2009, and 2014.
The late February date has often seen wintery conditions, and the race has had to be cancelled on three occasions: 1986, 1993, and 2013. That makes it 73 editions in the past 76 years, but there have in fact been 74 winners, with Alfred De Bruyne and Leon Van Daele sharing the honours in 1961 after a close finish that the officials were unable to call.
# | Rider Name (Country) Team |
---|---|
2022 | Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck-QuickStep |
2021 | Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo |
2020 | Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-Quickstep |
2019 | Bob Jungels (Lux) Deceuninck-Quickstep |
2018 | Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo |
2017 | Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe |
2016 | Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo |
2015 | Mark Cavendish (GBr) Etixx–Quick-Step |
2014 | Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step |
2013 | No race due to snow |
2012 | Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Sky |
Stages
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Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne 202326 February 2023 | Kuurne | 1.Pro
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Elite Men2023-02-26
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Latest Content on the Race

10 conclusions from Opening Weekend 2022
By Daniel Ostanek, Patrick Fletcher last updated
Analysis Jumbo-Visma emerge as a force, QuickStep falter, Sagan suffers, Russian invasion of Ukraine not forgotten

Caleb Ewan ‘comfortable’ on Kuurne climbs in Milan-San Remo omen
By Patrick Fletcher last updated
News Australian outsprinted by Jakobsen but takes heart after COVID-19 setback

Arkea-Samsic continue UCI points quest with Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne podium
By Daniel Ostanek last updated
News Hofstetter grabs third in sprint finish as McLay finishes fourth and Capiot seventh

A close up of the new Cervélo S5: Tiesj Benoot's bike from Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
By Josh Croxton published
Pro Bike Subtle updates to headset and seat tube areas for Cervélo's latest aero bike

Six kids and a dad: Ineos' new Classics generation shines at Opening Weekend
By Patrick Fletcher published
Feature 'If we continue racing like that, eventually it will pay off' says 19-year-old Magnus Sheffield

Jumbo-Visma and Laporte miss Opening Weekend double by 50 metres
By Daniel Ostanek published
News 'I didn't miss much, just a bit of success' says Frenchman after debut with team at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne

Jakobsen: We're fighting on the bike but in Ukraine guys like me are fighting for freedom
By Daniel Ostanek published
News Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne winner reflects on Russo-Ukrainian War after beating Ewan

Van der Hoorn's three-month prep for Kuurne breakaway almost bears fruit
By Josh Croxton published
news 'I planned already in November to go in the break here' says Dutchman after finishing 10th
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Top News on the Race
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Van der Hoorn's three-month prep for Kuurne breakaway almost bears fruit
'I planned already in November to go in the break here' says Dutchman after finishing 10th -
Jakobsen: We're fighting on the bike but in Ukraine guys like me are fighting for freedom
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne winner reflects on Russo-Ukrainian War after beating Ewan -
Tom Pidcock: I made too many mistakes at Opening Weekend
'Benoot took me out of the break at Kuurne' says Ineos rider
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Jakobsen not necessarily Plan A for QuickStep-AlphaVinyl at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
Dutch sprinter joins team for Sunday's race after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 'wake-up call' for Belgian squad -
Kasper Asgreen: It's not only us and Jumbo-Visma at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
QuickStep-AlphaVinyl co-leader downplays own chances after missing training days earlier this month -
Jakobsen dismisses idea of a QuickStep-AlphaVinyl sprinter rivalry with Cavendish
'In the end, it's always the best that goes to the Tour' says Dutchman
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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad comes too soon for Sep Vanmarcke
Off-season knee injury means Belgian has done 50 days less training -
Asgreen and Jakobsen lead QuickStep-AlphaVinyl at Opening Weekend
Declercq misses Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne with heart pericarditis -
Lefevere: Deceuninck-QuickStep can beat Van Aert and Van der Poel by isolating them
'Everybody knows me, I like winning'
Related Features
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10 conclusions from Opening Weekend 2022
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Six kids and a dad: Ineos' new Classics generation shines at Opening Weekend
'If we continue racing like that, eventually it will pay off' says 19-year-old Magnus Sheffield -
10 riders to watch at Opening Weekend 2022
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2021 Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne - Start list
Starters as of February 27, 2021