We go again. The second instalment of Belgium's Opening Weekend presents a slightly different challenge to Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne always offers an immediate chance of redemption for those who fell short on Saturday. QuickStep-AlpaVinyl, as flagged before this weekend, don't have an unblemished track record at Omloop, despite wins in 2019 and 2021, and yesterday's showing was rather in keeping with their displays there in the Tom Boonen era. In the Boonen era, however, QuickStep also developed the useful habit of responding by winning in Kuurne the following day - Tommeke won here three times, after all - and we can surely expect the empire to look to strike back this afternoon.
There’s no Oude Kwaremont on the route this year, as Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne undergoes something of a refresh, but the basic tenets of the race remain intact. The peloton leaves Kuurne, splinters as it tackles thirteen hellingen and then has a chance to regroup on the flat 50km run-in, which features a lap of a 12.5km finishing circuit in Kuurne.
Patrick Fletcher has all the details in his race preview:
There are a total of 13 climbs on the menu, the last of which tops out some 52km. Despite the claims of a 'renewed route', the final 50-plus kilometres give it a similar overall complexion to previous editions.
The riders set out and make their way to the paved slopes of the Tiegemberg before heading for a new climb in the form of the Kattenberg and then ticking off the Boembeek. The first real string of climbs comes between 120 and 110 kilometres to go, with the Bossenaarstraat, Berg Ten Houte, and La Houppe.
There's then a 20km jolt over into Wallonia, for a phase of the race that could suit the audacious. Three new climbs - Hameau des Papins, Le Bourliquet, and Mont Saint-Laurent - come in the space of 14km. Of the three, the latter looks the most brutal, with an average gradient of nearly eight per cent, pitches of 17 per cent, and rough curving cobblestones.
From there, the race heads back into Flanders on a 10km stretch before the decisive phase of the race. With 68km to go, they'll take on the Kruisberg, followed immediately by Hotond. It's then onto the Côte de Trieu - also known as Knoketeberg - and Kluisberg, which tops out 52.3km to the line.
The peloton will be flagged away from Kuurne at 12.06 local time and is scheduled to reach kilometre zero at 12.15 for the official start of the 195km race.
2021 winner Mads Pedersen is an absentee, leaving his Trek-Segafredo teammate and 2016 winner Jasper Stuyven to wear dossard number 1. Omloop winner Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) has also opted out of today’s race, but Tiesj Benoot is on hand. Ineos again line out with Tom Pidcock, Ethan Hayter and Jhonatan Narvaez, while Greg Van Avermaert and Oliver Naesan form AG2R’s leadership duo, and Bahrain Victorious field Sonny Colbrelli, Matej Mohoric and Heinrich Haussler.
Fast finishers in the field include Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies), Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Fenix) and Caleb Ewan (Lottto Soudal), who skipped the UAE Tour to come here. Fabio Jakobsen’s sprint is a key part of QuickStep-AlphaVinyl’s strategy, though men like 2020 winner Kasper Asgreen, Zdenek Stybar and Yves Lampaert will be keen to put yesterday’s disappointment to rights.
(Image credit: Daniel Ostanek)
Tom Pidcock was aggressive yesterday as part of the first four-man move that went with Wout van Aert, but he couldn't respond when the Belgian attacked at the foot of the Bosberg.
"When Van Aert attacked, it was a bit stupid I didn’t follow, that climb wasn’t one of my favourites. In the end, I sat up and I shouldn’t do that. But when I was in the four-man group, that showed the level and shape I had," Pidcock said at the start in Kuurne. "There are quite a few sprinters here that are changed from yesterday. There’ll be a few teams wanting to ride for a sprint today, but we’re one of the teams who don’t want that, we’ll be looking to upset that."
(Image credit: Daniel Ostanek)
Caleb Ewan and the sprinters will be glad of the clear blue skies overhead. The weather conditions certainly don't appear conducive to breaking up the race. "I haven’t raced in Belgium so much so my knowledge isn’t so good but a few days ago, I did the last 100k so I got to see some of the important climbs. The thing is, I’ve got a very good team around me so I’ll be relying on them to keep me in position," said Ewan. "This race can go either way, sometimes it can be a big bunch sprint. There’s probably three sprinters who can win from a sprint: Jakobsen, Merlier and me. So I think other teams will race aggressively in the middle part of the course but hopefully it will come back for a sprint."
The peloton has been flagged away from Kuurne and is making its way through the neutralised zone. They are scheduled to hit kilometre zero at 12.15 local time.
Here's the running order for the climbs on today's parcours:
1. Tiegemberg – 17.1km
2. Katteberg – 35.2km
3. Boembeek – 56.6km
4. Bossenaarstraat – 75km
5. Berg Ten Houte – 78.4km
6. La Houppe – 85.5km
7. Hameau des Papin – 103.4km
8. Le Bourliquet – 112.3km
9. Mont Saint-Laurent – 117.3km
10. Kruisberg – 126.9km
11. Hotond – 128.1km
12. Côte du Trieu – 135.5km
13. Kluisberg – 142.8km
-195km
The peloton has reached kilometre zero and the 2022 Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne is formally underway.
There has been a typically rapid start to proceedings since kilometre zero, with a flurry of early attacks. A group of eight riders has detatched itself from the bunch, but it's too soon to say if they will be granted permission to establish themselves.
-190km
And the eight would-be escapees have duly been brought to heel.
-186km
Lluís Mas (Movistar) attacks alone and opens a small gap over the peloton, but he will need some company if he is going to stay away for any distance.
-181km
The reinforcements duly arrive for Mas in the shape of Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Wessel Krul (Human Powered Health), Arjen Livyns, Bas Tietema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Jules Hesters (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise). This looks set to be the day's early break.
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Wessel Krul (Human Powered Health), Arjen Livyns, Bas Tietema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Jules Hesters (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) are on the day's first climb, the Tiegemberg, and their advantage is already approaching two minutes.
-175km
Break:
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Wessel Krul (Human Powered Health), Arjen Livyns, Bas Tietema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Jules Hesters (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise).
Peloton at 2:10
Bas Tietema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) previously rode for the BMC development team, An Post and Beat Cycling before stepping away from racing and launching a cycling-based YouTube channel. Bingoal is among the channel’s sponsors and this winter, he trained with the team with a view to returning to racing and turning professional. And now, here he is in the break at Kuurne. The Dutchman has some pedigree, having placed third at the under-23 Paris-Roubaix in 2014, a race won by Mike Teunissen.
-173km
Lotto Soudal take up the reins in the peloton on behalf of Caleb Ewan, who is firmly among the favourites for today. His lone previous appearance was his 15th place in 2016, but he has two wins so far in 2022 and he is building steadily towards another tilt at Milan-San Remo to boot.
-171km
Break:
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Wessel Krul (Human Powered Health), Arjen Livyns, Bas Tietema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Jules Hesters (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise).
Peloton at 2:35
The break hits the day's second climb, the Kattenberg, with a lead of 2:35 over the peloton.
-160km
A crash in the peloton, and Raphael Parisella (B&B Hotels-KTM) is the rider affected. The Montreal native has been forced to abandon the race.
The peloton clatters along the cobbles of Holleweg as the race heads towards Brakel, home of two-time Tour of Flanders winner Peter Van Petegem. 'De zwarte van Brakel' also had a very useful record on Opening Weekend. He won Omloop Het Volk in 1997, 1998 and 2002, and he landed Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne in 2001, when he was with American squad Mercury-Viatel.
-155km
The break's lead over the peloton contracted slightly on the cobbles, and it now stands at 2:10.
Sonny Colbrelli, Stefan Küng and Tim Merlier have all sought assistance from their team cars in recent kilometres, but there is no particular urgency in the peloton at this early juncture and they are quickly back in the body of the bunch.
-149km
Break:
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Wessel Krul (Human Powered Health), Arjen Livyns, Bas Tietema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Jules Hesters (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise).
Peloton at 1:50
(Image credit: Daniel Ostanek)
This was Tim Merlier's assessment at the start in Kuurne: "There are a lot of possibilities. There could be echelons, attacks from riders, we could have a sprint, so we need to be in front all day. My tactic? Just to follow the peloton all day and survive the climbs, and hope I can be in front at the important points."
Taco van der Hoorn leads the break at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. (Image credit: Getty)
-145km
Van der Hoorn and company have nudged their lead back out above two minutes as they head towards the day's third climb, the Boembeek.
-138km
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Wessel Krul (Human Powered Health), Arjen Livyns, Bas Tietema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Jules Hesters (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) are over the Boembeek with a lead of 2:15 over the peloton.
QuickStep-AlphaVinyl struggled to make an impact at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad yesterday, with Florian Senechal their best placed rider in 9th. They don't always get it right at Omloop, of course, but they very often make amends in Kuurne. “It’s not the first time at the Opening Weekend… we have a love-hate relationship with it,” Steels told Cyclingnews in Ninove yesterday. The directeur sportif's preferred response to the Omloop setback is also to be commended: “Patience, and a good glass of wine.” Patrick Fletcher has the full story here.
As planned, Fabio Jakobsen slots into the QuickStep line-up today and he will the team's sprint option, even if he insisted he was not necessarily the leader. "I am a plan," he said. "I don't know which letter, but we've got more letters in the team. The year when Kasper went [2020 — the second solo success in a row for QuickStep], I knew behind to just stay calm and be ready if I need to sprint. This year will be the same." Daniel Ostanek has more here.
(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
-127km
Break:
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Wessel Krul (Human Powered Health), Arjen Livyns, Bas Tietema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Jules Hesters (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise)
Peloton at 2:20
Jasper De Buyst (Lotto Soudal) is a faller in the peloton, but the Belgian is back on his bike and he remains in the race.
Lotto Soudal are clearly here to ride for a bunch sprint and one imagines that scenario also constitutes plan A for QuickStep, despite Fabio Jakobsen's suggestion to the contrary. Alpecin-Fenix and Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert will also surely want a bunch sprint, but perhaps Ineos will prove the day's aggressors. Ethan Hayter and Tom Pidcock can both finish well, of course, but they'll be looking to get rid of Ewan, Jakobsen, Merlier et al before the run-in to Kuurne.
-120km
Durbridge, Van der Hoorn and company are over the Bossenaarstraat and now headed for the day's fifth climb, the Berg Ten Houte. Their advantage has yawned out slightly to 2:38.
Tom Pidcock began his road season at the recent Volta ao Algarve and has stated that Strade Bianche is his first target of 2022, but he was very active at Omloop yesterday, joining Van Aert, Benoot and his teammate Jhonatan Narvaez on the offensive ahead on the Berendries. Later, he would regret not following Van Aert on the Bosberg, and he placed 18th in Ninove. "When Van Aert went, I probably should have gone with him, but that climb is the climb that suits me least in the whole race so I was a little bit apprehensive,” Pidcock said. “I thought I would wait and follow the group, so yeah, that was probably a mistake." Patrick Fletcher has more here.
(Image credit: Getty)
-110km
Ben Healy, so impressive in the break yesterday, has attacked from the peloton in the company of his EF Education-EasyPost teammate Julius van den Berg. They have 10 seconds on the bunch ahead of La Houppe.
The EF tandem is riding strongly and rapidly recouping ground on the early break. They have closed to within a minute of Durbridge, Mas, Van der Hoorn et al.
-105km
Break:
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Wessel Krul (Human Powered Health), Arjen Livyns, Bas Tietema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Jules Hesters (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise)
Chasers at 0:44:
Ben Healy, Julius van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost)
Peloton at 1:52
-102km
Van den Berg and Healy are on the cusp of joining the leaders at the head of the race, as the Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne parcours dips into Wallonia for some more hills. The remaining climbs are:
7. Hameau des Papin – 103.4km
8. Le Bourliquet – 112.3km
9. Mont Saint-Laurent – 117.3km
10. Kruisberg – 126.9km
11. Hotond – 128.1km
12. Côte du Trieu – 135.5km
13. Kluisberg – 142.8km
-100km
And then there were nine. The EF-EasyPost duo make it across to the front group, and just in time for the start of live television pictures to boot.
Situation
Break:
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Wessel Krul (Human Powered Health), Arjen Livyns, Bas Tietema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Jules Hesters (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Ben Healy, Julius van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost)
Peloton at 1:59
-97km
The speed is picking up in the peloton ahead of the climb of Hameau des Papin, with Ineos setting the tempo. The toughest portion of the route is approaching and this is Ineos' chance to rid themselves of some of the established fast men. The break's lead, meanwhile, has dropped to 1:25.
Bas Tietema's adventure off the front comes to an end. The Dutchman is dropped by the break, leaving eight riders at the head of the race.
-95km
Break:
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Arjen Livyns (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Jules Hesters (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Ben Healy, Julius van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost)
Peloton at 1:23
Wessel Krul (Human Powered Health) has also been dropped by the break, as the pace and the terrain begins to take its toll.
-94km
The escapees begin the new climb of Hameau des Papin, and the stiffness of the gradient is evident. The break's lead is dropping precipitously now, with the bunch just 37 seconds behind.
Kasper Asgreen moves to the front of the bunch for QuickStep on this climb as the men in blue and white join Ineos in the pace-making effort on the Hameau des Papin.
-93km
Ineos line out the bunch over the top, while their designated fast man Ethan Hayter is sitting towards the rear. Caleb Ewan, incidentally, is safely tucked near tthe front of the bunch.
Ineos' forcing continues to bring the bunch ever closer to the escapees. The gap drops to 25 seconds as the intensity rises another notch.
Caleb Ewan said at the start that the critical juncture in this race started with 97km to go, and the Australian has been prominent near the front since that moment. Ineos continue to lead, while QuickStep have massed with intent behind them.
-89km
Break:
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Arjen Livyns (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Jules Hesters (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Ben Healy, Julius van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost)
Peloton at 0:30
Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies) was off the pace yesterday but today's route is more to his liking as he works his way back to full fitness after COVID-19 interrupted his preparation for 2022. The three-time world champion is tucked in near tthe head of the bunch. The peloton split, incidentally, due to Ineos' earlier forcing, but it looks as though hte second group is in the process of latching back on.
-86km
The pace relents slightly in the now reformed peloton, and the break's lead stretches back out to 48 seconds, but we can expect the intensity to rise all over again on the next climb, Le Bourliquet.
Jannik Steimle and Kasper Asgreen take up the pace at the head of the peloton for QuickStep-AlphaVinyl as the break hits Le Bourliquet with 55 seconds of an advantage.
A mechanical issue for Yves Lampaert, who lays his bike on the roadside and takes a replacement. He is pushed off by Tom Steels as he rejoins the fray.
-85km
Jules Hesters (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) is dropped from the break, leaving six men in front: Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Arjen Livyns (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Ben Healy and Julius van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost). The escapees have just shy of a minute in hand on their pursuers.
There are no fireworks on Le Bourliquet in the peloton. The bunch spreads across the road and the pace is steady on the climb, which allows Lampaert to latch back on without undue distress.
-84km
Break:
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Arjen Livyns (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Ben Healy, Julius van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost)
Peloton at 1:10
-83km
The drop in urgency in the peloton is illustrated by Laurenz Rex (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), who attacks and sets off in lone pursuit of the break. The bunch appears content to leave the counter-attacker to it for the time being.
-80.5km
The six leaders hit the cobbled Mont-Saint-Laurent with 1:17 in hand on the bunch. The break is likely to lose some momentum on this ascent, and Healy - understandably, after his efforts yesterday - is distanced.
Ineos and QuickStep lead the bunch onto Mont Saint-Laurent, where they can see Rex just ahead of them on the road. There is an infusion of pace and the peloton stretches considerably.
Kasper Asgreen forces the pace on Mont Saint Laurent. Matej Mohoric, Tom Pidcock and Peter Sagan are among the riders well positioned near the head of the bunch, which is 1:03 down on the leaders.
-79km
Tom Pidcock takes over at the frontt after the climb. The Briton's turn stretches things out still further. Stefan Küng is on his wheel and Kasper Asgreen is also maintaining a watching brief.
After Pidcock swings over, his teammate Jhonatan Narvaez tests the waters with an acceleration. The Ecuadorian is pegged back, but the bunch is lined out behind and gaps are starting to open.
-77km
Ineos are present in numbers in the front part of the peloton. So too are QuickStep and Jumbo-Visma, who have Christophe Laporte in action today. Peter Sagan, Stefan Küng and Greg Van Avermaet are also aboard.
-76km
Break:
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Arjen Livyns (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Julius van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost)
Peloton at 0:52
It's worth noting that Caleb Ewan remains posted near the front of the peloton. The Australian hasn't missed a beat thus far.
-73km
Ineos' forcing has whittled down the peloton considerably but it appears that most of the established fast finishers are present in the first group. Ineos are now settting the pace alongside Bahrain Victorious, which suggests Jakobsen and Colbrelli are in place.
-72km
DSM lead the second portion of the peloton, which has made the junction with the front of the bunch just ahead of the Kruisberg, the day's tenth climb.
-71km
Break:
Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Arjen Livyns (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Julius van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost)
Peloton at 0:49
Julius van den Berg, like his teammate Healy, is dropped from the break on the Kruisberg. Ben Turner, meanwhile, presses hard on the front of the peloton, which has drawn within 28 seconds of the escapees.
Again, Caleb Ewan is perched comfortably near the head of the peloton. The Australian has dealt smoothly with all of the obstacles to this point, but a bunch sprint isn't yet guaranteed. There are three more climbs to come:
11. Hotond – 128.1km
12. Côte du Trieu – 135.5km
13. Kluisberg – 142.8km
-70km
From the Kruisberg, the race swings swiftly onto the Hotond, and this is one of the harshest double punches in this corner of the world. Ineos continue to force the pace in the peloton.
Kasper Asgreen accelerates on the Hotond. Küng, Colbrelli, Pidcock and Trentin are lined up on his wheel and the bunch is very, very stretched behind them.
-68km
The lined-out peloton draws to within 16 seconds of the escapees over the Hotond, and Pidcock and Küng are both keen to keep the pace high on the descent.
-66km
Four riders remain in front: Lluis Mas (Movistar), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco) and Arjen Livyns (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal. They have 15 seconds in hand on the peloton.
-65km
The peloton frayed to breaking point again on the Hotond, with various gaps emerging, but it looks as though the race is coming back together once again.
-63km
Olivier Le Gac (Groupama-FDJ) attacks off the front of the peloton and briefly threatens to bring a group with him, but QuickStep swiftly shut the move down.
-62km
Fabio Jakobsen and Caleb Ewan are both still in the peloton, which closes to within 12 seconds of the break at the foot on the Côte de Trieu...
Nathan Van Hooydonck (Jumbo-Visma) accelerates on the Trieu, and his effort has doomed the break and stretched the race out considerably. Kasper Asgreen sits on Van Hooydonck's wheel as they pass the break. His teammate Benoot lurks with intent just behind...
-61.5km
Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo-Visma) attacks alone on the Trieu and the Belgian crests the summit a slender lead over a sizeable peloton.
The bunch has splintered into three groups as Asgreen, Pidcock and Küng lead the pursuit of Benoot... These strongmen have rid themselves of Ewan, Jakobsen and the best sprinters, and this could be a turning point in the race...
-59km
Benoot has 5 seconds in hand on a group of fifteen or so riders, which includes his teammate Christophe Laporte, as well as Pidock, Narvaez, Kung, Kasper Asgreen and Matteo Trentin. A Lotto Soudal-led peloton is further back...
Benoot sits up and is caught by the group of strongmen. Israel Premier Tech, meanwhile, lead the peloton for Giacomo Nizzolo, 26 seconds down on the leaders.
-55km
There are 18 riders at the head of the race, with a lead of 25 seconds over the peloton. The men present include: Nathan Van Hooydonck, Tiesj Benoot, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Tom Pidcock, Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar), Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarche-Wanty) and Kasper Asgreen (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl). Missing from the group are Colbrelli, Ewan, Merlier and Jakobsen...
-54km
Jumbo-Visma drive the break onto the final climb of the Kluisberg with a lead of 35 seconds over the peloton... Tom Pidcock takes over as the gradient bites.
-53.5km
The leaders crest the summit of the Kluisberg with 37 seconds in hand on the bunch, and it's unclear who has the resources to marshal the pursuit on the run-in.
-50km
Break:
Nathan Van Hooydonck, Tiesj Benoot, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Tom Pidcock, Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), Tobias Ludvigsson, Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar), Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious), Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-Samsic), Kasper Asgreen (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), Dion Smith, Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Damien Touze (AG2R Citroën) and Arjen Livyns (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB)
Peloton at 0:50
The 18 escapees are over the last of the day's climbs, and they have 46 seconds in hand on the peloton, where Israel Premier Tech, Alpecin-Fenix and Lotto Soudal are the team's beginning to organise the chase.
-47km
The sprinters' teams will need to collaborate well here, because there are a lot of strongmen in this front group and, for the moment at least, not many passengers, even if the survivors of the day's early break must surely be flagging.
The Jumbo-Visma duo of Benoot and Van Hooydonck ride on behalf of Laporte at the head of the break, which is 44 seconds clear of the peloton.
-44km
It's a pursuit match between the 17 men in front and the Lotto and Alpecin-led peloton behind. 37 seconds the gap.
-43km
Break:
Nathan Van Hooydonck, Tiesj Benoot, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Tom Pidcock, Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), Tobias Ludvigsson, Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar), Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious), Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-Samsic), Kasper Asgreen (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Damien Touzé (AG2R Citroën) and Arjen Livyns (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB)
Peloton at 0:34
The break's lead is beginning to contract. Asgreen drops back to his team car, and one senses much will hinge on QuickSteo's approach from here. Fabio Jakobsen is in the peloton, and QuickStep will have a decision to make about whether to help the chase or play the Asgreen card out in front. For the time being, they're happy to see how Lotto conduct the pursuit.
-42km
Israel Premer Tech and Cofidis are also contributing to the pace-making in the bunch, which has closed to within 28 seconds of the break.
-40km
Break:
Nathan Van Hooydonck, Tiesj Benoot, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Tom Pidcock, Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), Tobias Ludvigsson, Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar), Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious), Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-Samsic), Kasper Asgreen (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Damien Touzé (AG2R Citroën) and Arjen Livyns (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB)
Peloton at 0:25
Despite the wattage in this break, the peloton is drawing inexorably nearer. Asgreen is content to slow things in the move on behalf of Jakobsen. Pidcock and Jumbo-Visma have been trying to mantain the momentum, but this move is starting to stall.
-37km
Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar) has had enough of the hesitancy in front group and he attacks. Van Hooydonck goes with him and then Asgreen drags the rest of the group up to them. Meanwhile, the peloton - now led by Bahrain - closes to 17 seconds.
-35.5km
The front group has split as a result of Garcia Cortina's effort, and Pidcock and Benoot are among those caught on the wrong side ahead of the cobbles at Beerbosstraat.
Matteo Trentin, meanwhile, leads the front of the race through the cobbles, stretching things out further. Van der Hoorn, Van Hooydonck, Wright, Narvaez, Wright, Laporte, Livyns, Asgreen, Ludvigsson and Küng are with him.
-33km
Pidcock, Durbridge and Benoot are caught by the peloton. The dozen riders lefft out in front still have 35 seconds in hand on the bunch.
-32km
Break:
Nathan Van Hooydonck, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), Tobias Ludvigsson, (Groupama-FDJ), Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar), Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious), Kasper Asgreen (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Damien Touzé (AG2R Citroën) and Arjen Livyns (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB)
Peloton at 0:35
Correction, Stefan Küng is the Groupama-FDJ rider in the front group. The Swiss rider powers through to the front to breathe life into their effort.
Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) and Arjen Livyns (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB) have been hugely impressive in this front group considering their efforts in the early break. They are still present as the move breaks up still further after Küng and Asgreen exchange accelerations.
-28km
Ivan Garcia Cortina, who kicked off the attacking in front group, has lost the wheels, and the Spaniard is giving lone chase behind his eleven companions.
-27km
Break:
Nathan Van Hooydonck, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar), Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious), Kasper Asgreen (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Damien Touzé (AG2R Citroën) and Arjen Livyns (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB)
Peloton at 0:36
-26km
Garcia Cortina battles back up to the front group, which is not working as smoothly as it could. Few will want to sprint against Trentin or Laporte, and the two fast finishers have deduced as much. Lapprte attacks from the break and Trentin follows with the remarkable Van der Hoorn on his wheel...
-25km
Asgreen leads the pursuit of Laporte, Trentin and Van der Hoorn. The chasing group splintered slightly as the riders navigated a sharp left-hand turn and some unhelpfully parked cars...
Asgreen brings the chasers back up to Laporte, Van der Hoorn and Trentin. Garcia Cortina, Skujins and Livyns have been shaken loose from the break, and they will struggle to latch back on.
-24km
Break:
Nathan Van Hooydonck, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious), Kasper Asgreen (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Damien Touzé (AG2R Citroën)
Skujins drags Garcia Cortina and Livyns back up to the front of the race, leaving a dozen riders again in the break. Matej Mohoric leads the chasing peloton on behalf of Sonny Colbrelli, but they still have 29 seconds to recoup on the leaders.
The pace relents slightly in the break. There is a lot of distrust among them, and one imagines that more accelerations are imminent.
-20km
Phil Bauhaus will be Bahrain's sprinter today, as Sonny Colbrelli comes to the front of the chasing peloton, which is now just 17 seconds down on the escapees.
The momentum has ebbed from this break. Fred Wright attacks in a bid to forge clear, but he is shut down by Touze and now the peloton is almost upon them...
-19km
Lotto Soudal take over at the head of the bunch on behalf of Caleb Ewan. They are just 8 seconds down on the break, and the stage looks set for a bunch finish.
Asgreen and Trentin knock off the pace at the front. Van Hooydonck tries to stoke the embers with an acceleration, but this break doesn't look like igniting all over again, despite his efforts.
Christophe Laporte now kicks, with Jhonatan Narvaez on his wheel. This duo opens a small lead over the rest of the break, while the peloton thunders ever closer.
-17.5km
The irrepressible Taco van der Hoorn makes it a three-man front group with Laporte and Narvaez. Van der Hoorn has a decent track record at upsetting sprinters on finishing circuits, but he surely can't work the oracle again this time...
-16km
Break:
Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) and Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma)
Peloton at 0:10
-15km
The rest of the break has been swept up by the bunch, leaving Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) and Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) out in front with 10 seconds in hand on the peloton.
It appears that most of the established sprinters are in this peloton: Caleb Ewan, Fabio Jakobsen, Giacomo Nizzolo, Peter Sagan, Tim Merlier and Phil Bauhaus are all visible near the front.
-13.5km
Laporte, Narvaez and Van der Hoorn cross the finish line for the first time. They have 8 seconds in hand on the bunch as they take the bell with 13.5km remaining. Sonny Colbrelli leads the peloton on behalf of Bauhaus.
QuickStep-AlphaVinyl hit the front of the peloton on behalf of Fabio Jakobsen. Lotto Soudal are also still contributing to the chase of Laporte, Narvaez and Van der Hoorn.
-12km
Van der Hoorn, Narvaez and Laporte are still swapping turns and still clutching determinedly to their 11-second buffer over the peloton.
-10km
Taco van der Hoorn's performance today has been quite exceptional. The Dutchman, remember, was in the day's early break and he hasn't missed a beat since Tiesj Benoot lead a delegation of strongmen across in the final hour. And now, here he is, still off the front, swapping turns with Narvaez and Laporte, still 12 seconds clear of the bunch. They can't, can they?
-8.5km
Narvaez already animated Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne a year ago and he caught the eye at Omloop yesterday. Laporte, too, has the look of a man who can be a factor for Jumbo-Visma this spring. Indeed, he is making a big impact today. 14 seconds the gap...
-8km
Israel Premier Tech and AG2R are prominent at the front, and now QuickStep move to the head of the bunch on behalf of Jakobsen. Ethan Hayter is still in this peloton for Ineos, Ewan is well placed for Lotto, Merlier is there for Alpecin-Fenix... but they still need to claw back the three surviving escapees.
-7km
Narvaez takes a long, long turn on the front. The gap remains at 10 seconds as Kasper Asgreen puts in another searing effort at the head of the peloton.
-6km
Break:
Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert)
Peloton at 0:09
-5.5km
Christophe Laporte acceleratets at the front. Van der Hoorn and Narvaez battle grimly to stay in contact. The QuickStep-led bunch is still 9 seconds down...
Yves Lampaert leads the peloton with Florian Senechal on his wheel. Fabio Jakobsen risks being left without a lead-out man...
-4.5km
Some way, somehow, Laporte, Van der Hoorn and Narvaez are hanging onto a 10-second lead...
-4km
Jumbo-Visma move up to the head of the peloton en masse in a bid to disrupt the chase, much to Lampaert's annoyance. The break must be starting to believe...
Lampaert's day is done and now Senechal takes over for QuickStep. Once the Frenchman swings off, another team will have to take up the reins...
-3km
Jumbo-Visma lead through the sharp left-hander with 3km to go, and they slow the bunch accordingly on Laporte's behalf...
-2km
Break:
Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert)
Peloton at 0:08
The break is looking increasingly like staying clear, as no team seems to have the numbers to take up the chase. Unless somebody is willing to give up a lead-out man, it's game over for the sprinters...
-1km
Narvaez leads Van der Hoorn and Laporte beneath the flamme rouge with 6 seconds in hand on the chasers...
AG2R take up the pace-making in the final kilometre. Ineos move up for Hayter.
Narvaez leads the escapees into the finishing straight, as Trek-Segafredo take up the lead-out behind...
Christophe Laporte opens his sprint from distance, but the bunch is closing in quickly...
Fabio Jakobsen opens his sprint and overhauls the escapees within sight of the line, but Caleb Ewan is closing rapidly...
Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) takes second ahead of Hugo Hofstetter (Arkea-Samsic).
Jakobsen won the sprint decisively from Ewan, biut it was a remarkably close-run thing with the break. QuickStep lacked the firepower to bring the break back, so Jakobsen had to finish the job with his own sprint, cruising past Laporte and Van der Hoorn within sight of the line.
Ewan had to battle from a long way back in the final kilometre. He was able to make it onto Jakobsen's wheel as the sprint began, but he just couldn't summon up the speed to overhaul the Dutchman.
10 Taco van der Hoorn (Ned) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobertt
Laporte, Van der Hoorn and Narvaez deserved so much more from their day, though the first two at least had the minor consolation of finishing in the top 10. It's a mere footnote to a semi-classic such as this, but Arkea-Samsic continued their campaign for WorldTour status in 2023 by putting three riders in the top 10.
Fabio Jakobsen on his victory: “I have to thank the team, of course. We had three guys to catch in the end and I had to use all my teammates to even be able to sprint for the win, so the last hour was fast and furious. But I know I have a good sprint so I launched at 300 to go and dove into their slipstream. Then it’s just all the way to the line. I could feel Ewan come on the left, but I guess I had a good jump and I could pass the line first.
“It's been step by step after the crash in Poland. I had the experience and I had the time, and id like to thank the team for that. This is the way to pay them back. Winning is never easy. We always aim for it. The next [Classic] races are Gent-Wevelgem and Scheldeprijs. In my dreams I’d like to win Milan-San Remo, but I need to be able to climb and ride 300k, so that’s for the future. Now we have to enjoy this.”
Like Wout van Aert yesterday, Jakobsen also expressed his solidarity with the people of Ukraine amid Russia's invasion of the country. “My mind is also in eastern Europe, with the people in Ukraine. There’s a war going on there. In Belgium and the Netherlands, we’re free to do what we want, go out, watch the race, enjoy riding our bikes. But my mind and my heart is with the people there. I hope they get through this also."
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Results
Pos.
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team
4:32:13
2
Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto Soudal
3
Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Arkea-Samsic
4
Daniel McLay (GBr) Arkea-Samsic
5
Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Israel-Premier Tech
6
Dries Van Gestel (Bel) TotalEnergies
7
Amaury Capiot (Bel) Arkea-Samsic
8
Christophe Laporte (Fra) Jumbo-Visma
9
Matteo Trentin (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
10
Taco van der Hoorn (Ned) Intermarch�-Wanty-Gobert Mat�riaux
(Image credit: Getty Image)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
A full report, results and pictures are available from Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne here, while Patrick Fletcher and Daniel Ostanek will have all the news and reaction from the second instalment of Opening Weekend.
