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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.

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.

Tom Pidcock

(Image credit: Daniel Ostanek)

Caleb Ewan

(Image credit: Daniel Ostanek)

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:

-195km

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

-186km

-181km

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

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

-171km

The break hits the day's second climb, the Kattenberg, with a lead of 2:35 over the peloton. 

-160km

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

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

Tim Merlier

(Image credit: Daniel Ostanek)

Taco van der Hoorn leads the break at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.

Taco van der Hoorn leads the break at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. (Image credit: Getty)

-145km

-138km

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.

-127km

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

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.

-110km

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

-102km

-100km

Situation

-97km

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

Wessel Krul (Human Powered Health) has also been dropped by the break, as the pace and the terrain begins to take its toll. 

-94km

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' 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

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

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

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

-83km

-80.5km

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

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

-76km

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

-72km

-71km

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:

-70km

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

-66km

-65km

-63km

-62km

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

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 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

-54km

-53.5km

-50km

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 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

-43km

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

-40km

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

-35.5km

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

-32km

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

-27km

-26km

-25km

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

-21.5km

The pace relents slightly in the break. There is a lot of distrust among them, and one imagines that more accelerations are imminent. 

-20km

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

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

-16km

-15km

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

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

-10km

-8.5km

-8km

-7km

-6km

-5.5km

Yves Lampaert leads the peloton with Florian Senechal on his wheel. Fabio Jakobsen risks being left without a lead-out man...

-4.5km

-4km

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

-2km

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

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...

Fabio Jakobsen (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) wins Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.

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.

Result

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.

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."

KUURNE BELGIUM FEBRUARY 27 Fabio Jakobsen of Netherlands and Team QuickStep Alpha Vinyl celebrates at finish line as race winner ahead of Caleb Ewan of Australia and Team Lotto Soudal and Hugo Hofstetter of France and Team Arka Samsic during the 74th Kuurne Bruxelles Kuurne 2022 a 1951km race from Kuurne to Kuurne KuurneBxlKuurne on February 27 2022 in Kuurne Belgium Photo by Bas CzerwinskiGetty Images

(Image credit: Getty Images)
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Results
Pos.Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 4:32:13
2Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto Soudal
3Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Arkea-Samsic
4Daniel McLay (GBr) Arkea-Samsic
5Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Israel-Premier Tech
6Dries Van Gestel (Bel) TotalEnergies
7Amaury Capiot (Bel) Arkea-Samsic
8Christophe Laporte (Fra) Jumbo-Visma
9Matteo Trentin (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
10Taco van der Hoorn (Ned) Intermarch�-Wanty-Gobert Mat�riaux

KUURNE BELGIUM FEBRUARY 27 Taco Van Der Hoorn of Netherlands and Team Intermarch Wanty Gobert Matriaux competes during the 74th Kuurne Bruxelles Kuurne 2022 a 1951km race from Kuurne to Kuurne KuurneBxlKuurne on February 27 2022 in Kuurne Belgium Photo by Bas CzerwinskiGetty Images

(Image credit: Getty Image)

Netherlands Fabio Jakobsen of QuickStep Alpha Vinyl C celebrates after victory in the KuurneBrusselsKuurne one day cycling race 1951 km from Kuurne to Kuurne via Brussels on February 27 2022 Belgium OUT Photo by ERIC LALMAND Belga AFP Belgium OUT Photo by ERIC LALMANDBelgaAFP via Getty Images

(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.

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