Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne 2023 - Live coverage

Hello and welcome to Kuurne–Brussel–Kuurne 2023

After yesterday’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad the Belgian classics come thick and fast, starting with Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, the second part of cycling’s so-called Opening Weekend. 

Dylan Van Baarle was triumphant yesterday, and rides again today as part of a super-strong Jumbo-Visma line-up that includes many of the same riders who starred yesterday, such as Christophe Laporte, Tiesj Benoot and Jan Tratnik. Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne is more of a sprinters’ classic, however, so it won’t be so straightforward for them to make a successful breakaway here.

193KM REMAINING

And we're off! The riders have just passed through the neutralised zone and the real racing has begun

Some of the sprinters hoping to still be in contention come the finale are Jasper Philipsen, Alexander Kristoff, Jonathan Milan, Giacomo Nizzolo and Fabio Jakobsen. As defending champion, Jakobsen in particular is one to look out for, and will be under some pressure to perform after the disappointing outing from his Soudal-QuickStep team at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad yesterday.

Arnaud De Lie will be another dangerous rider from a bunch sprint, but as his performance yesterday demonstrated, he’s similarly capable of attacking with a breakaway on one of the climbs, too. The 20-year-old will be a marked man, and carries the burden of an ever-more expectant Belgian public.

There’s been an early crash, and Trek-Segafredo’s Filippo Baroncini has abandoned as a result. Jan Tratnik was also involved, but is reportedly back on his bike.

As well as De Lie and the Jumbo-Visma riders, Tim Wellens and Matej Mohorič were the strongest on the Muur-Kapelmuur yesterday, and are also racing again today, so they will be among the riders to look out for on the climbs.Jasper Stuyven, Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet and Matteo Trentin also ride again, but after comparatively disappointing Omloops. 

There’s been another early abandon: Patrick Bevin, who also withdrew from Omloop Het Nieuwsblad yesterday.

A group of four has escaped up the road, and it's a strong one: Taco van der Hoorn, Daniel Oss, Lluís Mas and Gilles De Wilde

The riders have already tackled the Tiegemberg, and there are still twelve more climbs to come. Here are where the attackers will look to make their mark and prevent a sprint finish:

Tiegemberg 17.1km

Katteberg 35.2km

Boembeek 56.6km

Bossenaarstraat 75km

Berg Ten Houte 78.4km

La Houppe 83.5km

Hameau des Papin 101.4km

Le Bourliquet 110.3km

Mont Saint-Laurent 115.3km

Kruisberg 124.9km

Hotond 126.1km

Côte du Trieu 133.5km

Kluisberg 140.8km

The flat 50km between the top of the Kluisberg and the finish is what makes this such a difficult race to make attacks stick, but there have been several recent examples of bunch sprints being avoided. In the last seven editions, Kasper Asgreen (2020), Bob Jungels (2019) and Jasper Stuyven (2016) have all won via solo attacks.

158KM REMAINING

Two more riders are attempting to bridge up to the leading quarter: Guillaume Van Keirsbulck and Matthew Gibson

The pair has made the junction, increasing the leading group to a size of 6. They hold a comfortable lead over the peloton, of about seven minutes

This breakaway is a strikingly strong group to go clear this early in a classic. Van der Hoorn in particular has had success in the past from being a part of similar early moves. He won a stage of the 2021 Giro d’Italia having been part of the day’s break, and very nearly did the same at the cobbled stage of last year’s Tour de France, where he placed second behind Simon Clarke. It’s fair to say that any break involving Van der Hoorn is worth taking seriously.

Even more interestingly, Van der Hoorn was one of the riders who was heartbreakingly caught just metres from the line on the finishing straight of last year’s Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. Is he on a revenge mission for what happened that day?

140KM REMAINING

Despite what nearly happened last year, the peloton seem happy to let Van der Hoorn and his co-conspirators up the road. The gap is still at around seven minutes, as the day's third climb, Boembeek, approaches.

Aside from Van der Hoorn, Daniel Oss is the highest-profile name in the break. The Italian has been a fantastic super-domestique over the years, especially in service of Peter Sagan, and has enjoyed considerable personal success in the classics too, making the podium of the E3 Classic and the top five of Gent-Wevelgem. Now 36-years-old, he’s not deemed enough of a threat to not be allowed up the road, but could still be hard to bring back.

Guillaume Van Keirsbulck is another dangerous rider, having won the Kortemark Koerse classic last year. And, incidentally, Lluís Mas was also a part of the Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne breakaway from last year alongside Van der Hoorn. The two must have enjoyed each other’s company.

Max Walscheid is another abandonment from a little while ago. He might have been a contender, too, having impressed in the classics last year.

Meanwhile over on the other side of the world, the UAE Tour has just wrapped up. You can read all about it here.

118KM REMAINING

The climbs are starting to intensify now. The leaders have just taken on the Bossenaarstraat, and are approaching the Berg Ten Houte.

The gap between the six leaders and the peloton is now reported to be about five minutes.

107KM REMAINING

The leaders have now completed the Berg Ten Houte and La Houppe, and are now enjoying some respite before the next climb, Hameau des Papin, 15km from now.

There's also racing happening in Spain, where Jonas Vingegaard has been on fire at Gran Camiño. Here's what happened on today's final stage.

100KM REMAINING

Back at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, the leaders have 100km left to ride, and their gap is down to just over four minutes

That gap is coming down quickly now, as Jumbo-Visma apply the pressure at the front. It appears the Dutch team are trying to break the race up in the wind.

In the tense atmosphere, multiple riders have gone down in a crash. Jasper Philipsen is involved, and has three teammates waiting for him.

There are at least three groups behind the peloton, having lost ground either in the crash (which happened towards the front) or the wind. Jumbo-Visma have been joined by Bahrain-Victorious and Lotto-Dstny, and the pace remains very high.

Back at the front, Gibson has dropped out of the break. Their lead is now down to 2-50 to the peloton.

92KM REMAINING

The break have now began the most intensive phase of climbing of the race. They're climbing the Hameau de Papin, the first of seven climbs within the next 40km.

The peloton are now on the climb, being lead by Jumbo-Visma, who have all seven of their riders right at the front. The gap has come down even more, to 1-50.

There appears to be about 60 or so riders in the peloton. 

There are a few Soudal-QuickStep riders chasing in one of the groups behind, including Yves Lampaert. Like yesterday, the Belgian squad are being outclassed by Jumbo-Visma.

Another crash in the peloton. Mathias Vacek of Trek-Segafredo is down, as is an Uno-X rider. 

The Uno-X rider is Søren Wærenskjold, and he looks in some pain. He's crouched on the ground on hands and knees. 

84KM REMAINING

On the next climb, and three Jumbo-Visma riders have a gap. Wellens and Mohoric are following.

The three Jumbo-Visma riders are Tiesj Benoot and Jan Tratnik. In the proccess of attacking, they've caught the break. 

Further down, Arnaud De Lie is struggling with the pace. He looks a lot weaker than yesterday

There are now eleven riders in the lead group, a mixture of the original break and the Jumbo-Visma insitgated attack.

The leading eleven's advantage is 20 seconds

Tim Wellens attacks from the lead group

Wellens has crested the Mont Saint-Laurent cobbled climb, and has been joined by Tiesj Benoot, Matej Mohoric and Taco van der Hoorn.

The other riders in that eleven-man group were: Nathan van Hooydonck, Jan Tratnik and Peter Sagan, and the other riders from the original break: De Wilde, Van Keirsbulck, Mas and Oss.

Van Hooydonck has now joined Wellens, Mohoric, Van der Hoorn and his teammate Benoot at the front of the race. The others have been absorbed by the peloton, which is now very small and being lead by Lotto-Dstny. 

75KM REMAINING

The gap between the leading five and the peloton is 30 seconds.

The leaders will be at the Kruisberg soon, one of the toughest climbs of the race.

The five leaders are staying together on the Kruisberg. Their lead is growing, and is nearing one minute

There's not much intensity in the chase in the peloton. One Lotto rider is currently being relied on to do all the pace-setting.

65KM REMAINING

Just two more climbs to go now: Côte du Trieu and Kluisberg. The gap is up to 1-10.

There's still just the one Lotto rider chasing in the peloton, but we can expect that to change soon. There are at least four quick finishers in this peloton who will benefit from bringing this back for a sprint: Arnaud De Lie, Fabio Jakobsen, Peter Sagan and Bryan Coquard.

There's a bit more urgency in the peloton now as they approach the penultimate climb. The gap is growing though, and has surpassed 1-30.

Trek-Segafredo now setting the pace in the peloton on the Côte du Trieu climb.

58KM REMAINING

The peloton has reached the top of the climb, and still have a defecit of 1-40 to the leading quintet. 

Matej Mohorič, TIm Wellens, Tiesj Benoot, Nathan van Hooydonck and Taco van der Hoorn are still riding harmoniously together at the front. Their truce may be tested later on what with the presence of two Jumbo riders, but for now they’re sharing the common purpose of maintaining as big a lead over the chasing peloton as possible.

There’s a third large group out on the road that’s 1-30 down on the peloton. If they manage to catch up to them, that would add a lot of firepower to the chase.

The leaders are now on the Kluisberg, the final climb of the race. 

Arjen Livyns, who was the Lotto-Dstny rider doing all of those long turns in the peloton, is finished and has dropped out of the peloton on the Kluisberg. There are other Lotto riders in the group, and with De Lie present, it’ll be largely up to them to make the chase.

50KM REMAINING

The climbing's done, and we've entered the final phase of the race. The leading five has 50km to hold off the peloton, who remain 1-33 adrift. 

The third group on the road is falling further back from the second. It seems unlikely that there will be a merger between the two groups.

A Bahrain-Victorious rider is unhappy at how close the TV motorbike is to the second group. He has his teammate Mohorič up ahead.

The chasing group is making inroads into the leaders. The gap is down to 1-15. Soudal-QuickStep are now helming the chase, for their sprinter Fabio Jakobsen.

Of the five leaders, it’s difficult to know who will win in the event of a sprint. None are known for their fast finish.

Pascal Ackermann has had a bike change.

40KM REMAINING

40km to go, and the gap is 1-11. Belgian teams Lotto-Dstny and Soudal-QuickStep are leading the chase for De Lie and Jakobsen respectively.

Ackermann has just caught back up to the peloton after his bike change earlier.

For now they are concerned with maintaining the group’s lead, but, should they not get caught, at some point Jumbo-Visma will have to figure out how best to play the finale with their two riders. Benoot would seem the best option, as Van Hooydonck has never before won a professional race, having specialised as a very good super-domestique instead. How and when to attack will be pivotal.

35KM REMAINING

35km to go, and the gap has stabilised at around 1-10.

Despite his tendency to be in great form this early in the season, Tim Wellens has never before won one of the Opening Weekend classics Neither has Mohorič, although he’s only recently started to focus on the cobbled races. Both stand a great chance today.

And what a turn up for the books it would be if Taco van der Hoorn were to take the win, after what happened to him in this race last year? So far he’s ridden a race straight out of his own textbook, placing himself in the breakaway at the very start, and holding on when the attack came from behind. He’s done his fair share of work since the group came together, so will he have anything left for the finale?

30KM REMAINING

Of course, all this will be moot if the bunch catches them. But the break are standing firm, and still have a gap of 1-20.

As well as Jakobsen and De Lie, Bryan Coquard, Peter Sagan and Pascal Ackermann are also in the peloton. Jakobsen and De Lie would certainly be the favourites in a sprint finish (hence the fact their teams are doing all the work), but these riders have an outside chance of victory.

25KM REMAINING

The gap's still not coming down - it's holding steady at 1-12.

Cofidis have now added a man to the chase.

20KM REMAINING

Their addition has done little to to bring the gap down, though, and it remains at 1-07.

Apparently a fire near the finish has meant the course may need to be deviated slightly. 

15KM REMAINING

15km to go, the gap is still just over one minute

There are about 35 riders in the peloton, but many of them are from Jumbo-Visma and Bahrain-Victorious, who have no interest in bringing the break back.

There are several other sprinters who have been hiding stealthily in the peloton, but will fancy their chances if the break can be brought back: Jasper Stuven, Kaden Groves and Jordi Meus. Jonathan Milan is also there for Bahrain-Victorious, should Mohorič be caught. 

The leaders have passed the finish line for the first time and heard the bell. Their lead is 57 seconds. It’s going to be close!

Update on the fire: it's been put out, and there will be no change to the finish.

10KM REMAINING

Just 10km to go now, and it's looking good for the break. The gap has stopped coming down and is at 1-00. 

8KM REMAINING

Still a one minute advantage with 8km to go. At some point the break will have to start racing each other. 

5KM REMAINING

All five leaders are still taking their turns. Who's going to be the first to go for it?

Van Hooydonck is applying the pressure on the front, small gaps have opened up between them...

They're back together, but hostilities have been opened

4KM REMAINING

Van Hooydonck goes again, Wellens covers the move. Now the others come back.

Now Benoot attacks, but it too isn't fully committed.

Mohorič attacks, and it's a bigger one! The elastic hasn't snapped though, it's all back together

3KM REMAINING

Van Hooydonck has a few bikelengths...

2KM REMAINING

Mohorič took a few moments to close it down, but does so. All five back together again.

1KM REMAINING

They're all watching each other going into the final kilometre

Van Hooydonck attacks under the 1km to go banner, Wellens on his wheel

Now Benoot's turn to attack

And he's got a gap!

It's growing, it seems Benoot has it in the bag...

Tiesj Benoot wins Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne!

And Nathan Van Hooydonck won the sprint between the other four to complete a one-two for Jumbo-Visma. Just like yesterday, the Dutch team has played a blinder.

Mohorič was third, Van der Hoorn fourth, and Wellens fifth. 

And as the cherry on the cake for Jumbo-Visma, Laporte won the sprint in the peloton for sixth place.

That's one of the biggest results in Benoot's career. Although he won the 2018 Strade Bianche, and is a consistant performer in the spring classics, this is his first ever victory in a Belgian classic. 

Having once again dominated the race early on, Jumbo-Visma played that finale to the texbook. Benoot and Van Hooydonck kept attacking in tandem until one of the moves stuck. The others were aware of what they were doing, but could do nothing to stop them.

Here's today's top ten:

1 Tiesj Benoot

2 Nathan van Hooydonck at 0-01

3 Matej Mohorič

4 Taco van der Hoorn

5 Tim Wellens all at st

6 Christophe Laporte at 0-43

7 Arnaud De Lie

8 Jordi Meeus

9 Fabio Jakobsen

10 Jasper Stuyven all at st

For a full run-down of how the race unfolded today, read out report here.

In a post-race interview Mohorič says he believes he was ‘maybe one of the strongest on the climbs together with Tim Wellens,’ and laments how ‘it’s not always the strongest guys who win the race’. He and Wellens are clearly on flying form having also been among the strongest on the Muur yesterday and Het Nieuwsblad, and at least this time they have a third and fifth place finish for their efforts.

Mohorič also explains how he was unhappy with Van der Hoorn for not committing as hard as the others in the finale, a feeling he expressed on the road in the final kilometre when he pointedly let a gap go for the Belgian to close.

But for the most part the five riders worked very well together, which helped them make it to the finish and claim all five top placings.

There could only be one winner though, and that man was Tiesj Benoot. 

Thanks for joining us today. Next week it's Strade Bianche, where Jumbo-Visma will hope to continue their winning streak - and will have a certain Wout van Aert returning.