Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne 2023
Latest News from the Race
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Fabian Cancellara’s Classics column: Perfect Opening Weekend creates a luxury problem for Jumbo-Visma
Van Baarle and Benoot's wins will push Van Aert further -
8 conclusions from Opening Weekend 2023
Dutch team domination, De Lie's cobbles promise, QuickStep anonymity, and more -
Lefevere: Jumbo-Visma are now the team we were a few years ago
Soudal-QuickStep boss analyses where it went wrong for his team at Opening Weekend
The latest results from Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
Benoot surprises breakaway with late-race surge to win Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
An outstanding start to the Spring Classics saw Jumbo-Visma go 1-2 at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, with Tiesj Benoot riding away with the victory ahead of his breakaway companions while his teammate Nathan Van Hooydonck secured second place. Their triumph came off the back of the previous day's victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Check out the full report, results and gallery.
Results powered by FirstCycling
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne Information
Date | Sunday February 26, 2023 |
Start location | Kuurne, Belgium |
Finish location | Kuurne, Belgium |
Length | 193.1 kilometres |
UCI class | ProSeries |
Last edition | 2022 Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne |
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 route
The race organisers for Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne have paired with RouteYou to create an interactive map and profile for the 2023 edition. The 193km route around Kuurne tackles some of the most popular climbs of the Spring Classics.
The early loop sends riders over the famed Koppenberg and the Wolvenberg, while the foray into Wallonia uses lesser known but equally punishing ascents of the Hameau des Papins, Le Bourliquet and Croisette.
Luckily for the sprinters, all of those are out of the way with 60km to go and a pan-flat run-in almost always ensures a fast finish.
2023 Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne teams
- AG2R-Citroën
- Alpecin-Deceuninck
- Arkéa-Samsic
- Astana Qazaqstan
- Bahrain Victorious
- Bora-Hansgrohe
- Cofidis
- Groupama-FDJ
- Ineos Grenadiers
- Intermarché-Circus-Wanty
- Jayco-AlUla
- Jumbo-Visma
- Movistar
- Soudal-QuickStep
- Team DSM
- Trek-Segafredo
- UAE Team Emirates
- Bingoal WB
- Human Powered Health
- Israel-Premier Tech
- Lotto-Dstny
- Team Flanders-Baloise
- TotalEnergies
- Q36.5 Pro Cycling
- Uno-X Pro Cycling
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne race history
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne was first held in 1945 and is now about to hold its 74th edition.
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne past winners
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.
Races
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Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne 202326 February 2023 | Kuurne | 1.Pro
Latest Content on the Race
Fabian Cancellara’s Classics column: Perfect Opening Weekend creates a luxury problem for Jumbo-Visma
By Fabian Cancellara published
Analysis Van Baarle and Benoot's wins will push Van Aert further
8 conclusions from Opening Weekend 2023
By Daniel Ostanek published
Analysis Dutch team domination, De Lie's cobbles promise, QuickStep anonymity, and more
Lefevere: Jumbo-Visma are now the team we were a few years ago
By Daniel Ostanek published
News Soudal-QuickStep boss analyses where it went wrong for his team at Opening Weekend
Opening Weekend tech gallery: All the nerdy highlights from the Classics season opener
By Josh Croxton published
tech gallery Crazy 3D-printed computer mounts, secret tyres, and of course, that "big big chainring"
Benoot savours comeback Kuurne win seven months after neck fracture
By Daniel Ostanek published
News 'A few months ago I doubted whether I was going to be a cyclist anymore' says Belgian
'I gambled for a sprint' - Taco van der Hoorn narrowly misses podium at Kuurne
By Kirsten Frattini published
News Intermarché-Circus-Wanty rider works way into early break, then holds in winning move but dash to line ends with fourth
'We didn't expect this' – Lotto-Dstny on Arnaud De Lie's rapid rise
By Daniel Ostanek published
News Team will continue careful development after 20-year-old takes second and seventh at Omloop and Kuurne
Van Hooydonck hails Jumbo-Visma 'dream start' after Kuurne one-two
By Daniel Ostanek published
News 'I got one of the few chances for personal success here and I took full advantage of it' says second-placed Belgian
Top News on the Race
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Van Hooydonck hails Jumbo-Visma 'dream start' after Kuurne one-two
'I got one of the few chances for personal success here and I took full advantage of it' says second-placed Belgian -
'It was the most I could do' – Mohoric pleased to score Kuurne podium spot
Bahrain Victorious round out Opening Weekend with third place in face of Jumbo-Visma domination -
Taco van der Hoorn's aero leg warmers present loophole to UCI's sock height rule
Dutch aero specialist adopts yet another tech hack in the breakaway at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
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'This is the first test' – Cobbled classics season starts at Omloop and Kuurne
'It gives you a sense of where everyone's form and condition is at' -
'I see De Lie as a favourite' – Lotto's rising star prepares for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad debut
Belgian team insists there's no added pressure on 20-year-old ahead of Saturday's race -
Victor Campenaerts set to use Classified hub and monster chainring at Opening Weekend
A 62T chainring, narrow bars, Classified gearing and wide tyres are just part of his unusual Classics setup
Related Features
-
Fabian Cancellara’s Classics column: Perfect Opening Weekend creates a luxury problem for Jumbo-Visma
Van Baarle and Benoot's wins will push Van Aert further -
8 conclusions from Opening Weekend 2023
Dutch team domination, De Lie's cobbles promise, QuickStep anonymity, and more -
Opening Weekend tech gallery: All the nerdy highlights from the Classics season opener
Crazy 3D-printed computer mounts, secret tyres, and of course, that "big big chainring"