Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne is an annual single-day road cycling race in Belgium. It is held one day after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, on the last Sunday of February or the first of March, and completes the opening weekend of the Belgian cycling season.[1] It was ranked a 1.HC event of the UCI Europe Tour before joining the UCI ProSeries in 2020. Tom Boonen holds the most wins with three victories.
First held in 1946, the race was run from Kuurne, a small town known for its textile industry, to the Belgian capital of Brussels and back. In the 1950s it served as the opening race of the Belgian cycling season. When Brussels was becoming inaccessible for a cycling event in the late 1960s, the race was rerouted towards the Flemish Ardennes and renamed "Omloop der beide Vlaanderen" ("Circuit of both Flanders").[N 1] In 1979 organizers decided to rename the event to Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne nonetheless.
Opening weekendedit
For many decades, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne serves as the second race of the opening weekend in Belgium, after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, as well as the first weekend of racing in Northwestern Europe.[1] Although second after the Omloop, and considered the smaller of the two events, it holds significant prestige because of its calendar date. Since 2005 it is included in the UCI Europe Tour; in 2016 it was upgraded to a 1.HC event, the same ranking as Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but Omloop was upgraded to UCI World Tour level in 2017. Despite tandeming with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, no rider has ever won the Omloop and Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne on the same weekend.
Winter raceedit
As it is run in late winter, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne has often been affected by poor weather. The race had to be cancelled three times because of snow or frost – in 1986, 1993 and 2013. The 2010 event was run in extreme weather as the remnants of cyclone Xynthia hit Belgium, with strong winds and torrential rain ravaging the peloton.[2] The race had to be shortened by 20 km because a fallen tree obstructed the road.[3] The edition was won by Dutch outsider Bobbie Traksel; only 26 of 195 riders finished the race.[4][5] In 2004 Kuurne served as the opening race of the season, after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was cancelled because of snow, before thaw set in on the night before the Sunday race.[6]
Despite its name, the route does not actually extend to Brussels. The race starts on the hippodrome of Kuurne, in the south of West Flanders, before heading east in the direction of Brussels, but its easternmost point is somewhere near Ninove, 23 km west of Brussels. After the turning point, the race addresses the Flemish Ardennes where a number of hills feature, before finishing in Kuurne after approximately 200 km. The route in the hill zone changes every year, but some of the regular climbs include Edelareberg, La Houppe, Kanarieberg, Kruisberg, Oude Kwaremont, Tiegemberg and Nokereberg.
With a long and flat run-in to the finish, the course is less selective than the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The race ends with two local laps around Kortrijk and Kuurne.[7] With the last climb of the race coming at 53 km from the finish, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne has established itself as something of a sprinters’ classic.[1]
^The race has not been in Brussels since 1968. Since then it is run in the provinces of West Flanders and East Flanders, the two westernmost provinces of Belgium.
Referencesedit
^ abcWynn, Nigel. "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2016 preview". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^Benson, Daniel (March 2010). "Rollin thrives in bad weather in Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne. Canadian impervious to Belgian storms". cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^Decaluwé, Brecht (March 2010). "Peloton reacts to brutal battering at Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne". cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^Decaluwé, Brecht (28 February 2010). "Relatively unknown Traksel rides to Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne win". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^O'Grady, Patrick. "Traksel takes Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne". velonews.competitor.com. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^Jones, Jeff. "De Jongh repeats Rabobank's success". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^. sporza.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
^"Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne afgelast door de sneeuwval" (in Dutch). Sporza. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
^James Odvart (2 March 2014). "Kuurne–Bruxelles–Kuurne Juniors : Classement". directvelo.com.
^James Odvart (1 March 2015). "Kuurne–Bruxelles–Kuurne Juniors : Classement". directvelo.com.
^Francis Spruyt (28 February 2016). "Kuurne–Bruxelles–Kuurne Juniors : Classement". directvelo.com.
^Frédéric Gachet (26 February 2017). "Kuurne–Bruxelles–Kuurne Juniors : Classement". directvelo.com.
^James Odvart (25 February 2018). "Kuurne–Bruxelles–Kuurne Juniors : Classement". directvelo.com.
^Francis Spruyt (3 March 2019). "Kuurne–Bruxelles–Kuurne Juniors : Classement". directvelo.com.
External linksedit
Official website
March 04, 2024
kuurne, brussels, kuurne, annual, single, road, cycling, race, belgium, held, after, omloop, nieuwsblad, last, sunday, february, first, march, completes, opening, weekend, belgian, cycling, season, ranked, event, europe, tour, before, joining, proseries, 2020,. Kuurne Brussels Kuurne is an annual single day road cycling race in Belgium It is held one day after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on the last Sunday of February or the first of March and completes the opening weekend of the Belgian cycling season 1 It was ranked a 1 HC event of the UCI Europe Tour before joining the UCI ProSeries in 2020 Tom Boonen holds the most wins with three victories Kuurne Brussels KuurneRace detailsDateLate February Early MarchRegionFlanders BelgiumEnglish nameKuurne Brussels KuurneLocal name s Kuurne Brussel Kuurne in Dutch Nickname s KBKDisciplineRoadCompetitionUCI ProSeriesTypeOne day raceOrganiserSportingclub KuurneRace directorPeter DebaveyeWeb sitewww wbr kuurne brussel kuurne wbr beHistoryFirst edition1946 1946 Editions76 as of 2024 First winner Henri Delmuyle BEL Most wins Tom Boonen BEL 3 wins Most recent Wout Van Aert BEL Contents 1 History 1 1 Early editions 1 2 Opening weekend 1 3 Winter race 2 Route 3 List of winners 3 1 Wins per country 4 Junior race 4 1 Winners 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksHistory editEarly editions edit First held in 1946 the race was run from Kuurne a small town known for its textile industry to the Belgian capital of Brussels and back In the 1950s it served as the opening race of the Belgian cycling season When Brussels was becoming inaccessible for a cycling event in the late 1960s the race was rerouted towards the Flemish Ardennes and renamed Omloop der beide Vlaanderen Circuit of both Flanders N 1 In 1979 organizers decided to rename the event to Kuurne Brussels Kuurne nonetheless Opening weekend edit For many decades Kuurne Brussels Kuurne serves as the second race of the opening weekend in Belgium after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday as well as the first weekend of racing in Northwestern Europe 1 Although second after the Omloop and considered the smaller of the two events it holds significant prestige because of its calendar date Since 2005 it is included in the UCI Europe Tour in 2016 it was upgraded to a 1 HC event the same ranking as Omloop Het Nieuwsblad but Omloop was upgraded to UCI World Tour level in 2017 Despite tandeming with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad no rider has ever won the Omloop and Kuurne Brussels Kuurne on the same weekend Winter race edit As it is run in late winter Kuurne Brussels Kuurne has often been affected by poor weather The race had to be cancelled three times because of snow or frost in 1986 1993 and 2013 The 2010 event was run in extreme weather as the remnants of cyclone Xynthia hit Belgium with strong winds and torrential rain ravaging the peloton 2 The race had to be shortened by 20 km because a fallen tree obstructed the road 3 The edition was won by Dutch outsider Bobbie Traksel only 26 of 195 riders finished the race 4 5 In 2004 Kuurne served as the opening race of the season after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was cancelled because of snow before thaw set in on the night before the Sunday race 6 Route edit nbsp Route of the 2015 editionDespite its name the route does not actually extend to Brussels The race starts on the hippodrome of Kuurne in the south of West Flanders before heading east in the direction of Brussels but its easternmost point is somewhere near Ninove 23 km west of Brussels After the turning point the race addresses the Flemish Ardennes where a number of hills feature before finishing in Kuurne after approximately 200 km The route in the hill zone changes every year but some of the regular climbs include Edelareberg La Houppe Kanarieberg Kruisberg Oude Kwaremont Tiegemberg and Nokereberg With a long and flat run in to the finish the course is less selective than the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad The race ends with two local laps around Kortrijk and Kuurne 7 With the last climb of the race coming at 53 km from the finish Kuurne Brussels Kuurne has established itself as something of a sprinters classic 1 List of winners edit nbsp Podium of the 2015 race Alexander Kristoff Mark Cavendish and Elia VivianiYear Country Rider Team1946 nbsp Belgium Henri Delmuylle individual1947 nbsp Belgium Andre Pieters Celta Erka1948 nbsp Belgium Achiel Buysse Thompson1949 nbsp Belgium Albert Decin La Francaise Dunlop1950 nbsp Belgium Valere Ollivier Bertin Wolber1951 nbsp Belgium Andre Declerck Bertin Wolber1952 nbsp Belgium Andre Maelbrancke Devos Sport1953 nbsp Belgium Leopold De Graeveleyn Mercier Hutchinson1954 nbsp Belgium Leon Vandaele Bertin d Alessandro1955 nbsp Belgium Joseph Planckaert Elve Peugeot1956 nbsp Belgium Henri Denijs Bertin Huret1957 nbsp Belgium Joseph Verhelts Faema Guerra1958 nbsp Belgium Gilbert Desmet Faema Guerra1959 nbsp Belgium Gentiel Saelens Flandria Dr Mann1960 nbsp Belgium Joseph Planckaert Wiel s Flandria1961 nbsp Belgium Alfred De Bruyne victory shared with Leon Vandaele Baratti Milano1961 nbsp Belgium Leon Vandaele victory shared with Alfred De Bruyne Wiel s Flandria1962 nbsp Netherlands Piet Rentmeester Gitane Leroux1963 nbsp Belgium Noel Fore Faema Flandria1964 nbsp Belgium Arthur Decabooter Solo Superia1965 nbsp Belgium Guido Reybrouck Flandria Romeo1966 nbsp Belgium Gustaaf De Smet Wiel s Groene Leeuw1967 nbsp Belgium Daniel Van Rijckeghem Mann Grundig1968 nbsp Belgium Eric Leman Flandria De Clerck1969 nbsp Belgium Freddy Decloedt Pull Over Centrale Tasmania1970 nbsp Belgium Roger De Vlaeminck Flandria Mars1971 nbsp Belgium Roger De Vlaeminck Flandria Mars1972 nbsp Belgium Gustaaf Van Roosbroeck Watneys Avia1973 nbsp Belgium Walter Planckaert Watney Maes1974 nbsp Belgium Wilfried Wesemael MIC Ludo De Gribaldy1975 nbsp Belgium Frans Verhaegen IJsboerke Colner1976 nbsp Belgium Frans Verhaegen Flandria Velda West Vlaams Vleesbedrijf1977 nbsp Belgium Patrick Sercu Fiat France1978 nbsp Belgium Patrick Lefevere Marc Zeepcentrale Superia1979 nbsp Belgium Walter Planckaert Mini Flat V D B 1980 nbsp Netherlands Jan Raas TI Raleigh1981 nbsp Belgium Jos Jacobs Capri Sonne1982 nbsp West Germany Gregor Braun Capri Sonne1983 nbsp Netherlands Jan Raas TI Raleigh1984 nbsp Netherlands Jos Lammertink Panasonic1985 nbsp Belgium William Tackaert Fangio Ecoturbo1986 No race1987 nbsp Belgium Ludo Peeters Superconfex Yoko1988 nbsp Belgium Hendrik Redant Isoglass Robland1989 nbsp Belgium Edwig Van Hooydonck Superconfex Yoko1990 nbsp Belgium Hendrik Redant Lotto Super Club1991 nbsp Belgium Johnny Dauwe Tulip Computers1992 nbsp Germany Olaf Ludwig Panasonic Sportlife1993 No race1994 nbsp Belgium Johan Museeuw GB MG Maglificio1995 nbsp France Frederic Moncassin Novell1996 nbsp Denmark Rolf Sorensen Rabobank1997 nbsp Belgium Johan Museeuw Mapei GB1998 nbsp Belgium Andrei Tchmil Lotto Mobistar1999 nbsp Belgium Jo Planckaert Lotto Mobistar2000 nbsp Belgium Andrei Tchmil Lotto Adecco2001 nbsp Belgium Peter Van Petegem Mercury Viatel2002 nbsp Estonia Jaan Kirsipuu AG2R Prevoyance2003 nbsp Netherlands Roy Sentjens Rabobank2004 nbsp Netherlands Steven de Jongh Rabobank2005 nbsp United States George Hincapie Discovery Channel2006 nbsp Belgium Nick Nuyens Quick Step Innergetic2007 nbsp Belgium Tom Boonen Quick Step Innergetic2008 nbsp Netherlands Steven de Jongh Quick Step2009 nbsp Belgium Tom Boonen Quick Step2010 nbsp Netherlands Bobbie Traksel Vacansoleil2011 nbsp Australia Christopher Sutton Team Sky2012 nbsp Great Britain Mark Cavendish Team Sky2013 No race due to snow 8 2014 nbsp Belgium Tom Boonen Omega Pharma Quick Step2015 nbsp Great Britain Mark Cavendish Etixx Quick Step2016 nbsp Belgium Jasper Stuyven Trek Segafredo2017 nbsp Slovakia Peter Sagan Bora Hansgrohe2018 nbsp Netherlands Dylan Groenewegen LottoNL Jumbo2019 nbsp Luxembourg Bob Jungels Deceuninck Quick Step2020 nbsp Denmark Kasper Asgreen Deceuninck Quick Step2021 nbsp Denmark Mads Pedersen Trek Segafredo2022 nbsp Netherlands Fabio Jakobsen Quick Step Alpha Vinyl Team2023 nbsp Belgium Tiesj Benoot Team Jumbo Visma2024 nbsp Belgium Wout Van Aert Visma Lease a BikeWins per country edit Wins Country54 nbsp Belgium10 nbsp Netherlands3 nbsp Denmark2 nbsp Germany including nbsp West Germany nbsp Great Britain1 nbsp Australia nbsp Estonia nbsp France nbsp Luxembourg nbsp Slovakia nbsp United StatesJunior race editA junior version of the race has been held since 2000 Winners edit Year Winner Second ThirdKuurnse Leieomloop2000 nbsp Kevin De Weert nbsp Wim De Vocht nbsp Jurgen Van den Broeck2001 nbsp Sven Vervloet nbsp Giovanni Pommelaere nbsp Joeri Clauwaert2002 nbsp Jasper van Heeswijk nbsp Stefan Huizinga nbsp Nick Ingels2003 nbsp Geraint Thomas nbsp Jeremy Beyaert nbsp Bart Veyt2004 nbsp Stijn Joseph nbsp Tim Roels nbsp Ian Stannard2005 nbsp Frederiek Nolf nbsp Toon Declercq nbsp Jerome Baugnies2006 nbsp Sven Nooytens nbsp Jan Ghyselinck nbsp Ludovic Vasseur2007 nbsp Adam Blythe nbsp Nicolas Vereecken nbsp Kevin Lava2008 nbsp Barry Markus nbsp Nicolas Vereecken nbsp Moreno Hofland2009 nbsp Moreno Hofland nbsp Rune van der Meijden nbsp Jochen Deweer2010 nbsp Paul Moerland nbsp Frederik Frison nbsp Didier Caspers2011 nbsp Joachim Vanreyten nbsp Dylan Groenewegen nbsp Yannis Yssaad2012 nbsp Niels Vanderaerden nbsp Felix Pouilly nbsp Piotr Havik2013 No raceKuurne Brussels Kuurne Juniors2014 9 nbsp James Shaw nbsp Lionel Taminiaux nbsp Robbe Casier2015 10 nbsp Yannick Detant nbsp Mathieu Rigollot nbsp Alan Riou2016 11 nbsp Ethan Hayter nbsp Clement Betouigt Suire nbsp Jasper Philipsen2017 12 nbsp Johan Langballe nbsp Peter Haslund nbsp Remi Huens2018 13 nbsp Remco Evenepoel nbsp Jacob Hindsgaul Madsen nbsp Charley Calvert2019 14 nbsp Casper van Uden nbsp Antonin Corvaisier nbsp Bodi del Grosso2020 nbsp Cian Uijtdebroeks nbsp Pepijn Reinderink nbsp Jack Rootkin Gray2021 No race2022 nbsp Sente Sentjens nbsp Vincent van Dorp nbsp Thibaud Gruel2023 nbsp Jarno Widar nbsp Zak Erzen nbsp Steffen de SchuyteneerNotes edit The race has not been in Brussels since 1968 Since then it is run in the provinces of West Flanders and East Flanders the two westernmost provinces of Belgium References edit a b c Wynn Nigel Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne Brussels Kuurne 2016 preview Cycling Weekly Retrieved 25 February 2016 Benson Daniel March 2010 Rollin thrives in bad weather in Kuurne Brussels Kuurne Canadian impervious to Belgian storms cyclingnews com Immediate Media Company Retrieved 25 February 2016 Decaluwe Brecht March 2010 Peloton reacts to brutal battering at Kuurne Brussels Kuurne cyclingnews com Immediate Media Company Retrieved 25 February 2016 Decaluwe Brecht 28 February 2010 Relatively unknown Traksel rides to Kuurne Brussels Kuurne win Cyclingnews com Retrieved 25 February 2016 O Grady Patrick Traksel takes Kuurne Brussels Kuurne velonews competitor com Retrieved 25 February 2016 Jones Jeff De Jongh repeats Rabobank s success cyclingnews com Retrieved 25 February 2016 Organisatoren hertekenen finale Kuurne Brussels Kuurne sporza be in Dutch Archived from the original on 6 April 2017 Retrieved 26 February 2016 Kuurne Brussels Kuurne afgelast door de sneeuwval in Dutch Sporza 24 February 2013 Retrieved 24 February 2013 James Odvart 2 March 2014 Kuurne Bruxelles Kuurne Juniors Classement directvelo com James Odvart 1 March 2015 Kuurne Bruxelles Kuurne Juniors Classement directvelo com Francis Spruyt 28 February 2016 Kuurne Bruxelles Kuurne Juniors Classement directvelo com Frederic Gachet 26 February 2017 Kuurne Bruxelles Kuurne Juniors Classement directvelo com James Odvart 25 February 2018 Kuurne Bruxelles Kuurne Juniors Classement directvelo com Francis Spruyt 3 March 2019 Kuurne Bruxelles Kuurne Juniors Classement directvelo com External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kuurne Brussels Kuurne amp oldid 1210237104, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
