Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne Race Report: No shock: Wout van Aert received the second race of the ‘opening weekend’ – Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. Visma | Lease a Bike dominated the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne for a double weekend of success. Van Aert, Tim Wellens and Spanish champion, Oier Lazkano, fought for the victory, for Van Aert to place the cream on the Visma cake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=res19YRnTk0
Wout van Aert has taken his first Traditional victory of the 2024 season. The chief of Visma | Lease a Bike defeated Tim Wellens and Oier Lazkano in a three-man dash within the ultimate of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. The three had raced for greater than 8′ kilometres off the entrance.
First win for Wout in 2024
The Parcours
The route is far the identical as final yr’s Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, or extra appropriately; Kortrijk-Brussels-Kuurne, as the beginning is in Kortrijk, subsequent to Kuurne. Within the early a part of the race, a few of the climbs have modified. The course is barely longer than in 2023. The finale is identical as final yr. It’s sure that the Hainaut triptych newcomers with Hameau des Papins (1,200 meters, common 6.6%, max. of 16.2%), Le Bourliquet (1,300 meters, common 6.8%, max. 15.3%) and Mont Saint-Laurent (1,300 meters, common 7.8% max. 17%), along with the next ultimate part together with the Hotond, the Côte de Trieu or the Knokteberg and the Kluisberg, can flip the race the other way up.
The beginning is in Kortrijk this yr and never on the Brugsesteenweg in Kuurne. That is adopted by a route of just about 200 kilometres with 13 climbs. The primary is the well-known Tiegemberg after simply 17.5 kilometres of racing. After about 20 kilometres with none climbs, the cobbled climbs observe one another in fast succession. The Volkegemberg, Lepelstraat, Bossenaarstraat and the Berg Ten Houte. The five hundred metre lengthy Beerbosstraat, 33.5 kilometres from the end, is the final cobbled part and fairly an impediment earlier than the end. Then, through the hilly Sint-Denijs in the direction of Kuurne, the place the end line is handed after 183.9 kilometres. There may be one other native circuit of 12.5 kilometres by Kortrijk and Harelbeke. The sprinter’s groups can attempt to get a dash lead-out ready, that all the time creates some pleasure.
Tiegemberg (1,400m at 4%) – 17.5km
Volkegemberg (1000m at 5.1%) – 35.6km
Lepelstraat (2100m) 3.4%) – 51.1km
Bossenaarstraat (1,300m at 5.6%) – 67.4km
Berg Ten Houte (1,100m at 6.2%) – 70.9km
La Houppe (1,880m at 4.8%) – 78.2km
Hameau des Papins (1,200m at 6.6%) – 95.9km
Le Bourliquet (1,300m at 6.8%) – 104.4km
Mont Saint Laurent (1,300m at 7.8%) – 109.5km
Kruisberg (1,400m at 4.8%) – 118.9km
Hotond (1,200m at 3.1%) – 120.1km
Côte de Trieu/Knokteberg (1,260m at 7%) – 127.7km
Kluisberg (1,100m at 6%) – 135.1km.
Wout van Aert – Prime favorite once more
Second within the Omloop, Nils Politt, Can he go one higher in Kuurne?
On the second day of the ‘opening weekend’ all eyes had been on Kortrijk (Kuurne) for the beginning of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and the end on the Brugsesteenweg. There was 196 powerful kilometres to race with a complete of 13 climbs on the menu, the final 7 in 30 kilometres.
The followers had been out to see the peloton go away Kortrijk (not Kuurne)
First crash of the day
As a result of sturdy headwind within the first 2 hours of the race, an early break took a very long time coming. The wind didn’t invite assaults, however on the fourth climb of the day, Dries De Bondt (Decathlon-AG2R), Jasper De Buyst (Lotto Dstny), Fran Miholjevič (Bahrain Victorious), Luke Rowe (INEOS Grenadiers) took their probability. They quickly had a lead of three minutes.
There are windmills in Belgium in addition to the Netherlands
The moist fields of Flanders
The primary hours of racing had been very nervous and there have been many crashes, together with favourites Gerben Thijssen and Biniam Girmay, Jordi Meeus and Per Strand Hagenes. They had been all in a position to proceed, however Thijssen wasn’t wanting too good. Within the peloton Visma | Lease a Bike had taken management. Would they make first climb of the day, the Hameau des Papins, tough.
The peloton continues to be collectively, however when it splits…
Van Aert in the course of all of the motion
The Visma males held again till the following climb, Le Bourliquet, to essentially put down the facility. It was Wout van Aert who began the battle, because of his acceleration the peloton break up into a number of items. Riders on the again, together with Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) and Luke Lamperti (Soudal Fast-Step) had been in hassle.
Time to wish for dry roads
On the entrance Visma | Lease a Bike was the perfect represented. Along with Van Aert, in addition they had European champion Christophe Laporte, Dutch champion Dylan van Baarle and Matteo Jorgenson. There was additionally Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Fast-Step), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek), Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny), Pierre Gautherat (Decathlon-AG2R), Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious), Dylan Teuns (Israel-Premier Tech), Oier Lazkano (Movistar), Tim Wellens (UAE Group Emirates) and Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ). This was a stable group of favourites.
The climbs come one after the opposite
On the cobbles of the Mont Saint-Laurent, Van Aert determined that that group was nonetheless too massive. Within the gutter, solely Lazkano, Wellens and Pithie managed to go along with the Belgian. On the high of the climb, Van Aert wasn’t positive if this was the perfect state of affairs and sat on the again of the group for a second. The opposite three had been prepared and prepared to work. The 20 seconds lead they’d on the cobbles, quickly expanded.
Omloop winner, Jan Tratnik, again to working for the crew
Van Aert will need to have determined it was a great transfer and began to work. On the ultimate climb of the day, the Côte de Trieu, the Visma | Lease a Bike chief put in an assault. This was an excessive amount of for Pithie, who was distanced and Lazkano was additionally in hassle, however the Spanish champion fought his method again. This left three on the entrance with 69 flat kilometres to race to Kuurne.
The favourites on the entrance
Van Aert wished to separate the race
The lead continued to extend. Behind there was a counter-attack by Jorgenson and Mohorič, who had been later joined by the dropped Pithie, however they had been caught at slightly below 2 minutes. The chase group was at between 3 and 4 minutes. It seemed very very like the winner would come from the Wellens-Lazkano-Van Aert trio.
Van Aert had Tim Wellens and Oier Lazkano with him
The main three labored collectively for a very long time. The tailwind within the ultimate made positive the velocity was excessive. Lazkano, who was most likely the weakest on paper, continued to take his turns, on the recommendation of his Movistar DS, Jürgen Roelandts. Wellens attacked stealthily on the left aspect of the highway 4 kilometres from the end did issues get a bit messy. Nonetheless, tried an assault on the within of a bit of avenue furnishings, however Van Aert was in a position to reply, whereas it took Lazkano a bit longer to battle his method again to the opposite two.
Matteo Jorgenson wished to be within the motion once more
Would this be the profitable break?
Because of Wellens Van Aert, Lazkano was again in with a (slim) probability. Simply after the final bend, the Spanish champion made his anticipated assault. He began the dash for Wout van Aert, who rapidly caught Lazkano’s wheel. Van Aert then made a pointy ultimate soar and Wellens couldn’t come previous him earlier than the road. After Jan Tratnik’s victory in Saturday’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Van Aert topped off an ideal ‘opening weekend’ for the Visma | Lease a Bike crew. Additionally Jonas Vingegaard and Marianne Vos added their victories to the crew’s profitable weekend.
Victor Campenaerts tried to get away from the opposite chasers
Kuurne winner, Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike): “It’s a good victory, it is extremely rewarding. It was a tough race, however I had two good companions. Once I felt we had a tailwind within the ultimate I knew there was a great probability that the strongest would survive after the hilly zone. The tempo was tremendous excessive, I felt it was going to separate. It was the logical tactic for us. After we took the lead with 4 I knew we had a great probability to remain forward. With three males it’s tough to shock, it was a great state of affairs. I used to be assured that I may reply to assaults and end within the dash. I’m very proud of our efficiency this weekend. It’s nice to begin the Classics like this. We did properly as a crew. It’s good for my confidence, however the upcoming Classics shall be very completely different.”
The peloton wouldn’t see these three until after the end line
2nd, Tim Wellens (UAE Group Emirates): “It was an excellent race for me. We rode away within the hilly space after which we all the time stored working. I used to be enthusiastic about how I may win the race in opposition to Wout, however I didn’t see many situations. That aspect (of the highway island) was not essentially quicker. Quite the opposite, I believe it was even a bit of longer. Nevertheless it was harder to take a seat on the wheel immediately. However, beating Wout on the flat just isn’t straightforward. So second was the very best attainable. It was an excellent weekend for the crew, with Nils (Pollit) ending second yesterday and me at this time. I didn’t count on to be in such fine condition, as a result of I hadn’t skilled very intensively. In keeping with my coach, I’m not in high form but, nevertheless it actually felt that method throughout the race. That offers confidence for what’s but to return. It was a robust headwind. So I knew that I shouldn’t begin the dash first, however now it isn’t the case that I’m stranded on half a wheel.”
The beginning of a high season for Wout van Aert?
third, Oier Lazkano (Movistar): “I attempted to go for the win, however Wout and Tim had been very sturdy. They only stored accelerating. It was additionally unlikely for me to be on the highway with these champions. Usually you solely see them on tv. I wished to proceed working collectively. You may’t do this, not take part. Then they begin attacking you. It’s higher to not play your playing cards till the tip. However there was nothing left in my legs. These are stunning races that I all the time wished to journey. I additionally wished to do properly right here. Happily I had the help of sports activities director Jürgen Roelandts. He is aware of the roads right here finest and was one of many strongest riders of his technology. He makes you’re feeling a bit at residence right here.”
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne Consequence:
1. Wout van Aert (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike in 4:21:01
2. Tim Wellens (Bel) UAE Group Emirates
3. Oier Lazkano (Spa) Movistar
4. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Visma | Lease a Bike at 1:23
5. Nils Eekhoff (Ned) dsm-firmenich PostNL
6. Emilien Jeannière (Fra) TotalEnergies
7. Luke Lamperti (USA) Soudal Fast-Step
8. Lionel Taminiaux (Bel) Lotto Dstny
9. Marius Mayrhofer (Ger) Tudor
10. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Lidl-Trek.
# Meet up with all of the weekend information in EUROTRASH Monday. #
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