Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2017 [FULL RACE]

The 69th edition of the Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne cycling classic was held on 26 February 2017. It was part of the 2016 UCI Europe Tour and ranked as a 1.HC event. It was the second and concluding race of the Belgian opening weekend, the year’s first road races in Northwestern Europe, one day after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) delivered an emphatic sprint to win Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne from a five-man group Sunday. Last year’s winner Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) had to settle for second place, while Luke Rowe (Sky) claimed the third step of the podium. Already part of an elite selection that formed after the Oude Kwaremont, the quintet forged clear on the finishing circuit in Kuurne to fight out the victory.

The beauty of Belgium’s Opening Weekend is that it gives an instant shot at redemption. Sagan, beaten into second place by Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 24 hours prior, made amends with a powerful sprint in Kuurne. In truth, Sagan hardly seemed too distraught at missing out in Ghent on Saturday, but the Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne victory – his first for Bora-Hansgrohe – bodes well for the remainder of his spring.

“We will see. The big goal is to stay good,” Sagan said gnomically as he waited to mount the podium. “After that, whatever comes, everything is good.”

The winning move took shape when Stuyven attacked from the front group with a little under 30 kilometres remaining, shortly after the race came through the finish line in Kuurne for the first time. Sagan wasted little time in jumping across to the Belgian, dragging Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors) with him.

Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal) show-cased his prodigious talent by bridging across alone shortly afterwards, while Rowe was the final man to hitch onto the winning train. BMC, with four riders in the front group including Van Avermaet, were inexplicably left standing on the platform, tickets flapping in the wind. Despite the efforts of Stefan Küng, they never got back on terms.

By the time Sagan and company took the bell for the final lap, their advantage over the chasers had nudged out beyond 30 seconds, but with the main peloton – which had earlier seemed irretrievably distanced – now closing to within a minute, they couldn’t afford to start eyeing one another ahead of the finale. Instead, the quintet put their shoulders to the wheel to such good effect that they entered the final three kilometres with a lead of 45 seconds.

“I wanted to go for a normal sprint, but they started attacking after crossing the finish. After that, I was in the front in the breakaway and I was really glad the guys in the front worked very well,” Sagan said.

The pace then dropped in the break, but no attack was forthcoming. When Sagan found himself on the front with 1,500 metres remaining, he risked being forced to lead out the sprint, but he cleverly extricated himself from the situation by slowing almost to a standstill beneath the flamme rouge and manoeuvering Trentin to the front.

Trentin, his hand forced, perhaps, promptly attacked with 800 metres remaining, but the move was instantly shut down by Rowe, and he found himself leading out the sprint. Such was the caginess in the front group that both the chasers and the main peloton were closing to within touching distance by the finishing straight, but it was too little, too late.

Sagan rose from the saddle with 220 metres to go and produced a powerful acceleration, quickly opening gap of three lengths over the rest of the group. Stuyven battled gamely to get back on terms, but the world champion had ample time to celebrate his win before crossing the line. “We stopped again with 500 metres to go, so it was a slow sprint, but I thought I would start from 250 metres,” Sagan said.

Arnaud Démare (FDJ) out-sprinted Van Avermaet and the rest of a chasing group to take 6th place, while Dylan Groenwegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) led home a main peloton that included Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin).

How it unfolded

The race set out from Kuurne without three-time winner Tom Boonen (Quick-Step Floors), who endured something of a lost weekend. After crashes ended his Omloop Het Nieuwsblad challenge, illness prevented him from adding to his record tally of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne wins. With just 42 days remaining until his retirement after Paris-Roubaix, the Belgian will likely have just four more races – E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders and Scheldeprijs – on home roads.

As at Omloop, there was a viciously fast start to proceedings. The peloton covered 48.5 kilometres in the first hour of racing, and almost seventy kilometres passed before Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto Soudal) and Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale) established the first break of the day. Together with Antoine Duchesne (Direct Energie), Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy), Alex Kirsch (WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect), Sjoerd van Ginneken (Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij), David Boucher (Pauwels sauzen – Vastgoedservice), Sander Cordeel (Vérandas Willems-Crelan) and Maxime Farazijn (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), they built up a maximum lead of six minutes.

Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne boasts twelve hills in total, but the principal difficulties are clustered near the midway point, and the decisive selection came on the Oude Kwaremont with 80 kilometres remaining, when Zdenek Stybar (Quick-Step Floors) and Benoot went on the offensive near the top, eventually bringing a group of around twenty riders with them.

Although Tony Martin (Katusha) crashed out of the group after clipping a parked car, with the likes of Sagan, Van Avermaet and Ian Stannard (Sky) on board, there was more than enough firepower to stay clear. They later linked up with Roelandts and the survivors of the early escape inside the final 45 kilometres after the final climb, the Nokereberg. Despite Direct Energie’s efforts in the main peloton, it was clear that the winner would come from this elite selection.

The whittling down process was not yet complete, however, as Stuyven seized the initiative with determined attack on the finishing circuit. Sagan had dosed his efforts on the front carefully to that point, leaving the pace-making to Quick-Step and BMC, but he was live to the danger and bridged across. After missing out in Ghent on Saturday, he would make no mistake in the sprint in Kuurne.

Results :
1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora – Hansgrohe 4:37:49
2 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek – Segafredo
3 Luke Rowe (GBr) Team Sky
4 Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal
5 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Quick-Step Floors
6 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ 0:00:06
7 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
8 Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale
9 Zdenek Štybar (Cze) Quick-Step Floors
10 Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Katusha – Alpecin
11 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal
12 Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica – Scott
13 Nikolas Maes (Bel) Lotto Soudal
14 Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky
15 Stefan Küng (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:00:11
16 Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team
17 Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing Team 0:00:13
18 Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team LottoNL – Jumbo
19 Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Cannondale – Drapac
20 Rudy Barbier (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
21 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha – Alpecin
22 Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Veranda’s Willems Crelan
23 Joeri Stallaert (Bel) Cibel – Cebon
24 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora – Hansgrohe
25 Raymond Kreder (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
26 Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek – Segafredo
27 Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Orica – Scott
28 Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty Groupe Gobert
29 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Direct Energie
30 Roy Jans (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect
31 Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Israel Cycling Academy
32 Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto Soudal
33 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
34 Daniel Mclay (GBr) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
35 Martin Elmiger (Swi) BMC Racing Team
36 Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Astana Pro Team
37 Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
38 Julien Vermote (Bel) Quick-Step Floors
39 Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale – Drapac
40 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale
41 Jesper Asselman (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
42 Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
43 Mathias De Witte (Bel) Cibel – Cebon
44 Tom Bohli (Swi) BMC Racing Team
45 Marc Sarreau (Fra) FDJ
46 Taco Van Der Hoorn (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij 0:00:19
47 Robert Thomas Wagner (Ger) Team LottoNL – Jumbo
48 Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica – Scott
49 Yoann Offredo (Fra) Wanty Groupe Gobert
50 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Veranda’s Willems Crelan
51 Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ
52 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Team Bahrain – Merida
53 Maxime Farazijn (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
54 Michael Valgren Andersen (Den) Astana Pro Team
55 Guillaume Boivin (Can) Israel Cycling Academy
56 Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Wanty Groupe Gobert
57 Antoine Duchesne (Can) Direct Energie
58 Frederik Frison (Bel) Lotto Soudal
59 Jelle Wallays (Bel) Lotto Soudal
60 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct Energie
61 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors
62 Ryan Anderson (Can) Direct Energie
63 Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La Mondiale
64 Michal Golas (Pol) Team Sky
65 Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Katusha – Alpecin
66 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica – Scott
67 Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) FDJ
68 Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal
69 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Sky
70 Amund Grondahl Jansen (Nor) Team LottoNL – Jumbo
71 Gregory Rast (Swi) Trek – Segafredo
72 Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Sky
73 Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Orica – Scott
74 Pim Ligthart (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
75 Sjoerd Van Ginneken (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
76 Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha – Alpecin
77 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Cannondale – Drapac
78 Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
79 Ruslan Tleubayev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
80 Tim Declercq (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:29
81 Michaël Van Staeyen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
82 Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Wanty Groupe Gobert
83 Yves Lampaert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors
84 Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team Sky 0:00:32
85 Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
86 Twan Castelijns (Ned) Team LottoNL – Jumbo
87 Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek – Segafredo 0:00:39
88 Matti Breschel (Den) Astana Pro Team 0:00:41
89 Florian Vachon (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept 0:01:13
90 Arjen Livyns (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice 0:01:32
91 Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora – Hansgrohe 0:01:59
92 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 0:02:14
93 Lawrence Naesen (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect 0:03:12
94 Borut Bozic (Slo) Team Bahrain – Merida
95 Moreno Hofland (Ned) Lotto Soudal 0:06:14
96 Kevin Ista (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect 0:08:02
97 Alex Kirsch (Lux) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect
98 Olivier Le Gac (Fra) FDJ 0:09:28
99 Ryan Mullen (Irl) Cannondale – Drapac
100 Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Israel Cycling Academy
101 Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
102 Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Bora – Hansgrohe
103 Truls Korsæth (Nor) Astana Pro Team
104 Ivan Garcia Cortina (Spa) Team Bahrain – Merida
105 Michiel Dieleman (Bel) Cibel – Cebon
106 Simone Antonini (Ita) Wanty Groupe Gobert
107 Christophe Noppe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
108 Julien Morice (Fra) Direct Energie
109 Robin Stenuit (Bel) Wanty Groupe Gobert
110 Matthias Brändle (Aut) Trek – Segafredo
111 Dion Smith (NZl) Wanty Groupe Gobert
112 Miles Scotson (Aus) BMC Racing Team
113 Thomas Boudat (Fra) Direct Energie
114 Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol) Team Sky
115 Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Katusha – Alpecin
116 Maxime Vantomme (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect
117 David Per (Slo) Team Bahrain – Merida
118 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Trek – Segafredo
119 Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La Mondiale
120 Robby Cobbaert (Bel) Cibel – Cebon
121 Berden De Vries (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
122 Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
123 Jos Van Emden (Ned) Team LottoNL – Jumbo
124 Svein Tuft (Can) Orica – Scott
125 Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
126 Stijn Steels (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
127 Arman Kamyshev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
128 Boy Van Poppel (Ned) Trek – Segafredo
129 Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
130 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora – Hansgrohe 0:10:45
131 Kevin Deltombe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise 0:10:50
DNF Marco Coledan (Ita) Trek – Segafredo
DNF Michal Kolár (Svk) Bora – Hansgrohe
DNF Jenthe Biermans (Bel) Katusha – Alpecin
DNF Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) Bora – Hansgrohe
DNF Marc Fournier (Fra) FDJ
DNF Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) FDJ
DNF Tony Martin (Ger) Katusha – Alpecin
DNF Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Team Sky
DNF Michael Morkov (Den) Katusha – Alpecin
DNF Daniel Hoelgaard (Nor) FDJ
DNF Lukas Pöstlberger (Aut) Bora – Hansgrohe
DNF Michael Goolaerts (Bel) Veranda’s Willems Crelan
DNF Antonio Nibali (Ita) Team Bahrain – Merida
DNF Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
DNF Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
DNF Romain Cardis (Fra) Direct Energie
DNF Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct Energie
DNF Benjamin Perry (Can) Israel Cycling Academy
DNF Hamish Schreurs (NZl) Israel Cycling Academy
DNF Tyler Williams (USA) Israel Cycling Academy
DNF Aviv Yechzkel (Isr) Israel Cycling Academy
DNF Jens Mouris (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
DNF Timothy Dupont (Bel) Veranda’s Willems Crelan
DNF Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
DNF Elias Van Breussegem (Bel) Veranda’s Willems Crelan
DNF Kenneth Vanbilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
DNF Sander Cordeel (Bel) Veranda’s Willems Crelan
DNF David Boucher (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice
DNF Rob Leemans (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice
DNF Alexander Geuens (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice
DNF Timothy Stevens (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice
DNF Louis Verhelst (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice
DNF Brecht Dhaene (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice
DNF Barry Markus (Ned) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice
DNF Jimmy Janssens (Bel) Cibel – Cebon
DNF Dennis Coenen (Bel) Cibel – Cebon
DNF Johannes De Paepe (Bel) Cibel – Cebon
DNF Wim Reynaerts (Bel) Cibel – Cebon
DNF Stef Van Zummeren (Bel) Veranda’s Willems Crelan
DNF Oscar Gatto (Ita) Astana Pro Team
DNF Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing Team
DNF Julien Duval (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Nico Denz (Ger) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Lars Boom (Ned) Team LottoNL – Jumbo
DNF Bram Tankink (Ned) Team LottoNL – Jumbo
DNF Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team LottoNL – Jumbo
DNF Tom Scully (NZl) Cannondale – Drapac
DNF Wouter Wippert (Ned) Cannondale – Drapac
DNF Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale – Drapac
DNF Domen Novak (Slo) Team Bahrain – Merida
DNF Ion Ander Insausti Irastorza (Spa) Team Bahrain – Merida
DNF Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
DNF Christophe Prémont (Bel) Veranda’s Willems Crelan
DNF Sam Bewley (NZl) Orica – Scott
DNF Andrey Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team
DNF Justin Jules (Fra) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect
DNF Olivier Pardini (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect
DNF Julien Stassen (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect
DNF Mark Mcnally (GBr) Wanty Groupe Gobert
DNF Erwann Corbel (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
DNF Boris Vallee (Bel) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
DNF Maxime Daniel (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
DNF Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
DNF Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
DNF Mihkel Räim (Est) Israel Cycling Academy
DNF Patrick Bevin (NZl) Cannondale – Drapac
DNS Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step Floors
DNS Luka Pibernik (Slo) Team Bahrain – Merida