Preview: Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2024 – Will Wout van Aert score on his debut?

The last ten winners Corn-Brussels-Corn
2023: Tisig girls
2022: Fabio Jacobsen
2021: Mads Pedersen
2020: Casper Asgren
2019: Bob Jungles
2018: Dylan Groenewegen
2017: Peter Sagan
2016: Jasper Stuyven
2015: Mark Cavendish
2014: Tom Bonin

Latest edition

Korn-Brussels-Korn result 2023
1. Pinot Pinot (Jumbo-Visma)
2. Nathan van Hooydonk (Jumbo-Visma) took first place
3. Matej Mohoric (Bahrain – Al Muntaser) in Sh
4. Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) in zt
5. Tim Wellens (UAE) in Sh

Effect

Compared to last year, not much has changed on the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne route, or indeed Kortrijk-Brussels-Kuurne. The start is in Kortrijk, located next to Kuurne. In the opening stage of the race, a number of slopes disappeared, but a number of similar slopes were added. This has ensured that the cycle will be slightly longer than in 2023, but the difference is small. The Grand Final looks exactly the same as it did last year.

Certain newcomers to the Hainaut trilogy are Hameau de Papin (1200m, average 6.6%, max 16.2%), Le Bourliquet (1300m, average 6.8%, max 15.3%) and Mont Saint Laurent (1300m ). , an average of 7.8% to a maximum of 17%), combined with a subsequent final section including Hotond, Côte de Trieu or Knokteberg and Kluisberg, could turn the race on its head again.

So the start will be in Kortrijk this year and no longer in the Brugsesteenweg in Kuurne. This is followed by a route about 200 kilometers long with thirteen slopes. The first is the famous Tiegemberg just 17.5 kilometers into the race. After about 20 kilometers without descents, the (cobblestone) ascents will follow one another in quick succession. Consider, among others, Volkegemberg, Lepelstraat, Bossenaarstraat and Berg Ten Hout.

The five-hundred-meter-long Beerbosstraat, 33.5 kilometers from the finish, is the last cobblestone section and a noticeable obstacle before the finish. It then takes off at a fast jog through the hills of Saint-Denis towards Corny, where the finish line is crossed after 183.9 kilometres. What follows is another 12.5km local cycle via Kortrijk and Harelbeke. Teams of runners can try to place something, which always creates exciting scenes.

Favorite

Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne is not an easy race to predict. It sticks together for one year and in the end the runner wins, just think of Fabio Jacobsen in 2022 and Dylan Groenewegen in 2018. And the following year, it's the strikers who fight for victory, just think of Tish Pinot's win last year or Kasper's win. Asgreen in 2020. So things could go either way.

However, this year we are leaning more towards the second scenario, which is the attackers' scenario. There are two reasons for this. The first reason: bad weather. The weather conditions will be very bad on Sunday, which always makes racing difficult. Then runners are at a disadvantage. The second reason: Strong Visma| Rent a bike. They will also start in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne with a very strong mass and will do everything in their power to avoid a sprint.

Woot Fan ArtKuurne-Brussels-Kuurne rides for the first time in his career. This is a completely private fact. “It's going to be a fun, new challenge. It's not that I'm suddenly nervous about this race, but I really don't know those roads out there at all. It's uncharted territory for me. Our tactics? We're going to try to make the race difficult,” Van Aert said in a press conference. Cycling.

Van Aert playing in the Vuelta au Algarve, where he won the stage – Photo: Cor Vos

Van Aart can count on his all-star squad on Sunday. With riders like Christophe Laporte, Dylan Van Baarle And Tisig girls Next to him will be Visma| Rent a bike In principle, he quickly ensured that the men of the Yellow Brigade would find themselves in a surplus position. They also did so last year, when Pinot was able to capitalize on team play. Matteo Jorgenson, Per Strand Hagenis and the winner of Omloop will also be there Jan Tratnik in the beginning. Visma | In other words, rent a bike Seven potential winners are in the ranks.

Alpecin-Deceuninck is one of the teams that will attempt a sprint in Korn. They will do so in the position of leader Jasper Philipsen. the Pork torch He started his season at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and now wants to sign up for Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Philipsen showed last year that he can also hold his own in the Spring Classic. If you can finish second in Paris-Roubaix, you can also win the Courn-Brussels-Corn.

Philipsen (centre) has not taken any action yet, but is featured in the new Alpecin-Deceuninck collection – Image: FacePeeters

Another powerful block is the Lidl-Trek block. there Jonathan Milan and Jasper Stuyven, leaders. Milan will take a more cautious approach, and Stuyven will opt to attack. The Leuven resident knows exactly how to do it in the Corn-Brussels-Corn, having won the race in 2016. Milan is a strong runner and can handle a very tough race. If he's still in the peloton in the final kilometer on Sunday, he's a very dangerous customer.

Matej Mohorek He is a racer who is always trying. The Slovenian from Bahrain, Victorius, also has a sense for the right moment. Last year he was part of the decisive escape KBKBut in the end he had to settle for third place. Then it became Tim Wellens Fifth, who could be an ally of Mohoric. Of course, Wellens, who has already shown good things this season, should not wait for the race.

Jonathan Millan – Photo: Ross Bell/Liddle Trek

Finally, we discuss Soudal's quick step. They will look first and foremost Casper Asgren. The Dane proved last year in the Tour de France that he can still reach the highest levels. If he can do it again this spring, we can expect him to come close to victory several times over. In the Belgian team we also look at Yves Lambert and Luc Lamberti. The latter came through the big door this season and is on the bucket list of many cycling fans.

We've already got the real big names. We now ended up in a large group of strangers. We mention the biggest names: Alexandre Christophe (Uno-X Mobility), Axel Zengel (Cofidis), Arnaud Demare (Arkéa B&B Hotels), Laurence Pithe (Groupama-FDJ), Jordi Meus, Bob Jungels (both BORA-hansgrohe), and Oier Lazcano ( Movistar), Matteo Trentin (Tudor), Biniyam Girmay (Intermarche-Wante), Lars Boven (Alpecin-Deseuinink), Niels Bullet (UAE).

Favorites according to WielerFlits
**** Woot Fan Art
*** Jasper Philipsen, Christophe Laporte
** Dylan van Baarle, Matej Mohoric, Tim Wellens
* Thijsg Pinot, Jonathan Milan, Casper Asgren, Jasper Stuyven

Site organization
List of participants (WielerFlits)

Weather and TV

It will be typical spring weather on Sunday in Corn-Brussels-Corn. Things are really happening in and around Corney It rains cats and dogs And he expected. It is expected Weatheronline Temperatures exceeding 5 degrees Celsius only. Moreover, it is almost certain that it will rain. And: The wind will blow hard. 4 Beaufort is currently expected.

The Belgian classic can of course be followed live on TV. Sporzaon VRT1Their broadcast begins at two in the afternoon. Eurosport 1 It starts in half an hour. You can also follow the course via the electronic channels of Eurosport.nl And Discover+. For more information, you can always visit our Cycling on TV TV guide.