Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne will have 17 WorldTeams and 8 ProTeams at the start
“As a 1. Pro race, we are only allowed to invite 17 WorldTeams,” reports race director Peter Debaveye. “Since there were only 18 teams in that category this year and EF Education didn’t seem to have much interest in our competition, the choice was made quickly. At the ProTeams we are of course in favor of the three Belgian teams: Team Flanders-Baloise, Bingoal-WB and Lotto Dstny. We filled this trio with Israel-Premier Tech, UNO-X, TotalEnergies, Human Powerd Health and the new Q36.5.”
The course was already overhauled in 2022 and will also be maintained this year. “We focus on safety and therefore looked for new, and especially wide, roads. We received nothing but positive comments after our last edition. Perhaps there was sometimes some expected racing, but that was because many did not really know these new roads in and around the Pays des Collines. That will be completely different this year. Our course is selective enough not to let it come to a mass print. If the peloton still storms to the Brugsesteenweg, that is no problem. A royal spurt can be achieved there.”
“At the start and finish area, we want to add even more listening to our 75th edition with numerous activities that we will communicate about later,” says Peter Debaveye.
The last edition of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne was won by the Dutchman Fabio Jakobsen. He achieved it after a bunch sprint from the Australian Caleb Ewan and the Frenchman Hugo Hofstetter. The last Belgian overall victory dates from 2016 with Jasper Stuyven.
All information:
Start: Brugsesteenweg in Kuurne at 12h05
Finish: Brugsesteenweg in Kuurne about 4:55 PM
Distance: 195.1 km
slopes:
Tiegemberg (17 km), Kattenberg (35 km), Boembekestraat (56 km), Bossenaarstraat (75 km), Berg Ten Houte (78 km), La Houppe (85 km), Hameau des Papins, Le Bourliquet (112 km), Mont Saint Laurent (117 km), Kruisberg (126 km), Hotond (128 km), Côte de Trieu (135 km), Kluisberg (142 km).
The main cobble zones:
Holleweg Oudenaarde (36 km), Gieterijstraat Maarkedal (72 km), Nederholbeekstraat Maarkedal (73 km), Beerbosstraat Bellegem (161 km).
The deviant teams
WorldTeams: AG2R – Citroën (Fra), Alpecin – Deceuninck (Bel), Astana Qazaqstan Team (Kaz), Bahrain Victorius (Bah), BORA – hansgrohe (Ger), Cofidis (Fra), Groupama – FDJ (Fra), Ineos Grenadiers (GBr), Intermarché – Circus – Wanty (Bel), Team Jumbo – Visma (Ned), Movistar (Spa), Soudal Quick-Step (Bel), Team Jayco – Aiuia (Aus), Team DSM (Ned), Trek – Segafredo (USA), UAE Team Emirates (UAE), Team Arkéa – Samsic (Fra).
ProTeams: Bingoal – WB (Bel), Lotto – Dstny (Bel), Team Flanders – Baloise (Bel), UNO – X Pro Cycling Team (Noo), TotalEnergies (Fra), Human Powered Health (VSt), Isreal Premier Tech ( Isr), Q36.5 PCT (Zwi).
Honors since 2003
2003: Roy Sentjens
2004: Steven de Jongh (Ned)
2005: George Hincapie (USA)
2006: Nick Nuyens
2007: Tom Boonen
2008: Steven de Jongh (Ned)
2009: Tom Boonen
2010: Bobbie Traksel (Ned)
2011: Chris Sutton (Aus)
2012: Mark Cavendish (GB)
2013: Canceled
2014: Tom Boonen
2015: Mark Cavendish (GB)
2016: Jasper Stuyven
2017: Peter Sagan (Svk)
2018: Dylan Groenewegen (Ned)
2019: Bob Jungels (Lux)
2020: Kasper Asgreen (Den)
2021: Mads Pedersen (Den)
2022: Fabio Jakobsen (Ned).