Race Report: The Jumbo-Visma workforce dominated the Flemish opening weekend. Tiesj Benoot gained the seventy fifth version of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne on Sunday. The Belgian was a part of an escape group of 5 riders and the Dutch workforce managed to play the one-two within the final kilometre. Nathan van Hooydonck completed second, Matej Mohorič was third.
The final 20K
Jumbo-Visma domination of the opening weekend – Tiesj Benoot takes Kuurne
After Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, gained by Dylan van Baarle, the opening weekend continued with Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday. This cobbles race needed to cross the Pays des Collines within the Ardennes. Along with La Houppe, Hameau des Papins (1.2km at 6.6%, max. 16.2%), Le Bourliquet (1.3km at 6.8%, max. 15.3%) and Mont Saint-Laurent (1.3km at 7.8%, max. 17%). The seventy fifth version contained a complete of 4 cobblestone sections and 13 climbs. The Tiegemberg was the primary, the Kluisberg the final.
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne 2023 profile
Saturday’s Omloop winner – Dylan Van Baarle at first in Kuurne
Quickly after official begin of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne there was a crash involving Jan Tratnik (Jumbo-Visma), Man Sagiv (Israel Prime Minister Tech), Matteo Malucelli (Bingoal WB) and Filippo Baronchini (Trek-Segafredo). Tratnik, who was very robust on Saturday in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Malucelli and Sagiv may proceed, however Baronchini got here out worst. The younger Italian of Trek-Segafredo, the U23 World champion in Leuven, needed to abandon.
The second Traditional of the season ‘correct’ will get below method
The beginning of a windy day
The primary climb of the day, the Tiegemberg, Gilles de Wilde (Staff Flanders-Baloise), Lluís Mas (Movistar), Daniel Oss (TotalEnergies) and Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) jumped away. These 4 took a pleasant lead and had been joined by Guillaume van Keirsbulck (Bingoal WB) and Matthew Gibson (Human Powered Well being), quickly after. The peloton allow them to go and the lead rose to 7 minutes.
The break of the day
The peloton hits the cobbles
The presence of Van der Hoorn was one thing for the opposite groups to control. Final 12 months, after a day within the early break, the Dutch attacker was solely caught within the remaining kilometre in Kuurne, after he had been away with Christophe Laporte and Jhonathan Narváez. Slightly below 100 kilometres from the road, there was one other crash. The principle sufferer was Jasper Philipsen. The quick Belgian of Alpecin-Deceuninck was one of many favourites earlier than the beginning, however needed to chase again.
Nonetheless appears to be like like winter in Belgium
The chase was on behind
Philipsen had the unhealthy luck that the velocity lifted within the peloton, led by Lotto Dstny and Jumbo-Visma. In consequence, the lead of the six, Gibson had been dropped, went beneath 3 minutes. As a result of crash, there have been a number of splits within the peloton and several other high riders had been behind with Philipsen, Alexander Kristoff and Yves Lampaert. Jumbo-Visma didn’t intend to decelerate. The Dutch workforce didn’t desire a dash end.
Jumbo-Visma had been working laborious – Was it for Christophe Laporte?
Unhealthy crash for Rajovic Dusan
On the Le Bourliquet (1.3km at 6.8%, max. 15.3%), the Dutch workforce put the hammer down. Tratnik, Tiesj Benoot and Nathan Van Hooydonck rode away from the peloton, throughout to the early break with Taco van der Hoorn, Daniel Oss and the others. A number of non-Jumbo-Visma riders had been in a position to go together with Matej Mohorič, Tim Wellens and the surprisingly robust Peter Sagan. This improvement put Arnaud de Lie and Fabio Jakobsen in hassle.
Jumbo-Visma had been very a lot in management
Tim Wellens arrange the break
The primary group, containing the Jumbo-Visma males, Wellens and Sagan, saved it occurring the Mont Saint-Laurent (1.3km at 7.8%, max. 17%). Wellens clearly felt good, took Moordič, Benoot, Van Hooydonck and Van der Hoorn (once more) in a really harmful cut up. After the Mont Saint-Laurent, these 5 riders had a 30 second lead on the second group. In that chase group there was high favourites De Lie and Jakobsen, but additionally different fast males corresponding to Sagan, Christophe Laporte and Jonathan Milan.
Sturdy males off the entrance, however 60 kilometres to go…
Jumbo-Visma had two males within the break: Nathan Van Hooydonck and Tiesj Benoot
After the climb of Mont Saint-Laurent, the roads in direction of Kuurne had been a bit flatter and this gave the group the prospect to organise a great chase. Lotto Dstny took accountability within the pursuit for his or her sprinter De Lie, however the break was getting additional away. Half a minute grew to become a minute, a minute grew to become a minute and a half. Because the race went on, it regarded higher for Benoot, Van Hooydonck, Van der Hoorn, Wellens and Mohorič.
Matej Mohorič additionally made it into the break
As a result of work of Lotto Dstny, Soudal Fast-Step and Cofidis, the distinction to the main group closed down a little bit, however the main 5 had 1 minute lead as they began the native lap of 12.6 kilometres by way of Kortrijk and Kuurne. It regarded secure for the break, however the race was nonetheless open. Van der Hoorn, Mohorič, Wellens, Benoot and Van Hooydonck had been nonetheless trying robust and managed to remain out of the grip of the chasing peloton. The winner would come from the the break
Peter Sagan was nonetheless within the peloton
Jumbo-Visma had the posh of two males and used it to the max. With just below 5 kilometres to go, Van Hooydonck tried to journey away twice, however Mohorič, Wellens and Van der Hoorn had been on to his strikes. Then it was as much as Benoot to strive, however the Belgian couldn’t get a spot. A subsequent assault by Mohorič was stronger, however Van Hooydonck closed the breach after which went once more. Mohorič needed to pull out all of the stops to observe, however didn’t crack.
The profitable beak
Van der Hoorn watched all of it from the again of the group and closed the gaps many times. The rider of Intermarché-Circus-Wanty appeared to be playing on the dash, however Benoot had different plans. The Belgian had a remaining soar within the remaining kilometre and this turned out to be the suitable transfer. Wellens may now not shut the hole, neither may Van der Hoorn and Mohorič. Benoot crossed the road first forward of his teammate, Hooydonck and Mohorič. Christophe Laporte gained the bunch dash for sixth place.
A jumbo 1-2… and sixth
Race winner, Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo-Visma): “It’s nice to have the ability to win like this after a troublesome interval. Within the final 5 kilometres, Nathan and I took turns to lure the remaining out of their room. Tim Wellens and Matej Mohorič gambled on the dash. We had been nonetheless within the entrance group with two folks and also you wish to play that. Nathan was already very robust at three kilometres from the road and Mohorič had loads of hassle closing that hole. I went after the final nook, 800 meters from the end, and managed to take a small hole. I knew I needed to proceed. In the event that they nonetheless take me again, Nathan can nonetheless win the dash. It’s actually fantastic to win like that. I wish to dedicate this victory to my girlfriend Fien, my daughter and my mother and father. They had been there in Livigno after my accident. The primary few weeks after my fall I used to be not essentially the most nice at residence. In addition they performed an essential function throughout my rehabilitation. It is vitally good to win. It might not be a WorldTour race, it’s a lovely and enormous one-day Traditional. I’ve made an enormous purpose for all races to Liège-Bastogne-Liège. To win now, after an absence of seven months… it’s nice.”
Kuurne’23 podium: Nathan Van Hooydonck (Jumbo-Visma), Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo-Visma) and Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious)
# All of the information from the opening weekend in EUROTRASH Monday. #
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne Outcome:
1. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Jumbo-Visma in 4:32:24
2. Nathan Van Hooydonck (Bel) Jumbo-Visma at 0:01
3. Matej Mohorič (Slo) Bahrain – Victorious
4. Taco van der Hoorn (Ned) Intermarché-Circus-Wanty
5. Tim Wellens (Bel) UAE Staff Emirates
6. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Jumbo-Visma at 0:43
7. Arnaud De Lie (Bel) Lotto Dstny
8. Jordi Meeus (Bel) BORA-hansgrohe
9. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Soudal Fast-Step
10. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo.
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