72nd Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: March 1, 2020

[Pantani_lives]

The second half of the Belgian opening weekend is Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Sometimes a sprinter wins here, but tough weather is predicted, so it might very well be an attacking race. The total distance is 201 km. Eleven hills will make the middle part of the race harder before the riders reach the local circuit of three 11 km laps.

Hills:

1. Volkegemberg (168 km) [1000 m; 5%]
2. Eikenmolen (153.5 km) [350 m; 5.9%]
3. Bossenaarstraat (121.8 km) [1300 m; 5.6%]
4. Mont Saint-Laurent (104.6 km) [1300 m; 7.8%]
5. La Houppe (89.9 km) [1880 m; 4.8%]
6. Kanarieberg (84.7 km) [1000 m; 7.7%]
7. Kruisberg (77.4 km) [1800 m; 4.8%]
8. Hotond (75.6 km) [2700 m; 3.1%]
9. Knokteberg (67.7 km) [1260 m; 7%]
10. Oude Kwaremont (57.9 km) [2200 m; 4%]
11. Kluisberg (51.1 km) [1100 m; 6%]

Recent winners:
2010 Bobbie Traksel
2011 Chris Sutton
2012 Mark Cavendish
2013 (cancelled)
2014 Tom Boonen
2015 Mark Cavendish
2016 Jasper Stuyven
2017 Peter Sagan
2018 Dylan Groenewegen
2019 Bob Jungels
2020 ???

 

[sir fly]

Correctional possibility...

We'll see how the changes in parcours will reflect on racing.

 

[Pantani_lives]

*** Stybar, Van Avermaet, Stuyven, Lampaert
**Degenkolb, Kristoff, Trentin, Vanmarcke, Naesen
*Jungels, Pedersen, Asgreen, Küng, Roelandts, Kragh Andersen

Weirdly enough Jumbo-Visma isn't participating.

 

[F_Cance]

when was the last time a rider won both?

 

[Pantani_lives]

when was the last time a rider won both?

No one has won the double in one weekend. The last rider to win both in his career was... Jasper Stuyven.

 

[SafeBet]

I don't think Stybar looked particularly impressive but might be because of race situations.

Stuyven was great today and has won Kuurne before, so he sure deserves to be among the top favorites.

 

[repre]

*** Stybar, Van Avermaet, Stuyven, Lampaert
**Degenkolb, Kristoff, Trentin, Vanmarcke, Naesen
*Jungels, Pedersen, Asgreen, Küng, Roelandts, Kragh Andersen

Weirdly enough Jumbo-Visma isn't participating.

I don't think Andersen will be favourite tomorrow after today's work. He cramped and looked cooked at the end. No way he'll recover that fast.

 

[Pantani_lives]

I'm only happy when it rains.

 

[sir fly]

I'm only happy when it rains.

Singin"?

 

[hammerthaim]

Kristoff by 2 bike lengths.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Mikkel Bjerg (UAE)
Roy Jans (Alpecin-Fenix)
Hugo Houle (Astana)
Boris Vallée (Wallonie-Bruxelles)
Jonas Abrahamsen (Noorwegen)

1m20s ahead of the peloton

 

[Velolover2]

Are the Steppers riding for Jakobsen?

They might not be very cooperative in a potential later break with a reduced sprint in mind.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Are the Steppers riding for Jakobsen?

I would assume he is plan A. But they usually have a plan B and C. They could send someone along in the break and let him do no work at all. If the break makes it, they have the best chances there.If the peloton makes it, they have the best chances there as well.

 

[Velolover2]

I would assume he is plan A. But they usually have a plan B and C.

Okay. The breakaway is going to have a hard time without the help of the usual 2-3 Steppers in it.

I could see them being glued to the wheel on potential danger candidates likes GVA, Naesen, Van Aert, etc.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Gap now over 3 minutes.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Gap now over 3 minutes.

Giving Bjerg too many minutes could backfire.

 

[Red Rick]

Giving Bjerg too many minutes could backfire.

He should feel right at home on the Bjergs.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

6m30s as of 10 minutes ago.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Completely dry and hardly any wind. They should hang the weatherman.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

5 minute gap, 68k to go

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Bjerg mechanical.

 

[DNP-Old]

Did y'all see that? Moscon threw a bike against some B&B rider's head.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Bjerg still not in sight behind the leaders.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Did y'all see that? Moscon threw a bike against some B&B rider's head.

That's what he does.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Did y'all see that? Moscon threw a bike against some B&B rider's head.

Thought it was against a Lotto guy.