Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2026: Sprinters Dominate Opening Weekend Classic
The second day of the Opening Weekend of cycling saw the traditional Kuurne – Brussels – Kuurne race unfold. While not a World Tour event, the one-day classic attracted a strong field of riders. This year’s race was notable for the prevalence of sprinter-focused teams on the start list.
A Sprinter’s Battleground
Alpecin-Deceuninck notably left Mathieu van der Poel at home, placing their faith in defending champion Jasper Philipsen. Lidl-Trek built their strategy around Jonathan Milan, and other powerful teams like Visma (with Matthew Brennan) and Soudal (Paul Magnier) also aimed for a bunch sprint finish.
???????? Kuurne – Brussel- Kuurne????????
???????????????????? Jasper Philipsen
???????????????? Magnier, Meeus, Brennan, De Lie, Milan
???????????? Girmay, Laporte, Andresen, Hofstetter, Bittner
????????Abrahamsen, Pithie,Wright, Lamperti, Wellens, Miquel
????Zingle,Mohoric,Teunissen,T. Van Dijke#KBK #kbk26 pic.twitter.com/CLsA3wS3ha
— CyclingVision????♂️ (@cyclingvisionPT) February 28, 2026
The race route covered 195km, starting in Kortrijk and finishing in Kuurne. The profile featured 2000 meters of climbing, suggesting opportunities for attacks, but the composition of the peloton pointed towards a sprint finish.
Tactical Decisions and Early Breakaways
Unibet Rose Rockets opted to save Lukáš Kubiš for later spring classics, instead deploying sprinter Dylan Groenewegen, a former winner of the event. The race unfolded in slightly better weather than the previous day’s Omloop, though winds remained strong at over 20 km/h.
An early breakaway formed with a strong septet: Jacobs (Groupama), Adriá (Movistar), Louvel (NSN), De Bondt (Jayco), Biesterbos (Picnic), Kessler (Modern Adventure), and Ingebrigsten (Uno-X). Surprisingly, the peloton allowed them to gain a significant lead of up to four minutes.
¿Ya cuantos lesionados tiene UAE?
Primero Narváez, después Bjerg que están fuera y ahora Tim Wellens.
Ya creo que se hace difícil el objetivo de las 100 victorias en 2026.
pic.twitter.com/3JyIYJopbo
— Jinzo⚡️ (@Jinzo7K) March 1, 2026
A crash within the peloton, 112 kilometers from the finish, forced Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates) to withdraw, further favoring the sprinters.
The Chase and Final Sprint
With 90 kilometers remaining, teams including Decathlon began to increase the pace, splitting the peloton. Jasper Philipsen unexpectedly took the initiative, indicating he wouldn’t rely solely on a bunch sprint. This move distanced Jonathan Milan, Paul Magnier, Dylan Groenewegen, and Arnaud De Lie.
The gap continued to grow, while a quartet of Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious), Kielich (Visma), Hoole (Decathlon), and Van Baarle (Soudal) attempted to bridge the gap, but their effort was short-lived.
The breakaway’s lead dwindled as they approached Kuurne, with the peloton closing in. A late attack by Héctor Álvarez (Lidl) proved unsuccessful. A bike change for Philipsen added a final moment of drama.
Matthew Brennan does it! ???????? The Brit storms to victory at Kuurne–Brussel–Kuurne with a sensational sprint! ???? pic.twitter.com/VYJ9UyBbyY
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) March 1, 2026
Matthew Brennan (Visma) ultimately claimed victory in the bunch sprint, confirming his potential as a future classics star. Luca Mozzato and Matteo Trentin (Tudor) finished second and third, respectively. Jordi Meeus (Red Bull) finished seventh, and Philipsen failed to contend for the win.
Disappointment for the Classics Contenders
The race concluded with disappointment for the top classics teams. UAE lost Tim Wellens due to a crash, while Lidl and Alpecin failed to deliver with Milan and Philipsen, respectively. Unibet Rose Rockets also saw their gamble on Groenewegen fall short.
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FAQ
Q: Who won Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2026?
A: Matthew Brennan (Visma) won the race.
Q: Which teams were the main contenders for the win?
A: Alpecin-Deceuninck, Lidl-Trek, Visma, and Soudal were among the teams with strong sprinters aiming for victory.
Q: What was notable about the start list?
A: The start list was dominated by sprinter-oriented teams.
