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56th Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne - 1.2
Belgium, March 2, 2003
Preview
By Jeff Jones
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Taking place on the Sunday following Het Volk is the 190 kilometre semi-classic Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. The two races are traditionally held on the same weekend, and 2003 marks the 56th edition of KBK. It's a tough race, but not as hard as Het Volk, containing far fewer flat cobbled sections and only seven climbs. Last year's winner was Jaan Kirsipuu, who did so with a rare but not unheard of solo attack. Kirsipuu is one of the front runners again for this year's edition, and is certainly in good enough form.
The race is also a chance for the Lotto-Domo team to take back some ground on Quick Step, who so masterfully dominated Het Volk. The Museeuw/Bettini/Boonen/VDB train smashed the peloton on the climbs and across the cobbles, leaving Lotto's Peter Van Petegem and Robbie McEwen struggling behind them. KBK suits both Van Petegem and McEwen, although Museeuw's name stands on the past winners list twice.
Quick Step are going in with a similar team, save for Kashechkin and Cretskens, who have been substituted by Luca Paolini and Aurelien Clerc. The big guns are still there though, and it will be interesting to see if they fired all their shots in Het Volk.
The US Postal presented by Berry Floor squad had a good result in Het Volk with Max van Heeswijk's second place. He can sprint well, but may be a little worn from his efforts on Saturday. On the other hand, they have George Hincapie, still recovering from a sinus problem, and Viatcheslav Ekimov, who figured in the front group in Het Volk.
Rabobank will be hoping for better things from Oscar Freire, who suffered a little in his first Belgian outing. They have Robert Hunter, Kevin de Weert and Mathew Hayman to help him, among others. Fassa Bortolo's Filippo Pozzato and Roberto Petito are in good form at the moment, although Petito suffered a fall in Het Volk on Saturday.
Cofidis has a past winner in Jo Planckaert, who abandoned Het Volk presumably to save something for KBK. The 1999 winner will be hoping for a bit of luck in order to repeat his success, but he's very capable of doing so. His team with Peter Farazijn, Chris Peers and Nico Mattan is also quite strong.
From Saeco, Fabio Sacchi showed his strength on Saturday, although he did miss the critical break. Combined with Dario Pieri, the boys in red might be able to do something on Sunday. FDJeux.com's Baden Cooke can certainly be considered a favourite for Kuurne, having won three races already this season and sprinting well. If he can survive the Belgian conditions, he'll be there at the finish.
The bright yellow Sidermec jerseys were prominent at the front of the bunch at the end of Het Volk, so look for Romans Vainsteins and Gianluca Bortolami again in KBK. Bankgiroloterij will be relying on Gerben Lowik again, and finally Landbouwkrediet-Colnago's Tom Steels will be hoping for a better ride on Sunday, after DNF'ing in Het Volk.
Past winners
2002 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2r-Prevoyance 188 kms in 4.31.00 2001 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Mercury 188 kms in 4.20.00 2000 Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 197 kms in 4.47.06 1999 Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 188 kms in 4.38.45 1998 Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 197 kms in 4.56.00 1997 Johan Museeuw (Bel) 1996 Rolf Sörensen (Den) 1995 Frédéric Moncassin (FRA) 1994 Johan Museeuw (Bel) 1992 Olaf Ludwig (Ger) 1991 Johnny Dauwe (Bel) 1990 Hendrik Redant (Bel) 1989 Edwig Van Hooydonck (Bel) 1988 Hendrik Redant (Bel) 1987 Ludo Peeters (Bel) 1985 William Tackaert (Bel) 1984 Joseph Lammertink (Ned) 1983 Jan Raas (Ned) 1982 Gregor Braun (Ger) 1981 Joseph Jacobs (Bel) 1980 Jan Raas (Ned) 1979 Walter Planckaert (Bel) 1978 Patrick Lefevere (Bel) 1977 Patrick Sercu (Bel) 1976 Frans Verhaegen (Bel) 1975 Frans Verhaegen (Bel) 1974 Wilfried Wesemael (Bel) 1973 Walter Planckaert (Bel) 1972 Gustaaf Van Roosbroeck (Bel) 1971 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) 1970 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) 1969 Freddy Decloedt (Bel) 1968 Eric Leman (Bel) 1967 Daniel Van Rijckeghem (Bel) 1966 Gustave Desmet (Bel) 1965 Guido Reybrouck (Bel) 1964 Arthur De Cabooter (Bel) 1963 Noél Fore (Bel) 1962 Piet Rentmeester (Ned) 1961 Alfred De Bruyne (Bel) - Leon Van Daele (Bel) 1960 Joseph Planckaert (Bel) 1959 Gentiel Saelens (Bel) 1958 Gilbert Desmet (Bel) 1957 Joseph Verhelts (Bel) 1956 Henri Denijs (Bel) 1955 Joseph Planckaert (Bel) 1954 Leon Van Daele (Bel) 1953 Leopold De Graeveleyn (Bel) 1952 André Maelbrancke (Bel) 1951 André Declerck (Bel) 1950 Valére Ollivier (Bel) 1949 Albert Decin (Bel) 1948 Achiel Buysse (Bel) 1947 André Pieters (Bel) 1946 Henri Delmuyle (Bel Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com
