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57th Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne - 1.2
Belgium, February 29, 2004
A cold and snowy KBK
By Jeff Jones
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Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne is the traditional followup race to Omloop Het Volk, which marks the opening of the Belgian calendar. Shorter and featuring less climbs than Het Volk, the 57th K-B-K is seen as more of a sprinter's race, although there is still enough in it to cause breaks. And with the cold and snowy weather in Belgium looking set to continue until early next week, this will certainly play a role in the outcome of the race.
This year's 188 km parcours contains eight climbs, skipping the Kluisberg this year and going via the Oude Kwaremont (km 110), Cote de Trieu (km 125), Tiegemberg (km 134) and Nokereberg (km 144), the final climb in the race. If the current weather conditions prevail, then the riders will have a head/crosswind for the next 20 km back to the finishing circuits in Kuurne.
The field is typically similar to Het Volk, although don't expect to see Saturday's winner in contention on Sunday. Last year on a miserable day, young Dutchman Roy Sentjens (Rabobank) took a fine opportunistic win after attacking a five man breakaway with 2 km to go. Only 26 riders finished the race, with most of the peloton being pulled out for being too far behind.
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Oddly for a defending champion, Sentjens will wear number 45 in this year's edition of the race, with the number one dossard being reserved for Johan Museeuw (Quick.Step-Davitamon). Museeuw will have with him Tom Boonen, Stefano Zanini and Aurélien Clerc, and if they finish out of the money on Saturday they will surely be in for some action in K-B-K. The same goes for Belgium's number two team Lotto-Domo, which is hunting for victories to try and guarantee Tour selection.
U.S. Postal looks to be stronger this year with George Hincapie, Viatcheslav Ekimov, Max van Heeswijk and Stijn Devolder, and they certainly want to impress Belgian sponsors Berry Floor with a good outing in this classic. Rabobank, which has scored the most number of UCI points so far this season, boasts Oscar Freire in its ranks (as well as Sentjens), but one of their lesser known riders could certainly shine again.
What happens with Frank Vandenbroucke (Fassa Bortolo) will probably depend on the outcome of Het Volk. VDB is still riding himself into form at the moment, and he expects to peak a little later on this season. Cofidis will feature Stuart O'Grady, who notched up a few second and third places in Portugal recently, Jimmy Casper, who was part of the main break last year, and Belgian Peter Farazijn, who also looks to be in form at the moment.
In Credit Agricole, Thor Hushovd is probably the man to watch after his lucky win in Classic Haribo last weekend. Well, he kept the bike upright and that's what counts! Speaking of sprinters, Jaan Kirsipuu (winner in 2002) is definitely a man for this race. Normally used to winning bunch kicks, Kirsipuu took out the 2002 edition with a gut busting solo move, a testament to the strength of this Estonian rider.
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FDJeux.com's Baden Cooke will be looking for some revenge after being taken down in the Classic Haribo crash. If he misses the front group, then Austrian Bernhard Eisel or Australian champ Matthew Wilson may be able to take their chances. MrBookmaker boasts Belgian champion Geert Omloop as well as Jo Planckaert, winner of K-B-K in 1999.
Team CSC will be relying on classics man Frank Høj's to take the reins, while Chocolade Jacques will hope for Jans Koerts to pull off something special. Fabio Baldato (Alessio-Bianchi) is certainly a candidate for victory in this race, as well as Angelo Furlan who is always up there in the sprints.
Nico Mattan will be guiding his younger Bodysol-Brustor teammates during the race, and Landbouwkrediet-Colnago has riders like Ludovic Capelle and Yuri Metlushenko to rely on.
Past winners
2003 Roy Sentjens (Ned) Rabobank 190 kms in 4.48.00 (39.55 km/h) 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
