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Despite it's just the first race of the season and the fact that on the start list we can find teams mostly from Belgium and the Netherlands the race is an important event. The list of previous winners include guys like Moreno Hofland, Adam Blythe and Geraint Thomas. Dylan Groenewegen was 2nd in 2012 as well as Jasper Philipsen in 2016. In recent editions, most of the strongest juniors looking for glory in classics started their season in Kuurne. Last year we have witnessed the first uci win by Remco Evenepoel who attacked win 70km to go, dropped Ilan Van Wilder and finished solo with 40 seconds gap. Jacob Hindsgaul from Denmark was second managing to break away from big group on final kilometers. Charley Calvert from Great Britain won the sprint for third place.
Route
The race is 123 km long this year and starts in Kuurne before heading to Oudenaarde for the most important part of the race with all the hellingen. We have a new opening climb which is placed instead of Wolvenberg. The climb is Volkegemberg (33km, 1000m, avg. 5%, max 12 %) and it's slightly more difficult then the opening one from last year. Apart from the, the route follow the same hills as usual. The next 55 kilometers is the crucial part with all the important hills that will surely split the field. Riders will tackle one after another: Stokstraat (40,3km, 1.1km, avg. 5%, max 8%), Kanarieberg (49,6km, 1km, avg. 7.7% , max 14%), Hotond (55,8km, 2.7km, avg. 3% , max 7,5%), Oude Kwaremont (66,5km, 2.2km, avg. 4% , max 11,6%), Tiegemberg (76,4km, 750m, avg. 5.6% , max 9%) Holstraat (80,8km, 1km, avg. 5.2% , max 12%) and finally Nokereberg(88,3km, 350m, avg. 5.7% , max 7%) which ends 35 km from the finish line. After that, riders will head back to Kuurne on flat roads with one 15 kilometers lap at the end in Kuurne.
After doing the recon ride, Leo Hayter shared his thoughts about the route:
The race scenario is pretty similar every year. The strongest teams and riders tries to split the field on every climb. The famous Oude Kwaremont is the place where usually the crucial moves happen. The flat part after the climbs may or may not give a chance for dropped riders to come back. What I don't expect to happen is the bigger group arrive together and sprint for a victory. Even if we have a bigger group after the climbs, some riders will be able to break away and hold the gap over the chasers.
Favorites
Route
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| Race profile by La Flamme Rouge |
The race is 123 km long this year and starts in Kuurne before heading to Oudenaarde for the most important part of the race with all the hellingen. We have a new opening climb which is placed instead of Wolvenberg. The climb is Volkegemberg (33km, 1000m, avg. 5%, max 12 %) and it's slightly more difficult then the opening one from last year. Apart from the, the route follow the same hills as usual. The next 55 kilometers is the crucial part with all the important hills that will surely split the field. Riders will tackle one after another: Stokstraat (40,3km, 1.1km, avg. 5%, max 8%), Kanarieberg (49,6km, 1km, avg. 7.7% , max 14%), Hotond (55,8km, 2.7km, avg. 3% , max 7,5%), Oude Kwaremont (66,5km, 2.2km, avg. 4% , max 11,6%), Tiegemberg (76,4km, 750m, avg. 5.6% , max 9%) Holstraat (80,8km, 1km, avg. 5.2% , max 12%) and finally Nokereberg(88,3km, 350m, avg. 5.7% , max 7%) which ends 35 km from the finish line. After that, riders will head back to Kuurne on flat roads with one 15 kilometers lap at the end in Kuurne.
After doing the recon ride, Leo Hayter shared his thoughts about the route:
We rode the course earlier today. The wind didn’t seem too strong, so I think the race will be made between the Canarieberg and the Kwaremont, both of them having a pretty narrow lead in will cause some problems though. The kilometers following the Kwaremont are pretty open and the long cobble section before the feed should mix things up.
The race scenario is pretty similar every year. The strongest teams and riders tries to split the field on every climb. The famous Oude Kwaremont is the place where usually the crucial moves happen. The flat part after the climbs may or may not give a chance for dropped riders to come back. What I don't expect to happen is the bigger group arrive together and sprint for a victory. Even if we have a bigger group after the climbs, some riders will be able to break away and hold the gap over the chasers.
Favorites
Evenepoel's team, Acrog Pauwels - Sauzen - Balen BC brings a strong lineup with several cards to play. My personal favorite is one of the juniors to watch in 2019, Casper Van Uden, who was already mentioned in my preview last year. Casper might be a wild guess as his best results last year came from TTs and hills but I believe we may witness his breakthrough on cobbles right on the start of the season. Last year he was in the main group finishing 24th. Enrico Dhaeye and Arjan Poleij did well as J1 winning smaller races in Belgium. They should be able to provide a strong support to Casper and may as well try their own luck. Finally team brings Robin Orins, one of the best u17 riders in Belgium last year. Let's see if he can shine in juniors right from the start.
Spiderking Soenens U19 Team should be one of the strongest on the start who was also part of my juniors to watch, Axel van der Tuuk rode full classics season last year, won E3 Harelbeke and finished second in Guido Reybrouck Classic. Considering how strong is his team, Axel is one of the favorites for Sunday. Tom Portsmouth won several races in Belgium last year in u17 category while Bodi Del Grosso already has scored a uci win from last year winning the opening stage in Grudziądz in Poland where he has also finished sixth overall.
I have asked Axel about his opinion and also how the 2018 race unfold from his perspective:
I have asked Axel about his opinion and also how the 2018 race unfold from his perspective:
Last year was my first race in u19, so i was a bit nervous. It was nice weather, so very hectic from the beginning. I awaited all the mountains and got in the big first group, behind Evenepoel. Got cramped in the final, so no good result, 37th i think?
This year will be totally different, the weather will play a big role, hard wind and lots of rain. I think this will be the biggest thing to make the difference, i hope for a very hard race. Real classic weather, i like it!
As usual in season opener, we have several teams from Great Britain. The national team brings several strong cards to play including Leo Hayter, younger brother of Ethan who is yet to prove his talent is uci races. Last year he had several podium places in Belgium but also managed to win two stages in Junior Tour of Assen finishing fourth in GC. He also won a TT and finished third in Boucles de L'Oise. Finally, he was second in Junior Tour of Wales where he has also won the TT. He is one of the riders who had very good first year as junior but are yet to prove their talent in the most prestigious races.
I have asked Leo what he expect from the race and who does he see as a the strongest cards to play from Great Britain:
South East Region team brings one of the juniors to watch and one of the biggest race favorites, Lewis Askey. Paris Roubaix winner from last year should use his experience from last year when he tried his luck several times during the race and also helped to lead out Charley Clavert who finished third. This year he will have a strong support and should ride for a win if nothing bad happens.
I have asked Lewis about his opinion and also how the 2018 race unfold from his perspective:
I have asked Leo what he expect from the race and who does he see as a the strongest cards to play from Great Britain:
I didn’t have much experience with road racing last year so didn’t get to race any of the early season classics, so KBK will be my first. Our recon ride will be on Saturday looking at the key sections of the race, although I did a few Interclubs and Kermesses in the Kortrijk area last year, so it shouldn’t be all new. As a big season opener it will definitely be messy in the start. Weaker riders will struggle on the opening climbs but I think the big splits will happen on / after the Kwaremont. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lewis Askey follows team South Easts previous success in the classics and takes the win. Finley Newmark was consistent throughout last year also. Although a team mainly comprised of 1st year junior riders, the GB team is strong and all of us are capable of winning on the right day.
South East Region team brings one of the juniors to watch and one of the biggest race favorites, Lewis Askey. Paris Roubaix winner from last year should use his experience from last year when he tried his luck several times during the race and also helped to lead out Charley Clavert who finished third. This year he will have a strong support and should ride for a win if nothing bad happens.
I have asked Lewis about his opinion and also how the 2018 race unfold from his perspective:
Being the first race of the year it was a pretty crazy start. I put myself in the right places and didn’t get caught up in any crashes. The pack seemed to thin out quicker than I expected with the short climbs early on. These sort of short sharp hills suit me so I was feeling good. I think the Kwaremont is going to be important; the wining break could go over it but I think the race is more easily lost here than won. Last year I was off the front over it but we got brought back on the fast open decent after it. Coming into the finish last year I was trying to get away on the flat but nothing was getting away so I committed to leading my teammate Charley Calvert out. He won the bunch sprint for 3rd from it & I just rolled in at back of main bunch. This year I’m just going into it with the idea of enjoying it & seeing what happens. I’m racing for south east for this race so won’t have a specific role. All I’m expecting is a pretty sketchy start and some hard racing!
Arnaud De Lie is one of the favorites despite racing for the first time as a junior. Last year he won 13 races including two stages and second overall in West-Vlaanderen Cycling Tour. He is very strong rider with great TT and sprint and should be able to compete against the best juniors right from the start.
Milan Fretin should lead Zannatta Galloo Team. He was already ninth in both Paris Roubaix and E3 Harelbeke last year and scored two top ten places on stages in Ster Van Zuid Limburg. Branko Huys was known mostly thanks to his results in TT but I believe he should be able to compete with the best on cobbles as well. Last year he skipped the classics apart from Nokere Koerse but later was eleventh in Driedaagse van Axe proving his ability to ride in this type of races.
Last name on my list is Hidde van Veenendaal who rode the classics campaign last year but didn't manage to get any notable results. He won three races in Belgium later the season and scored several decent results in uci races including second overall and two top ten places on stages in Poland in Grudziądz. He was also eleventh overall and fifth on the final queen stage in Driedaagse van Axel.
Website
Route
Startlist
Last name on my list is Hidde van Veenendaal who rode the classics campaign last year but didn't manage to get any notable results. He won three races in Belgium later the season and scored several decent results in uci races including second overall and two top ten places on stages in Poland in Grudziądz. He was also eleventh overall and fifth on the final queen stage in Driedaagse van Axel.
Website
Route
Startlist
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