Belgium • One-day Classic
Known as the 'Donkey Race,' this is a gritty test of survival where the peloton grapples with the biting winds of early spring and the steep, cobbled soul of the Oude Kwaremont. It is a tactical masterpiece of the Opening Weekend, pitting the raw power of the classics specialists against the frantic, high-speed desperation of the sprinters' teams.
| Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2026 |
The course features a punishing mid-section through the Flemish Ardennes, including the iconic Oude Kwaremont and Kluisberg, before transitioning to flat, wind-exposed plains. It is famously known as the 'sprinter's classic,' though the unpredictable Belgian weather and late-race crosswinds often shatter the peloton before the final local laps in Kuurne.
The race was established as Omloop der beide Vlaanderen before eventually becoming the second half of Belgium's 'Opening Weekend.'
The event officially transitioned to its iconic name, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, reflecting its start and end in the town of Kuurne.
Bobbie Traksel won a legendary edition defined by a horrific cyclonic storm that left only 26 riders standing at the finish.
Wout van Aert secured a career-first victory here, reinforcing the race's shift from a pure sprinter's classic to a battleground for the world's elite hardmen.