The trend in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne has been for aggressive tactics and selective racing, which is likely to be intensified in 2020. The revamped route still includes the last climb with roughly 50 kilometres to go, but the section that follows is not as flat as it used to be. On narrow and undulating roads the riders head for the first passage on the line in Kuurne.
Instead of two laps on the 15 kilometres finishing circuit, the race now concludes with one lap.
What remains unchanged is that Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne features its key stretch in the 40 kilometres before the last climb, where seven ‘hellingen’ are packed together. Kluisberg is the last one – 1,100 metres at 6% – before the last 50 kilometres are played out on exposed terrain. How is Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne going to unfold this time – (bunch) sprint or late attack?
Given the time of year, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne is always a hard race. Inclement weather with strong winds and icy rain has often contributed to dramatic but compelling racing.
Jungels (2019), Groenewegen (2018), Sagan (2017), Stuyven (2016) and Cavendish (2015, 2012) are the most recent winners of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
Favourites 2020 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
*** Fabio Jakobsen, Alexander Kristoff, John Degenkolb, Matteo Trentin
** Sonny Colbrelli, Jasper Stuyven, Cees Bol, Danny van Poppel
* Yves Lampaert, Greg Van Avermaet, Marc Sarreau, Sebastián Mollano