Kurne - Brussels - Kurne

It was first held in 1945. It is held on the last Sunday of February or on the first Sunday of March on the day after Omlop Het Niuvsblad . It is periodically canceled due to bad weather conditions, as happened in 2013 ^[1] .

Since 2005, included in the calendar UCI Europe Tour , has a category 1.HC.

Despite its name, the route does not actually extend to Brussels . The race begins at the Kurne hippodrome in the south of West Flanders , and then heads east towards Brussels, but its easternmost point is somewhere near Ninove , 23 km west of Brussels. After the "turn", the route turns to the Flemish Ardennes , where hills are present, before finishing in Kurne after about 200 km. The route in the "mountain zone" changes every year, but some ups are present regularly, including Edelareberg , La Houppe , Kanarieberg , Nieuwe Kruisberg , Oude Kwaremont , Tiegemberg and Nokereberg

With a long and flat stretch to the finish, the track is less selective than Omlop Het Niuvsblad . The race ends with two finishing circles around Kortrijk and Kurne. ^[2] With the last ascent located 53 km before the finish line, Kurne - Brussels - Kurne is considered a classic for sprinters . ^[3]

• In 1961, the first place was shared by two Belgians Alfred De Bruin and Leon Van Dale . ^{[4] [5]}
• In 2005, the American George Hinkepi won, but in 2012 he was disqualified by the UCI for doping from May 31, 2004 to July 31, 2006, all of his results during this period were canceled. The redistribution of places was not made. ^[6]

By country

• Official site (nid.)