Tiesj Benoot wins Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
At 78 kilometers from the finish, it is war in le pays des Colinnes and whoever is not with us has been seen. The sprinters go overboard here. This is le Saint-Sauveur. And there Tim Wellens tortures the cobblestones that are not pleasant. Jumbo-Visma has to join in the pursuit of Wellens. This way we get a very nice leading group. With Tiesj Benoot, Matej Mohoric and, just like last year, Taco Van der Hoorn. Moments later, Nathan Van Hooydonck also joins.
Behind them a peloton forms where Arjen Livyns can do some head work, half a minute from the leaders. The second platoon, with Lampaert in the front and also Philipsen, is already two minutes behind these men.
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The five are working on a song that is quite unusual for Kuurne. A five-motor escape that has a very high survivability. Also because behind them the cooperation stops. Sénéchal is the man who works for Jakobsen at Soudal-Quick.Step. De Lie also eats his men. But one lap before the finish the difference is still 47 seconds.
In the last straight line it is Tiesj Benoot who remains the coolest. From behind he goes to the right of the road. Van Hooydonck leaves the gap, Tim Wellens is late. Benoot provides a clear double blow for Jumbo-Visma in the opening weekend. He writes kuurne-brussels-Kuurne to his name. Checked all day. Nathan Van Hooydonck is still second.