2026 Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne Race Preview
The details of this year's 2026 Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne remains true to its tried-and-tested formula. Within the space of just under 40 kilometres, the riders tackle seven climbs and, after the last of them, the Kluisberg, there are still 60 kilometres of flat roads to the finish. In total, the 194.9-kilometre course features thirteen climbs and four cobbled sectors.
The Tiegemberg forms the first obstacle 17 kilometres into the race. At similar intervals, the riders then head on to the Volkegemberg, Lepelstraat and Bossenaarstraat. By the time they crest that last climb, they have been in the saddle for just under 70 kilometres.
Berg Ten Houte and La Houppe come shortly after the Bossenaarstraat, offering a foretaste of what is to come. Some 18 kilometres further down the road, things really begin to heat up, with seven climbs packed into the next 40 kilometres.
In quick succession, Hameau des Papins, Le Bourliquet and Mont Saint-Laurent are on the menu — three climbs featuring double-digit gradients — and just under 10 kilometres after Mont Saint-Laurent, the riders tackle the Kruisberg, after which the Hotond, Côte de Trieu and Kluisberg bring the hilly zone to a close.
By now, it is time to take stock. Most sprinters will have been dropped on the climbs, but if they can limit their losses, they may yet fight their way back into contention. Especially if the wind plays a part, a fascinating game of cat and mouse could unfold.
From the top of the Kluisberg, there are still 61.3 kilometres to the finish on the Brugsesteenweg in Kuurne. That entire section is flat.
Last year, KBK ended in a sprint. Jasper Philipsen powered to a dominant victory ahead of Olav Kooij and Hugo Hofstetter.
In doing so, Philipsen followed in the footsteps of Wout van Aert (2024), Tiesj Benoot (2023), Fabio Jakobsen (2022), Mads Pedersen (2021), Kasper Asgreen (2020), Bob Jungels (2019), Dylan Groenewegen (2018), Peter Sagan (2017), Jasper Stuyven (2016), Mark Cavendish (2015) and Tom Boonen (2014).
Boonen holds the record with three victories, having also won Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne in 2007 and 2009.
The favorites:
The weather can be a decisive factor in Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne, and in that respect it could go either way. Rain is forecast, though it’s not expected to be extreme, while a south-westerly wind of around force 4 is set to blow.
For the likes of Tim Wellens, Christophe Laporte and probably Matthew Brennan as well, the key is to avoid entering the finishing straight alongside speed merchants like Jonathan Milan and Jasper Philipsen. That means stirring things up in the hilly section and inflicting as much damage as possible on the sprinters. Ideally, that will set up the familiar cat-and-mouse game between attackers and sprinters in the finale, which is always gripping to watch.
Three former winners line up at the start: Dylan Groenewegen (2018), Kasper Asgreen (2020) and Philipsen (2025).
Favourites 2026 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
**** Jasper Philipsen, Jonathan Milan, Paul Magnier\n*** Tim Wellens, Christophe Laporte, Dylan van Baarle\n** Arnaud De Lie, Matej Mohoric, Stefan KĂĽng, Matthew Brennan\n* Dylan Groenewegen, Tobias Lund Andresen, Tom Crabbe, Jordi Meeus, Davide Ballerini
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