Kuurne - Brussel - Kuurne 2024

February 25, 2024 Light wind but aggressive racing had the peloton reduced to around forty riders with 95KM to go. The group split again as Visma-Lease a Bike accelerated, leaving Alpecin-Deceuninck completely unrepresented. When the leaders hit the cobbled climb of Mont Saint-Laurent at 87KM remaining, Wout van Aert of Visma-Lease a Bike created another selection with only three others, Oier Lazkano of Movistar, Tim Wellens of UAE and Laurence Pithie of Groupama-FDJ. The four were all motivated to ride while the remnants of the chase tried to get organized. Ten riders made up this group but three of which were teammates of van Aert. The front had fifty seconds at the top of the Kruisberg on the chasing group that was starting to swell. van Aert put on the pace up the Cote du Trieu which dropped Pithie and put Lazkano under pressure. The trio went over the last climb together and started their trip back towards Kuurne for the finishing circuit. At 43KM to go, two large groups were starting to form together behind, making one large chase group led by Alpecin-Deceuninck and Tudor Pro Cycling. The gap never really stopped going up however, nearly three minutes with 30KM to go. As the leading trio got closer to the finish, Wellens was the first to try a move. van Aert reeled him in quickly as Lazkano struggled to close the gap. They rode under the banner for 1KM to go, all three being very cautious of each other. Lazkano went to the front and opened first. van Aert came around to take the win, Wellens could not make up ground and finished with a second place.