Just like the day before at Omloop Nieuwsblad, the second race of the opening weekend, the Belgian classic Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2025, ended in a bunch sprint. This time, local hero and co-favourite Jasper Philipsen came out on top with an impressive performance. His team Alpecin - Deceuninck took a confident approach to the sprint and rode it from the front. Two riders brought the Belgian into an optimal starting position, from where Philipsen brought the victory safely across the finish line. He took a clear win ahead of Olav Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and Hugo Hofstetter (Israel - Premier Tech).
Philipsen dominates at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
After Jasper Philipsen had to settle for third place in Omloop Nieuwsblad the day before, he can now celebrate victory in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2025. It was also the Philipsen team Alpecin -Deceuninck that kept the breakaways under control throughout the race and thus provoked a bunch sprint. The Belgian team executed this to perfection so that Jasper Philipsen could not be denied the classic victory. "It's incredible to have won on my 27th birthday. Everything came together today. We had a strong team in the sprint, without which victory would not have been possible," said Philipsen after the race.
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2025 - Results: the top 10
Kuurne - Brussel - Kuurne: Kortrijk - Kuurne
Kuurne - Brussel - Kuurne 2025: Kuurne - Brussel - Kuurne, Kortrijk - Kuurne
| Rnk. | Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alpecin - Deceuninck | 04:42:24 |
| 2 | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | +00:00:00 |
| 3 | Israel - Premier Tech | +00:00:00 |
| 4 | Intermarché - Wanty | +00:00:00 |
| 5 | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | +00:00:00 |
| 6 | Lidl - Trek | +00:00:00 |
How Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2025 went
In sunny conditions, the 196.9-kilometre route started in Kortrijk and finished in Kuurne. There were repeated attacks from the start of the race. However, it took quite a long time before a breakaway group was able to break away decisively.
Breakaway group around Mayrhofer forms late
Only after almost 50 kilometres had been ridden did seven riders break away. Among them were Dries De Bondt (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), Huub Artz (Intermarche - Wanty) and the German Marius Mayrhofer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team). The septet worked well together, building up a cushion of over four minutes at times.
With 95 kilometres to go, the race got going again. First Timo Kielich (Alpecin - Deceuninck), Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) and Lewis Askey (Groupama - FDJ) attacked, ultimately without success, followed by an attack from Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team). Together with Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) in tow, the Swiss rider made the connection to the breakaway group. With 60 kilometres to go, the group expanded by two riders. At this point, the lead over the peloton was just over 30 seconds.
Van Aert cannot pull away
A little later, it was Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) who tried to escape the peloton with an attack. With Roger Adria (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) in his slipstream, he tried for many kilometres to open up a decisive gap. Ultimately, however, his attempt was unsuccessful.
Mayrhofer stays in the top group
After attacks by Dries De Bondt and Tim Wellens, the leading group thinned out around 30 kilometres before the finish. From then on, only Mayrhofer and Ceriel Desal (Wagner Bazin WB) remained at the front of the race alongside the two attackers. Meanwhile, the peloton came closer and closer to the front.
With 12 kilometres to go, the leading group was history. The peloton swallowed up the quartet and fended off all attacks from potential breakaways. It came down to a bunch sprint. Team Alpecin - Deceuninck put in an outstanding performance there, with Jasper Philipsen taking a clear win ahead of Olav Kooij and Hugo Hofstetter after a strong lead-out.
