Final startlist Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne 2026 | Riders: Jasper Philipsen, Jonathan Milan, Matthew Brennan, Biniam Girmay, Paul Magnier, Arnaud de Lie

The Opening Weekend concludes with Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne, and while nothing is final just yet, the final startlist for the 2026 edition already points toward a fast and fiercely contested Sunday in waiting.

Traditionally, the counterpoint to Omloop, Kuurne has long carried the reputation of a sprinters’ Classic. Yet in recent years, it has demanded far more than raw speed alone, with repeated climbs and exposed roads ensuring that only the strongest finishers even reach the final straight in position to win.
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Kuurne’s recent editions underline its dual nature. Jasper Philipsen surged to victory last season from a bunch sprint, confirming the race’s status as a prime early opportunity for the fastest men in the peloton.

The year before, however, Wout van Aert proved that strength and aggression can still shape the outcome, while earlier editions have seen reduced groups contest the finish after sustained pressure over the climbs.

It remains a race where control is everything. If the sprint teams commit, it usually ends fast. If hesitation creeps in, attackers can make it stick.

Alpecin - Premier Tech are set to defend their title with Jasper Philipsen, whose presence alone changes the tactical calculation for every rival sprint train.

Lidl - Trek list Jonathan Milan, another headline fast man capable of dominating a flat finish if delivered in position.

At Lotto - Intermarché, Arnaud De Lie offers a powerful alternative, a rider equally comfortable in a hard race or a reduced sprint scenario.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike appears ready to cover multiple outcomes with Christophe Laporte and Matthew Brennan both named, giving them experience and finishing speed should the race fragment late.

UAE Team Emirates - XRG bring depth and aggression in the form of Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch, two riders well-suited to animating the hills if the race turns selective rather than controlled.

There is also significant interest around Biniam Girmay for NSN Cycling Team, whose versatility makes him dangerous in almost any Kuurne scenario, while Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team include Fred Wright, another rider capable of surviving a hard middle phase and still contesting the finish.

Soudal - Quick-Step provisionally list Dylan van Baarle alongside Paul Magnier, a pairing that allows them to press early or hold fire for a fast finale.