Belgium 01 Mar 2026 Class 1.Pro – 1 day – UCI ProSeries
Website www.kuurne-brussel-kuurne.be
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The 78th edition of Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne (KBK) took place on Sunday, March 1, 2026. As the second half of the Belgian “Opening Weekend,” it provided the classic follow-up to Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Below is the program and key details for the 2026 event:
## Elite Men’s Race Schedule
The main event featured a 194.9 km route starting in Kortrijk and finishing in Kuurne.
| Event Segment | Time (CET) | Details |
| Neutralized Start | 12:10 | Grand Market, Kortrijk |
| Official Start | 12:25 | Pelotons leaves the city center |
| TV Broadcast Begins | 14:30 | Live on Sporza, Eurosport, and HBO Max |
| Hilly Section | 14:45 – 15:45 | 13 climbs including the Oude Kwaremont |
| Final Flat Section | 16:00 | Final 61 km toward Kuurne |
| Expected Finish | ~17:00 | Brugsesteenweg, Kuurne |
## Junior & Amateur Events
KBK is a full weekend festival, not just a single professional race.
- KBK Cyclo (Saturday, Feb 28): An amateur “sportive” event where fans rode the course. Distances offered were 65 km, 85 km, 110 km, and 140 km, starting as early as 07:30.
- KBK Juniors (Sunday, Mar 1): The U19 race typically precedes the elite finish, showcasing the next generation of classic specialists.
## 2026 Route Highlights
The 2026 course was characterized by its traditional “two-part” nature:
- The Hills: The mid-section featured 13 climbs and 4 cobbled sectors, designed to shake up the peloton.
- The Chase: The final 60 km were almost entirely flat, setting up a high-speed pursuit between the surviving attackers and the sprinters’ teams.
2026 Result Note: In a thrilling finish, Matthew Brennan (Visma | Lease a Bike) took the victory, outsprinting Luca Mozzato and Matteo Trentin from a reduced lead group.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne (KBK) is one of the most storied semi-classics in professional cycling. Often called the “Donkey Race,” it serves as the second half of the Belgian “Opening Weekend,” traditionally held the day after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
## Origins and Early Years
The race was first organized in 1945 (though some sources cite 1946 as the first official elite edition) by the cycling club Sportingclub Kuurne.
- The Route: Originally, the race literally traveled from the small town of Kuurne to the capital, Brussels, and back.
- Evolution: As traffic in Brussels became a logistical nightmare in the late 1960s, the race was forced to move its turning point further west. By 1968, it no longer reached Brussels, and for a period was renamed Omloop der beide Vlaanderen (“Circuit of the two Flanders”).
- The Name Returns: Despite the route change, the organizers reverted to the historic name Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne in 1979 to preserve its legendary branding.
## Why the “Donkey Race”?
The donkey is the official mascot of the race, and the winner is famously awarded a stuffed donkey toy on the podium. This stems from a piece of local folklore:
- The Legend: Residents of Kuurne were historically nicknamed “Ezels” (Donkeys). According to local lore, a priest from a neighboring town once insulted the people of Kuurne, calling them “donkeys” because they were stubborn or hardworking.
- The Pride: Rather than taking offense, the citizens of Kuurne embraced the name as a symbol of their resilience and work ethic. Today, the winner of the race is crowned “King Donkey.”
## Historical Milestones
- The Double Winner Mystery: In 1961, the race famously ended in a dead heat. Without modern photo-finish technology, the judges could not separate Leon Vandaele and Fred De Bruyne, and both were declared winners—the only time in history the race has had two victors.
- The “Sprinter’s Classic”: While its Saturday counterpart (Omloop) is known for being brutal and selective, KBK has a reputation as a race that sprinters can win. The final 50 km are relatively flat, often leading to a high-speed chase between a breakaway and the peloton.
- Weather Extremes: The race is notorious for freezing Belgian spring weather. The 2010 edition is legendary; a massive storm (Xynthia) saw only 26 riders finish out of nearly 200 starters. Bobbie Traksel won that “survival of the fittest” edition.
## The Record Holders
The race has been dominated by Belgian riders, who have won over 50 editions.
- Most Wins: Tom Boonen holds the record with 3 victories (2007, 2009, 2014).
- Recent Champions:
- 2026: Matthew Brennan (The first Briton to win since Mark Cavendish)
- 2025: Jasper Philipsen
- 2024: Wout van Aert
- 2017: Peter Sagan (One of the few World Champions to win while wearing the rainbow jersey)
