Cavendish wins Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne

Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing) tried to spoil the sprinters’ party in the closing kilometres of the 196.3km race, scampering off the front in the final 4km and staying gone through the red kite. However, Gilbert had gone too soon, and the bunch swept him up in the final left-hand corner.

With all the sprinters’ lead outs undone, it was every man for himself and it was Cavendish that claimed victory ahead of Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) and Elia Viviani (Sky).

Speaking after his victory, Mark Cavendish told journalists that “The team were incredible the whole day, really,” he said, acknowledging that come the sprint he was more or less on his own.

“We used up guys too early [because of the head winds]. Tom [Boonen] went to go, but I had already left him to go onto Kristoff’s wheel. I know him, and he’s been going good this year. I’m super proud to get this victory for Etixx-Quick-Step.”
 

1 GBR Mark Cavendish EQS 4h28'56"
2 NOR Alexander Kristoff KAT +0"
3 ITA Elia Viviani SKY +0"
4 BEL Tom Van Asbroeck TLJ +0"
5 ITA Daniele Colli NIP +0"
6 LUX Jempy Drücker BMC +0"
7 BEL Jens Debusschere LTS +0"
8 ITA Kristian Sbaragli MTN +0"
9 NED Raymond Kreder ROO +0"
10 ITA Matteo Pelucchi IAM +0"