cycling: 69. Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: Sagan gives Bora-hansgrohe its first victory

Cycling: After six second places, it finally worked today: The German team Bora-hansgrohe celebrated its first win of the season. No one less than world champion Peter Sagan is responsible for this. The Slovakian won the Belgian classic Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne today.

Over 200 kilometers through Flanders

The classic season started yesterday. At the 72. Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) was successful as in 2016 before Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe). Today the world champion should be able to celebrate and give his new team Bora-hansgrohe their first win of the season. On the way through Flanders from Kuurne to Brussels and back again, a total of twelve slipways had to be negotiated over 200,7 kilometers. The breakaway group of the day already pulled away at Onkerzele Berg: The professionals Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r), Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto Soudal), Antoine Duchesne (Direct Energie), Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy), David Boucher ( Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice), Sander Cordeel (Vérandas Willems-Crelan), Maxime Farazijn (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Alex Kirsch (WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect) and Sjoerd van Ginneken (Roompot). But the peloton never let them go so far away that they could seriously believe in victory. The decision in the peloton was made somewhat surprisingly, but still far before the finish line.

Sagan is rewarded for his activity

After the Oude Kwaremont, a chasing group of around 20 riders broke away. In addition to Peter Sagan, last year's winner Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo), yesterday's winner Greg Van Avermaet and sprinter Arnaud Demare (FDJ) were also represented. The Quick-Step Floors team even had four men in the chasing group. Incidentally, Tom Boonen did not start because he had to sit out due to stomach problems. Although the leading group fought back bravely, in the end the first two groups merged well before the finish line. In the peloton, the teams Direct Energie and Cannondale-Drapac in particular tried to catch up. But this didn't work out because Jasper Stuyven at the front tried to repeat his win of the previous year with an attack. Along with him were Peter Sagan, Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors), Luke Rowe (Sky) and Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal). While at the back it was mainly the BMC team that tried to organize the pursuit, Sagan did the main work at the front. It should do. The world champion opened the final sprint himself. His comrades-in-arms had nothing to oppose him. Sagan relegated Stuyven and Rowe to the remaining podium spots. Incidentally, Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin) was initially also part of the chasing group. However, the German then fell and injured his eye. The cut wound then had to be sewn up with eight stitches.

Peter Sagan: “Today was kind of delayed Sprint, because Trentin attacked early and Rowe caught him again. We then stopped again 500 meters from the finish. I then decided to walk the last 250 meters.”