Dylan Groenewegen has taken a convincing win in the 70th edition of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. The 24-year-old resident of Amsterdam remained cool-blooded during the hectic course and won his fourth race of the season. For Groenewegen, it also meant his first classic victory in his career.

For a long time, it didn’t look like the course was going to end in a sprint. Groenewegen remained extremely cool, thanks to the teamwork of Maarten Wynants deep in the final and the entire team in the lead-up to it. Timo Roosen and Bert-Jan Lindeman in particular proved to be very valuable when the peloton fell apart in different groups after the Oude Kwaremont. Amund Grondahl Jansen once again saw a strong race wrecked after a double puncture at a crucial phase in the race.

Groenewegen was lyrical about the team. “I may have won this sprint very easily, but the two hundred kilometres before that were anything but easy. It was cold, very windy and at times the pace was very high. After the Oude Kwaremont the peloton broke into several groups and I ended up in the third group. But the team brought me back to the front perfectly. This way, I could get back in a good position. Even when Steven increased the gap, we never panicked. Maarten helped me a lot in the final and I could finish it off nicely. This is a very good victory and one for the entire team. When I started my sprint, I knew it was early, but I also knew I could finish it off. The fact that I have won here proves that I can handle the heavier classic work. This is a nice confirmation”, said Groenewegen, who is aiming for more success in Paris-Nice next week.