Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne

After what was ultimately an entertaining Omloop (watching Yogi Stannard beast 3 Etixx riders was highly amusing), the next classic of the weekend is Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne. KBK is a bit more sprinter friendly than the Omloop as the final 30k are flat and lends itself to a frantic sprinter team chase,but it can also be split to pieces on the climbs and in the winds. Last year was a prime example when a combination of strong winds and a fierce Etixx attack led to them escaping and staying away with a few other riders resulting in Boonen narrowly beating Hofland.

It will be interesting how Etixx respond to today's race where they bossed the field and still somehow did not take the win. They do not have as strong a team for the climbs and cobbles but what they do have is Mark Cavendish, and he is installed by the bookies as the race favourite, this is for good reason as he is the fastest sprinter here if it ends in a bunch sprint. So do Etixx look to split the bunch or will they be happy to work for Cav? I think a bit of both to be honest, they will be eager to drop any perceived threats for a sprint, namely Sky's Viviani and Katusha's Kristoff. The former will be easier than the second, Kristoff has been on such good form all year and did well here last year.

I think ultimately this will be a sprint of some form or another, last year the bunch would have caught the breakaway riders had there been more co-operation, I think it'll be a bunch gallop of about 50-60 riders marshalled by Katusha and Etixx. I don't think Etixx will be successful in dropping Kristoff but they may be able to get rid of a few of his leadout men.

Interestingly looking at potential leadouts for the sprint trains the best here is for Lotto and Jens Debusschere, they have Sieberg and Henderson to put him into position who are two of the absolute best in the leadout discipline. Debus is the belgian champion and is a good rider, he does not have the pure speed of Cav or Kristoff but I have a hunch he might go well in KBK.

I think the most likely result is a Cav win with Etixx gaining the revenge for today's debacle and Debus has a good shout of a podium or if the cycling gods smile upon him a win...

2.5 pt win on Cav at 7/2 with Paddypower
0.5pt ew on Debus at 25/1 with BV

I also like Farrar to beat Hutarovich as a H2H with Paddypower 2pt at Evens. Farrar is solid in this races, Hutarovich despite doing well here in previous editions has just come from an easy race in Africa, not sure what his shape is like against hard opposition.