Rowe Bags Stunning Third Spot In Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne

Luke Rowe continued his cobbled Classics campaign with a superb third place at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne in Belgium.

The Cardiff-born rider followed up his sixth place at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday with another gritty display on Sunday.

Rowe was part of a final five-man group that battled it out for the victory at the end of the 200km race.

And Rowe said after his first podium finish in a Classic: “I’m definitely happy with the opening weekend.

“You can say it’s nice to be able to get those results and take some confidence from it – but it’s two nice results in itself.

“These are two really hard one-day races. Everyone who is going to be at the thick end of the rest of the Classics is here.

“I’ve had a fourth, a fifth, a sixth… an eighth, a ninth. 11th. So now to get a third and podium is that next level up.

“I’m knocking on the door and not far away. It’s by no means a win which is what we are aiming for – but it’s nice to be on the podium and experience that. Onwards and upwards.

“I’m at the stage now where I’m fairly confident of making those front groups.

“If it splits and there are 20-30 guys I’d be disappointed if I wasn’t there.

“But at the same time in these Classics you’ve got to be so clinical, and it’s so easy to make a mistake and not be there. So it’s great to be on the front and full-on racing again.”

 

Italy’s Matteo Trentin was the first to try his luck with around 800m to go, but Rowe closed him down.

But nobody had an answer when Slovakian showman Peter Sagan attacked with 350m left to take his first win in the event.

Rowe came home third behind Belgium’s Jasper Stuyven for his best result in the race.

The 26-year-old had buried himself to bridge across to his lead group as the race hit the finishing circuit in Kuurne.

Rowe has gone into the classics after a solid spell in Australia last month where he was fifth in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race.

He also won a stage of the Herald Sun Tour.
Top 5
1. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe)
2. Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo)
3. Luke Rowe (Team Sky)
4. Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal)
5. Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors)