Tactics for racing a kermesse ...
It is really hard to say exactly how to approach a kermesse as they can sometimes be very different, but in general they follow a typical pattern that can be used to increase your chance of making the front group and winning the race.
For the most part in the kermesse races you will have a VERY fast start, with the first half hour being the hardest part of the race. So be sure you are ready, warmed up and having your mind ready to suffer from the start. There is usually no easing into the races in Belgium.
I’ve found that people are usually fresh enough in the first 30 minutes that a breakaway doesn’t have a chance, but come the 45 to 60 minute mark people start to get tired and then you have a small breakaway establish. This is about half the time the winning break. The rest of the field will chase in vain with all the horsepower up the road.
Now if the riders up the road aren’t working well together or a few of the big names missed out on the break, it will usually come back after an hour. It’s at this point you need to be VERY attentive as a breakaway will usually go right after they are caught (if your group worked at it’s limits to bridge the gap) or a little bit after, maybe 10 to 30 minutes if the group is a bit fresher. This second break will almost always, 90%, stay away and be the winning break.
There are times when the race does come down to a field sprint, but it’s usually a greatly reduced field or a “large” breakaway of riders.
Almost all races take around 2.5 to 3 hours and your energy drink and food for the race should reflect that time.
As a side note, placing well in a kermesse with good riders can be just as helpful in getting a contract as an Interclub. Many of the racers in the kermesses are either past professionals or full time amateur racers who are good enough to be a pro, but prefer to race the amateur level. Some of them were winning races even before I first came to Europe in 2002 and are still racing and winning today. I finished an Interclub, of 175km, before I finished a kermesse to give you an idea of how demanding they can me ... go figure.