For years, Nokere Koerse has guaranteed vibrating cobblestones in the final kilometers. Tim Merlier faces stiff opposition in his quest for victory 3 in a row, Lotte Kopecky also wants to defend her title. You can read everything you need to know – from route, participants to broadcasts – here.
That’s how it went last year
Top favorite Tim Merlier, did what everyone expected of him last year.
The sprinter from Soudal – Quick Step, then sporting the Belgian tricolor, blasted the cobblestones out of the ground on the Nokereberg. He beat Edward Theuns and Milan Menten.
Florian Vermeersch and Sep Vanmarcke tried to disrupt everything, which made for a blood-curdling ending. Yet no one was a match for Merlier’s powers.
Among the women, Lotte Kopecky demonstrated her superiority with an impressive solo, just after the death of her brother.
Course
The proven recipe remains intact. This year too, the Nokere Koerse course is 188.1 kilometers.
The start is still in Deinze, the finish line of course on top of Nokereberg.
There are a few shifts in the run-up of almost 95 kilometers, but the Lange Munte remains the first cobblestone section that crosses the path of the peloton. This is followed by the Kattenberg, Holleweg and Jagerij.
In the 3 local laps of 31.3 kilometers, the riders also have to cross the Nokereberg the same number of times (350 m at 5.7%, max. 7%). Resulting in a powerful final sprint.
© Danilith Nokere Koerse
Attendees
Should there still be sprinters?
The absolute top of the world will be present for the 78th edition of Nokere Koerse. Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) is eager to win his third in a row, but faces a lot of opposition.
Starting with an ex-teammate. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin Deceuninck) wants to measure himself again in a Belgian duel.
But Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty), Edward Theuns (Lidl-Trek), Milan Menten (Lotto-Dstny) and Jenthe Biermans (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) are also compatriots to take into account.
Elia Viviani (Ineos), Fabio Jakobsen (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) and Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) are the main players from a group of foreigners, but also pay attention to Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor), who was already strong in the UAE Tour and in Paris-Nice he could even beat the entire field in the sprint.
No shortage of horsepower.
Will Jasper Philipsen beat his ex-teammate?
Women
From the starting shot in Deinze, the women’s peloton will be presented with 127 competition kilometers of racing fun. Of these, the riders will tackle 17 km over cobblestones, ending with 2 local laps and the finish at Nokereberg.
Last year, a very strong Lotte Kopecky triumphed solo at the finish. An emotional victory of inestimable value for the best Belgian rider, who lost her brother a few days earlier.
Today she wants to defend her title in the rainbow jersey. At least, if that is the agreement with Lorena Wiebes, her teammate at SD Worx-Protime.
Belgian opposition for Kopecky will mainly come in the form of Julie De Wilde (Fenix-Deceuninck).
Italy’s Chiara Consonni (UAE) and Denmark’s Emma Norsgaard (Movistar) will also be on the world champion’s radar.
Live at Sporza
At Sporza you are in the right place to watch both the women’s and men’s matches. From 12.10 pm there will be images on VRT Canvas of the women’s race, and the men’s broadcast will start on VRT1 at 2.30 pm.
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2024-03-12 14:52:00
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