Yesterday’s final stage of the annual road race in Nokere was somewhat reminiscent of a section of Paris-Roubaix. After some 120 kilometers, the eighteen riders who were in the lead at that point had to tackle the cobbles of the Peerdekouterstraat. The inclusion of this cobbled section—which was also included in the Tour of Flanders—immediately caused a split in the peloton.

French road champion Roland Berland (who had come to Nokere with Bernard Hinault and ten other teammates) was the first to drop back. Numerous other riders followed that bad example. Only Ronald De Witte could invoke mitigating circumstances. Just before the end of those cobblestones, he had a flat tire. The Kruibeke native, who is currently in good form, had to immediately give up on his chances of victory. The stones of the Peerdekouterstraat had otherwise caused a significant shake-up. After the first passage, only four riders remained at the front. They were Frans Van Looy, Jos Van de Poel, Johan Van de Velde, and Paul Jesson. From that leading group, which remained out of reach of its pursuers in the final lap, Jos Van de Poel made a strong and surprising breakaway four kilometers from the finish line. The man from Turnhout made his breakaway just as the leaders had negotiated the cobblestones of Peerdekouterstraat for the second time. Van de Poel had attacked so hard on those cobblestones that his rivals had to catch their breath. No one was able to respond to his attack…

“On Sunday in Paris-Roubaix, I felt just as strong on the cobbles,” said the winner yesterday in sunny Nokere. “I was in the group with Hinault when, about 40 kilometers from the finish line, I fell behind due to a flat tire and a crash. I am convinced that without that setback, I would have finished close to the front. My condition is excellent at the moment. Since the Tour of the Basque Country, which was a bit tough for us, I have been riding very well. On Thursday, I will be competing in the Flèche Wallonne. My teammates can count on me there. Because despite the fact that today is already my third victory of the season, I am and will remain a domestique in the team of leader Daniël Willems. That won’t change much in the near future…”.

While Jos Van de Poel was doing his lap of honor, the last riders from a severely depleted field crossed the finish line. At the start, there were 139 riders. It was only in the second lap over Wortegem that the big shake-up took place. Eighteen riders who had taken the lead after about 100 kilometers began a highly exciting final. Those eighteen were: Villemiane, Ameloot, L. Malfait, Van de Velde, Van Looy, Jesson, Moens, Verschuere, Berland, Van Thielen, Oosterbosch, Hoban, Cuyle, Van de Poel, and Verstraete.

Four riders remained in the leading group. Jos Van de Poel ultimately proved to be the strongest of them. In an exceptionally difficult final, he was able to take revenge for the setback that may have prevented him from securing a place of honor in Paris-Roubaix on Sunday.

André De Brouwer

Uitslag : 139 beroepsrenners

1. Jos Van de Poel (Turnhout) the 145 km. in 3 h27 min
2. Johan Van de Velde (Nl) on 15 sec.
3. Paul Jesson (N-Z)
4. Frans Van Looy
5. Bert Oosterbosch (Nl) on 25 sec.
6. Carlos Cuyle
7. Willy Teirlinck
8. Barry Hoban (GB)
9. Lieven Malfait
10. Pol Verschuere
11. Patrick Verstraete
12. Dirk Waeyenberg
13. Fritz Pirard (Nl)
14. Leo Van Vliet (Nl) op 1.05
15. Gerard Blockx
16. Jozef De Vits
17. Willem Thomas
18. Gislain Van Landeghem
19. Rudi Colman
20. Jean-Paul Pipart (F)
21. Rudy Cottenies
22. Charles Jochums
23. René Martens
24. Eddy Schepers
25. Christian Poirier (F)
26. Oscar Dierickx
27. Gustaaf Van Roosbroeck
28. Leo Van Thielen
29. Danny Ameloot
30. Luc De Grauwe