As a professional cyclist, he had not yet achieved much. Diederik Foubert (23), who was an excellent amateur two years prior, struggled to find his footing among the professionals. The only notable results he recorded last season were a second and a third place in fair races in Assenede and Ninove. That was the extent of it. This was, of course, not very encouraging. Nevertheless, Didi Foubert still found some understanding from team manager Florent Vanvaerenbergh, who was willing to give the rider from Schoten another year’s grace.

At the start of this season, Foubert even got his chance in the classics, but it didn’t amount to much. Didi usually didn’t cycle further than the first feed zone. Florent Vanvaerenbergh was already starting to worry. The Antwerp native was removed from the team for the Tour of Spain after it became clear that the ailing Werner Devos would recover in time. Was that the incentive that set Didi Foubert on the path to his first professional victory in a successful ‘Nokere Koerse’ yesterday?

The man who beat eleven fellow escapees with astonishing ease in a difficult uphill sprint on the cobbles of Nokere did not agree. “The weather conditions played tricks on me,” said winner Foubert. “I am someone who needs the sun and warmth to get results. I haven’t been able to get my fill on that stretch this season.”

Yesterday, however, things went well for Didi Foubert. Also for the organizers of the 23rd ‘Nokere Koerse’, because besides an excellent field of participants and broad public interest, they also witnessed an attractive race development. It started right from the opening kilometers with an attack by Rudy Matthijs, Erik Stevens, Filip Van Vooren, and Philippe Poissonnier. However, that quartet was not given freedom and was reeled in after about 35 km. Afterwards, fifteen riders rode ahead for a while. That leading group included Frank Hoste, William Tackaert, Lucien Van Impe, and an attentive Patrick Versluys. But that attempt also had no success.

John Dekeukelaere and the small Frenchman Laurent Biondi were the next attackers. In the finale, they were joined by twelve chasers. While Eddy Vanhaerens dropped out of the front after a puncture, only Bert Wekema could join the leaders. In the final kilometers, Patrick Deneut, Raoul Bruyndonckx, and Bert Wekema each tried to outsmart the sprinters, but they did not succeed.Led by his teammate Patrick Cocquyt, Foubert started his sprint from a long way out.

The strongly pushing Patrick Versluys could barely threaten the fast Didi. The fighter from Knesselare retained his second place and won the East Flemish title.

André De Brouwer

Result: 85 professional cyclists

1. Diederik FOUBERT (Berchem-Antwerp) completed the 147 km in 3h 35min
2. Patrick Versluys
3. Jan Bogaert
4. Bert Wekema (Nl)
5. José Vanackere
6. Patrick Deneut
7. J. Habets (Nl)
8. Marc Vercammen
9. Raoul Bruyndonckx
10. Patrick Cocquyt
11. Dominique Turcksin at 45 seconds
12. Eric Stevens
13. William Tackaert at 1 minute 10 seconds
14. Marc Van Geel
15. Alain De Roo
16. Ivan Lamote
17. Willy Teirlinck at 1 minute 55 seconds
18. Filip Van Vooren
19. Marc Moens
20. Luc De Decker
21. Dirk De Mol
22. Walter Dalgal (It) at 2 minutes 20 seconds
23. Jannes Slendebroek (Nl) at 2 minutes 25 seconds
24. Jan Baeyens at 2 minutes 50 seconds
25. Filip Christiaens
26. Mario Van Vlimmeren (Nl)
27. Heddie Nieuwdorp (Nl)
28. Ludo Frijns at 4 minutes 5 seconds
29. Ludo Schurgers
30. Eddy Vanhaerens