The jubilant organizing committee of Nokere Sport really had no luck for its 26th edition. At the last minute, Eddy Planckaert had to announce that he had been banned from starting by his “boss,” prompting the organizers to quickly bring in another, unannounced star in Etienne De Wilde.

The way Patrick Versluys added his name to the list of winners was not particularly impressive either. The Meetjeslander simply played the game very cleverly. After Brian Sörensen shook things up on the final climb of the Nokerse Dorpsstraat, a new group of five emerged from a leading group of seventeen, consisting of Sörensen and Versluys, supplemented by Yves Godimus, Danny Janssens, and Koen Vekemans. With thirteen kilometers to go, this leading group pedaled vigorously, with the exception of… Patrick Versluys. He was constantly in last position and he is not exactly a stylist on the bike, which gives the impression that Versluys had indeed exhausted his best efforts. With five kilometers to go, Danny Janssens even got angry with him and asked “if the gentleman would like to take the lead for once.” Two kilometers further on, he popped out from behind the four riders, but there wasn’t much power in his breakaway. However, Versluys continued to pull away, because Vekemans, Janssens (the only two who made two feints to chase him), Sörensen, and Godimus were staring each other down.

Versluys was the winner of Nokere-Koerse, which quickly took a decisive turn and then proceeded rather sluggishly. After about twenty kilometers, the peloton split into two groups, spurred on by Gino De Backer, among others, who—as a neo-pro and ADR rider without a moustache—was initially mistaken by spectators for Eddy Planckaert. Twenty-two riders broke away, six caught up, but Johan Lathouwers’ handlebars broke in two on the cobbles of Nokere, leaving twenty-seven riders. With fifty kilometers to go—for the others, it was already too late—another ten riders dropped out. In addition to the five “finalists,” these were Patrick Roelandt, Werner De Vos, Wim Van Eynde, Walter Vandenbranden, Patrick Verschueren, Gino De Backer, Jan Bogaert, Alain De Roo, Peter Van Impe, Etienne De Wilde, and Frank Van De Vijver.

Jan Bogaert, Etienne De Wilde, and Gino De Backer still put on a fierce sprint, but unfortunately, it was only for sixth place.

D.V.D.V.

The Results: 52 Professional Riders

1. Patrick Versluys, 170 km in 4h42′
2. Yves Godimus at 25″
3. Danny Janssens
4. Brian Sörensen (Dane)
5. Koen Vekemans
6. Jan Bogaert
7. Gino De Backer
8. Etienne De Wilde
9. Werner Devos
10. Willem Van Eynde
11. Patrick Roelandt
12. Patrick Verschueren
13. Peter Van Impe
14. Robert D’Hont
15. Walter Van den Brande
16. Frank Van de Vijver
17. Alain De Roo
18. Johan Bruyneel at 4’45”
19. Ludo Giesberts
20. André Lurquin
21. Ludwig Willems
22. Koen Van Rooy
23. Peter Stevenson (GB)
24. Alain Deschacht
25. Martin Durant
26. Armando Ceci (It)
27. Rudy Brusselmans
28. Guido Verdeyen
29. Etienne De Beule
30. Patrick Verplancke