Nokere Koerse belongs on Friday. Public turnout was disappointing, but no fewer than 109 riders took to the start. For a challenging race on a rolling South-East Flemish course, perfectly suited for racing. Also because of the weather, which was reminiscent of October.

Fortunately, the riders left a fresh spring impression, except for the final race hour.

Shortly after the start, eleven men, including Giesberts, Vermote and a fiercely competing Nijdam, went on the attack. Jan Bogaert’s men forced the pace in the chasing group but fought (too) long to close the gap. Eventually, only three riders (Giesberts, Vermote and Heynderickx) remained. Naessens and Huyghe joined them, and shortly after, so did the group.

Halfway through, 17 men managed to break away. Some dropped back after 100 km of training, leaving 13 leaders. The attackers’ biggest lead barely exceeded half a minute. In the background, a decisive selection took place, leaving only 26 riders in the race with 30 km to go.

Then came the verdict. Frank Hoste, Gino Van Hooydonck, Peter Huyghe, a smoothly riding Johan Capiot, Fabrice Naessens, young Dutchman Martin Kokkelkoren, Koen Van Rooy and neo-pro Johan Remels cycled together a two-minute lead in minimal time.

The dice had been cast. Capiot’s attacking spirit waned, so the leading group calmly awaited the finish, apparently inspired by the queuing cars on the E17, which was crossed twice each lap.

A thrilling finale could have completed Nokere Koerse’s success. The dessert didn’t come. That victory would go to a rider from Pevenage’s team, with three pawns among the final eight, was obvious. It was just a matter of who would receive the blessing: Van Rooy, Hoste, or Huyghe.

Exactly three kilometers from the finish, Koen Van Rooy briefly rode ahead of the group. With no response, the man from Lille (Poederlee) had the game won. Capiot’s late counter-attack was good for second place on Nokereberg. Kokkelkoren sprinted to third ahead of Remels and Van Hooydonck.

The small town of Nokere, which for the first time in four years can organize again on Friday due to the cancellation of the Bavikhove semi-classic, didn’t get a big name as winner. For Koen Van Rooy, this first victory of the season may be a major boost. Eight months after a serious fall in Beveren, resulting in a broken kneecap, the Antwerp La William protégé can smile again.

HF.

Results: 109 professionals

1. Koen Van Rooy (Poederlee) 180 km in 4h33
2. Johan Capiot at 15 sec
3. Martin Kokkelkoren (Nl) at 20 sec
4. Johan Remels
5. Gino Van Hooydonck
6. Fabrice Naessens
7. Frank Hoste
8. Peter Huyghe
9. Corne Van Rijen (Nl) at 4min 45 sec
10. Adrie Kools (Nl)
11. Michel Cornelisse (Nl) at 4min 55 sec
12. Alain Van Den Bossche
13. Patrick Van Roosbroeck
14. Mark Siemons (Nl)
15. Theo Akkermans (Nl)
16. Bart Leysen
17. Ivan Romanov (Sov)
18. Mario De Clercq at 5min 05 sec
19. Jos Haex at 5 min 20sec
20. Danny Neskens
21. Wim Sels
22. Corneille Daems
23. Alain Laeremans
24. Ludo Giesberts
25. Rudy Vingerhoets