(21/03/2001) The 56th edition of Nokere Koerse started for the second time from Oudenaarde. No fewer than 164 riders were at the start. The race was held in poor weather conditions with a lot of rain along the way.

After a ride of 193 km, the victory went to MICHEL VAN HAECKE of the Landbouwkrediet team. Bart Voskamp finished second ahead of the unlucky Nico Eeckhout.

With 2 laps to go, the successful breakaway was established with 3 riders: Michel Van Haecke, Bart Voskamp and Nico Eeckhout. In the sprint, Michel Van Haecke won very easily. With this victory, his modest team Landbouwkrediet-Colnago immediately secured a starting ticket for the Tour of Flanders. For Michel Van Haecke, this victory is a turning point in a season that had started badly with some medical problems and 2 heavy crashes in Bellegem-Brugge-Bellegem.

Nico Eeckhout was disappointed with his third place. He had crashed earlier in the race and had also used a lot of energy in a previous breakaway with 13 riders, in which he also had a flat tire. Eeckhout was also the inspiration behind the decisive breakaway with 3, but his efforts were not rewarded with the victory.

The peloton sprint was won by the British Jeremy Hunt ahead of Hendrik Van Dijck. The first East Fleming was Chris Matthys.

Several crashes were recorded, with Steven De Neef (stitches) and Philippe Koehler (bruises) as the main victims. Only 77 riders finished the race.

Result:

(193.2 km – time: 4 hours 39 minutes – speed: 41.500 km per hour).

1 Michel Van Haecke (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 4.39.00 (41.5 km/h)
2 Bart Voskamp (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus 0.04
3 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto-Adecco
4 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Bigmat-Auber 93 0.23
5 Hendrik Van Dyck (Bel) Lotto-Adecco
6 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Post Swiss Team
7 Chris Matthys (Bel) Flanders – Prefetex
8 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Domo-Farm Frites
9 Jans Koerts (Ned) Mercury-Viatel
10 Serge Baguet (Bel) Lotto-Adecco
11 Tim Lenaers (Bel) Flanders – Prefetex
12 Janek Tombak (Est) Cofidis
13 Karel Vereecke (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites
14 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Post Swiss Team
15 Sven Nijs (Bel) Rabobank
16 Olivier Genicot (Bel) Flanders – Prefetex
17 Grégory Faghel (Fra) VC Saint-Quentin – Oktos
18 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
19 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
20 Donatas Virbickas (Ltu) Collstrop-Palmans
21 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Mapei-Quick Step

Participants: 164 Abandoned: 87 Classified: 77.