Nokere March 18, 2009 – Graeme Browne (Rabobank – Aus) has won the 64th Nokere Koerse. He triumphed in a mass sprint over young neo-pro Ben Swift (Katusha – Gbr) and Sébastien Chavanel (Francaise des Yeux – Fra). The mountain classification was won by Staf Scheirlinckx (Silence-Lotto – Bel).

The organizers of Nokere Koerse had promised a first this year: a live TV broadcast in “high definition” on Exqi Sport. However, the broadcast ultimately aired with an hour’s “delay”. But not everyone stayed glued to their TV set. Nokere Koerse could once again count on a very large public interest on the very sunny slopes of Nokereberg this year.

The race started on the Grote Markt in Oudenaarde without the unfortunate Kurt Hovelijnck (Quickstep – Bel), who suffered a severe fall during his training yesterday and sustained serious injuries. Wouter Weylandt, last year’s winner, was present. Chairman Marc Van Cauwenberghe saw 25 teams at the start without truly big names, which was also difficult just 3 days before Milan – San Remo. As a result, many young, promising riders had the opportunity to showcase their talents.

As tradition dictates, the first notable attack occurred during the local laps. At 90 kilometers from the finish, a breakaway group of 12 riders formed: Dario Cataldo (Ita), Tom Stubbe (Bel), David Boucher (Fra), Thomas De Gendt (Bel), Geert Van der Sanden (Ned), James Vanlandschoot (Bel), René Joergensen (Den), Lars Wackernagel (Ger), Paidi O’Brien (Irl), Niels Scheuneman (Ned), Arjen De Baat (Ned) and Joost Van Leijen (Ned). Dario Cataldo and Geert Van der Sanden held their ground alone for a while longer, but at 45 kilometers from the finish, there was a complete regrouping.

Subsequently, several small groups attempted to escape, but no attempt could hold. Indeed, Frank Vandenbroucke was briefly at the origin of a four-rider breakaway. Staf Scheirlinckx, the eventual winner of the mountain classification, also tried to escape the peloton multiple times.

It thus became a traditional mass sprint in which the fast Australian Graeme Brown prevailed by one and a half bike lengths over Ben Swift and Sébastien Chavanel.

Graeme Brown immediately secures his fourth victory of the season. For the Rabo cycling team, it is already the sixth victory of the season. Previously, Brown was also the fastest in a stage of the Tour Down Under and two stages in the Vuelta a Murcia. Denis Menchov won the general classification of that tour, and Joost Posthuma was the best in the general classification of the Ruta del Sol.

In the last of eight local laps, Brown’s teammate and regular lead-out man this season, Tom Leezer, was part of a seven-rider breakaway, but that escape was short-lived.

Two hundred meters from the finish line, some riders collided, and there was a crash in the third row of the mass sprint. Brown already seemed to be on his way to an unchallenged victory at that moment.

Brown was on his own in the mass sprint because his regular lead-out man, Tom Leezer, had already spent all his energy in the breakaway less than ten kilometers from the finish. Brown won uphill and on cobblestones for the first time…

Video report of Nokere Koerse 2009 from Sporza!

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Graeme Brown (Rabobank): Sprinting uphill and on cobblestones is not my thing

NOKERE March 18 (SPORT INFO SPORTS) = The Australian Graeme Brown easily left the rest of the pack behind. “With Rabobank, we briefly had Tom Leezer in the attack, and I thought that might have been the right decision. It wasn’t,” Graeme Brown began. “At about ten kilometers from the finish, I felt good, so I went all out for the win. And it worked. My fourth this season already. It’s strange to have to sprint for victory on a small hill full of cobblestones. When you win, everything is fun, but I wouldn’t want to do this every day. This is definitely not my thing. I also owe this victory to the new approach within the Rabobank team. We are now working much more focused, and that is bearing fruit,” Brown concluded.

Ben Swift (Katyusha): My first experience with Nokere Koerse

NOKERE March 18 (SPORT INFO SPORTS) = First-year pro Ben Swift delivered a stunning performance by finishing second in Nokere Koerse. “The intention was to play my card or Denis Galimzyanov’s,” Ben Swift reported. “Ultimately, I was best positioned, but I was somewhat slowed down in the full sprint by that crash. I was pushing a big gear and didn’t have time to shift down. This caused me to lose valuable speed, which might have allowed me to finish higher. It had been since my junior category days that I last raced in Belgium. This is quite a strange, but rather nice race. Finishing on cobblestones is very unique. What a crowd too. Incredible, really. This was my first experience with Nokere Koerse, but immediately a very pleasant one,” Swift concluded.

Sébastien Chavanel (Française des Jeux): Brown was clearly too strong

NOKERE March 18 (SPORT INFO SPORTS) = In the mass sprint, Frenchman Sébastien Chavanel claimed the final podium spot. “A very difficult finish here,” sighed Sébastien Chavanel. “Uphill and on cobblestones. Something very characteristic of this race. Graeme Brown was clearly the strongest here. I am now completing the Flemish classics, starting next Wednesday with Dwars door Vlaanderen. A race that my brother Sylvain knows quite well,” the youngest Chavanel laughed.

Staf Scheirlinckx (Silence-Lotto): Now hoping for a solid program

NOKERE March 18 (SPORT INFO SPORTS) = After Nokere Koerse, Staf Scheirlinckx trained for another 40 kilometers. “After all, I want to be in top form for the Flemish classics,” Staf Scheirlinckx reported. “Normally, I ride a good portion of those races, but something can always change in the selection for any given race. I made myself noticed multiple times today. I attacked, was caught, then had a flat tire, and then tried my luck again. I want to show the team management that I am ready. I therefore hope for a solid program in the coming weeks,” Scheirlinckx added.

Frank Vandenbroucke (Cinelli-Down Under): Form is not yet at its peak

NOKERE March 18 (SPORT INFO SPORTS) = With one and a half laps remaining, Frank Vandenbroucke launched an attack. Immediately, the spectators cheered loudly when the announcer reported this. “I wanted to show myself, but I know all too well that I am not yet one hundred percent in terms of condition,” ‘Franky boy’ clarified. “It’s getting better and better. I’m not at my peak yet. It’s nice that cycling fans still have a warm spot for me, but to already make a real final for them? It’s still a bit too early for that,” Frank Vandenbroucke laughed.