Nokere, March 19, 2014 – Kenny De Haes (Lotto – Belisol) wins the 69th Nokere Koerse – Danilith Classic.

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The 29-year-old Kenny Dehaes won the 69th edition of Nokere Koerse-Danilith Classic on Wednesday. The Lotto-Belisol rider claimed victory after a photo finish against Tom Van Asbroeck. The Frenchman Nacer Bouhanni secured the final podium spot.

From the start, the pace was exceptionally high. After just over 20 kilometers, five riders managed to break away from the main group, but they were quickly reeled back in. This prompted 17 others to launch an attack after 45 kilometers of racing. Among them were Julian Alaphilippe, Iljo Keisse, Gert Steegmans, Tosh Van Der Sande, Dennis Vanendert, Salvatore Puccio, Martijn Keizer, Daniel Oss, Yves Lampaert, Jérôme Baugnies, Omar Fraile, Luis Mas, Jan Barta, Michael Schwarzmann, Niels Van Dijk, Jean-Lou Paiani, and Jean-Marc Bideau. The latter had to drop out due to a broken chain, and with four laps to go, the leading group was reduced to just twelve riders.

The peloton, thanks in part to the efforts of FDJ.fr, was closing in on the leaders, and when everything came back together, it was Iljo Keisse, Gert Steegmans, Salvatore Puccio, Tosh Van Der Sande, Martijn Keizer, and Yves Lampaert who launched attacks. In the final stretch, it was too slow for Gert Steegmans. He was overwhelmed in the last straight by a compact peloton, with Kenny Dehaes just edging out Tom Van Asbroeck and Nacer Bouhanni.

The mountain classification was won by Julian Alaphilippe.

Tom Van Asbroeck (right) narrowly misses out on defeating Kenny De Haes.

Kenny De Haes wins by a tire’s width.

Kenny Dehaes (Lotto-Belisol): I completed the team’s effort (SPORT INFO SPORTS)

The race officials needed a photo finish to determine the winner of the 69th edition of Nokere Koerse-Danilith Classic. Ultimately, Kenny Dehaes was just slightly faster than Tom Van Asbroeck. The latter’s sports director went to review the photo with the officials, then entered the press room and immediately congratulated Kenny Dehaes. “You won, man. It was close,” said Hans De Clercq.

“We had Tosh Van Der Sande and Dennis Vanendert in the early breakaway. For me, the race couldn’t have gone better,” laughed Kenny Dehaes. “The young guys in the team did their job in the final stretch. Sometimes I still have to shout and correct them, but that’s happening less and less. Here in the last straight, they led the sprint in the middle. The opposition can come from both sides in that case, but it all went very well, and I was perfectly positioned. I had to give it my all until the finish line because I didn’t have much left. The season has been good so far. I already won the Ronde van Drenthe, and now I was also the best in Nokere Koerse-Danilith Classic. I completed the team’s effort again today.”

Tom Van Asbroeck (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise): Maybe more success this weekend (SPORT INFO SPORTS)

After the finish, Tom Van Asbroeck briefly celebrated, but after reviewing the finish photo, it turned out that Kenny Dehaes had won.

“Initially, I thought I had won here, but apparently the finish photo places me in the closest runner-up position. It’s a shame,” clarified Tom Van Asbroeck. “I suggest we review the footage, and if it shows that Kenny Dehaes was the fastest, then it must have been by a very small margin. This race didn’t go too well for me because I didn’t have great legs. I let myself glide along in the peloton, and we didn’t have to work as a team because Yves Lampaert was ahead for us. Gradually, I started feeling better. At the end, I was asked how I was doing, and I decided to join the sprint. Steegmans seemed to spoil the party for a moment, but he completely stalled on Nokereberg. Lietaer was the last man to position me, and I came very close to winning. It must have been a matter of millimeters. I’m heading to France this weekend, where I’ll compete in the Classic Loire Atlantique on Saturday and in Cholet on Sunday. Maybe I’ll have more success there.”

Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr): There was more potential here (SPORT INFO SPORTS)

Like a thundercloud, Nacer Bouhanni stormed into the press tent first after the race.

“I launched my final effort from too far out. I really sprinted foolishly,” he lamented. “It’s such a strange finish here. Sprinting uphill is one thing, but also on cobblestones? Not easy. The team did excellent work today. We didn’t have anyone in the early breakaway and consciously controlled the race from then on. In the final laps, everything came back together except for six riders. Gert Steegmans resisted the longest, but eventually, he was caught too. But by then, I had already used up my best efforts and finished third. I can’t really hide my disappointment. There was more potential here.”

69th Nokere Koerse-Danilith Classic from kilometer to kilometer

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Km 0: Under a radiant sun, 187 riders start the 69th Nokere Koerse-Danilith Classic

Km 19: Attack by the Dutchman Wouter Mol and the Frenchman Benoit Jarrier

Km 20: Dennis Vanendert, Alphonse Vermote, and Maxime Vantomme join the three leaders

Km 21: General regrouping

Km 23: The Vossenhol, the first climb of the day with a compact peloton

Km 27: In Anzegem, the large group splits into two parts

Km 33: Regrouping

Km 45: Attack with 17 riders. They are Julian Alaphilippe, Iljo Keisse, Gert Steegmans, Tosh Van Der Sande, Dennis Vanendert, Salvatore Puccio, Martijn Keizer, Daniel Oss, Yves Lampaert, Jérôme Baugnies, Omar Fraile, Luis Mas, Jean-Marc Bideau, Jan Barta, Michael Schwarzmann, Niels Van Dijk, and Jean-Lou Paiani

Km 48.5: The first hour of racing is over

Km 65: The lead of the breakaway group has increased to 2:48

Km 80: Starting the 8 local laps, each about 15 kilometers

Km 101: Jean-Marc Bideau suffers a chain break and has to let his companions go. 16 leaders remain

Km 110: Six laps to go. The sixteen leaders have 1:32 on the peloton

Km 140: Four laps to go. The leading group is down to 12 men. Jérôme Baugnies, Daniel Oss, Niels Van Dijk, and Jean-Lou Paiani had to drop out from the front

Km 169: Two laps to go. The leaders have 0:28 left

Km 182: Regrouping

Km 184: Attack with Iljo Keisse, Gert Steegmans, Tosh Van Der Sande, Salvatore Puccio, Martijn Keizer, and Yves Lampaert

Km 195: Gert Steegmans gives it his all and breaks away from the leading group

Km 199: Gert Steegmans comes to a complete stop in the final straight. Mass sprint, narrowly won by Kenny Dehaes over Tom Van Asbroeck and the Frenchman Nacer Bouhanni