After two consecutive victories for Lotte Kopecky, the win at Danilith Nokere Koerse also remains with SD Worx-Protime this year. Poland’s Marta Lach emerged as the winner after an exhausting sprint on the renovated and particularly selective finishing straight on Waregemsestraat.

The race remained tight for a long time, until 19-year-old Stina Kagevi (Coop-Repsol) managed to surprise the peloton 60 kilometers from the finish line. Her attack, however, was not sustained: Anniina Ahtosalo, the Finnish champion from Uno-X Mobility, put an end to it 25 kilometers from the finish.

The final saw a flurry of action with a late breakaway by Anna Henderson (Lidl-Trek), a strong pursuit by Zoe Backstedt (Canyon//SRAM Racing), and several crashes, including for Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ). Fenix-Deceuninck aimed for a sprint with Julie De Wilde, but she had too little left in her legs.

The race was ultimately decided in a tough sprint, where Marta Lach launched her sprint early and held on. Linda Zanetti (Uno-X Mobility) finished second, ahead of a strongly recovering Gillespie.

SD Worx-Protime remains undefeated at Danilith Nokere Koerse WE since 2022.

Marthe Goossens (AG Insurance – Soudal) won the Caps Mountain Prize.

“I only heard ‘go, go, go’ in my earpiece,” a delighted Lach said afterwards. “I am proud that I could reward this amazing team. Winning Nokere Koerse was a dream after seeing the victories of Lotte and Lorena. Today, that dream became a reality.”