Danilith Nokere Koerse WE: many top teams, too few top women riders

Danilith Nokere Koerse has also been a top women's race since 2019. With winners such as Lotte Kopecky, Amy Pieters and Lorena Wiebes, we have been spoiled; all of them world champions. Lotte's 2 victories as world champion are forever memorised in our memory.

In Nokere, we also do everything possible to organise women's cycling at the highest possible level. That starts with the atmospheric team presentation in Deinze. The riders leave there for a challenging course where we spare no effort to make everything as safe as possible. When they arrive, they receive the same prize money as the men’s racers. When we first introduced this 3 years ago, it was a world first and set the trend for women's cycling worldwide. We also provide a live 2-hour TV broadcast on Sporza and Eurosport. This TV broadcast reaches millions of viewers in dozens of countries, but also comes with a price tag of some 90.000 euros for the organisation. During Danilith Nokere Koerse for women, there are also a lot of people along the road and at the finish line. A boost for the riders who too often give their best in other races in front of too few people.

So our field of competitors should always be top. We invest heavily in that. And yes, the top teams are almost all at the start: 12 WorldTeams (out of 15), 6 ProTeams (out of 7) and 2 of the strongest continental teams. Unfortunately, the participation of the top of the best in those teams is very limited this year; for now. Of the Top-20 in the world rankings, there is currently only 1 woman (Marta Lach) who may consider it worth going down to Deinze. Teams apparently do not realise what it costs and means to organise a top race. That not everyone wants or dares to make the combination Nokere - Milan-San Remo is understandable, but this is now very disappointing. So we hope that in the final straight line to the race, some top riders will still add Nokere to their programme.

Not to worry. Every top team at the start has strong riders. And even if it are not always the famous names; they are upcoming talents with a lot of potential. Emma Norsgaard (Lidl-Trek) previously won in the Tour de France. From the same team: Clara Copponi; top 10 in the Omloop and winner in Australia early in the season. Zoë Backstedt, daughter of Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus, was brought up on cobbles. Sofie Van Rooijen, last year's European Under-23 champion, 4th last year and one of the upcoming sprint talents. Swiss rider Linda Zanetti (Uno-X) can also sprint, she already won in Spain and came second in Le Samyn, after Lorena Wiebes. Who also already won in Spain is Lotta Hentalla; former winner of Dwars door Vlaanderen and Gent-Wevelgem. Also starting is Floortje Makaij; she reviously won Gent-Wevelgem and finished 6th in Nokere last year. Our number 3 from last year; Lily Williams (Human Powered Health), is also expected back at the start.

On the Belgian side, we expect, among others, Fauve Bastiaenssen (Ag Insurance) and Marthe Truyen (Fenix-Deceuninck); they were good for a top-10 in Nokere last year. What can they do this year? Fleur Moors (Lidl-Trek), still only 19, but a real top talent, can also go for a strong result in Nokere, as can Julie De Wilde (22 and riding for Fenix-Deceuninck). Come and see for yourself!