Nieuwsblad Cycling Series starten zaterdag in Danilith Nokere Koerse

The riders of the Nieuwsblad Cycling Series will line up on Saturday in Nokere for the first race of the season. The organizers of Danilith Nokere Koerse are newcomers to the Special Olympics Belgium events. Chairman Robrecht Bothuyne says that Nokere was eager to take part in the races for athletes with intellectual disabilities in order to showcase what these riders are capable of.

The Nieuwsblad Cycling Series were launched three years ago. This year, the number of races has grown to nine. Cyclists with intellectual disabilities are given the chance to race on the same course as the professional riders.

Danilith Nokere Koerse kicks off the series. The event is new to the calendar, and for the first time, athletes with intellectual disabilities will ride over cobblestones. According to Gunter Van De Sompel, cycling team manager at Special Olympics Belgium, it’s an experiment. “If it goes well in Nokere, we’ll include cobblestones in future races.”

On Saturday, 24 athletes from Special Olympics Belgium will line up at the start. They will compete in different categories. The Danilith Nokere Koerse organizing team is also hosting a junior race that same day. The professional women and men will race on Wednesday, 19 March.

Robrecht Bothuyne, chairman of the organizing committee, sees it as only natural that Special Olympics Belgium is now part of Nokere Koerse. “Nokere Koerse is synonymous with a celebration for the people. We started as a village fair race and want to maintain that community spirit. We've already expanded to include youth races – now, G-sport (sports for athletes with disabilities) is part of our story too.”

According to Bothuyne, there is still too much ignorance about the abilities of Special Olympics athletes. “This is about inclusion. We want to show what people with disabilities can do. Rather than focusing on their limitations, we want to highlight their talents.”

Among Saturday’s participants is 19-year-old Victor D’Hondt, who recently received the Audience Award at the Kruisem Sports Gala. Nokere is proud to have this multiple medalist from the 2024 Special Olympics Belgium National Games among its competitors.

The race for Special Olympics Belgium athletes starts at 2:00 PM, with the awards ceremony scheduled for 3:29 PM. The 24 riders will compete in five different categories, racing two to four laps on the new 6.6 km course. Start and finish are located on the Waregemsestraat.

Following Danilith Nokere Koerse, the Ronde van Limburg will be the second event of the Nieuwsblad Cycling Series, scheduled for 16 April.

It has also been announced that Special Olympics Belgium athletes will compete on Saturday, 19 July, in Maldegem during the penultimate day of the Baloise Ladies Tour – the largest women’s cycling race in Flanders.

The Nieuwsblad Cycling Series are an initiative of Special Olympics Belgium, Nieuwsblad and Mediahuis, the major race organizers Flanders Classics and Golazo, and a number of independent organizers. The series is also supported by Lotto. The entire project is part of a broader effort to promote inclusion in both sports and society.