Top field of participants for Danilith Nokere Koerse ME

Danilith Nokere Koerse is growing. For the first time there are 10 Word Tour teams at the start in the men's race. In addition, we are hosting 9 Procontinental teams and 1 continental team, Tarteletto-Isorex, with roots in the region. We deliberately choose not to ride with 25 teams, but limit the peloton to 20 teams of 7 riders. This way we guarantee a safer and more attractive course of the race.

Last year, European champion Tim Merlier won, ahead of Fabio Jakobsen and Jasper Philipsen. A top stage. And we hope to have these 3 top riders back at the start in Deinze this year! We also expect a lot of young talent. Traditionally, we like to see young talent on the cobblestones of Danilith Nokere Koerse. So we expect the top of Antonio Morgado (won already twice this year and 5th in the Tour of Flanders last year, among others) of Team Emirates, Tim Torn Teutenberg of Lidl-Trek, last year's winner of Paris-Roubaix among the favourites or Ethan Vernon, a young American sprint bomb of Israel-Premier tech, with already 11 pro victories, at the start.

Besides this young force, there are also some absolute top riders. Jasper Philipsen was on the podium at Nokere several times in both juniors and pros, but never won. ‘Unfinished business’ therefore for the man of the opening weekend. After Milan-San Remo, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, stages and green jersey in the Tour de France, can he finally add Danilith Nokere Koerse to his record of achievements?

Arnaud De Lie, meanwhile, has also been confirmed as a participant. He is convinced that the new finish should suit him well. A Belgian champion as winner; that always looks good on the palmares!

If a Belgian champion looks good on the record, a European champion would certainly be nice! Moreover, Tim Merlier can only become a record holder if he can win his ‘home race’ for the fourth time. It has been 20 years since Tom Boonen in the E3 Prize that a rider could win a semi-classic 4 times in a row. Whether Tim can achieve this unique performance is not yet certain; he is still considering his participation. But we are hoping he will rise to the challenge!

Besides these familiar names, there are also men very hungry for a win in Nokere: Milan Fretin of Cofidis beat all the big names in an uphill sprint in the Algarve and seems ready for the big break. Maybe in Nokere? Or what about Arne Marit, 2-time winner in Nokere in the juniors and still a handsome 4th in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. At 3th place in Kuurne was Hugo Hofstetter of Israel - Premier Tech; a man of many duels, who will surely try to make a difference on the cobbles in Nokere too. At Lidl-Trek also the number 2 of our 2023 edition: Edward Theuns. Can he step up another notch?

Apart from, hopefully, Tim Merlier, we also welcome a lot of other former winners at the start; from Timothy Dupont, over Ludovic Robbeet to Fabio Jakobsen and Cees Bol. We hope to see them all at the start in Deinze on 19 March!