Less than two weeks after taking a breakthrough victory at the Driesdaagse van West-Vlaanderen, Timothy Dupont (Verandas Willems) again proved himself worthy of a WorldTour contract by claiming an impressive victory in the uphill sprint on the Nokereberg at the Nokere Koerse semi-classic. After his Verandas Willems teammates had completely overshadowed the WorldTour teams in the finale, the Belgian powered up the climb in the middle of the road and narrowly held off a fast-finishing Kristoffer Halvorsen (Joker) while pre-race favourite Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) had to settle for third.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Timothy Dupont: I was supposed to do the lead-out for Kruopis

"I've really been had a very good sprint and last week I won in Ichtegem. And then Nokere Koerse today which is the best result," Dupont told Het Nieuwsblad relieved after the finish. "It was not intended that I would sprint, but I had to do the lead-out for Aidis Kruopis. But 500 meters from the finish, he lost my wheel. I shouted 'Aidis, Aidis, but I saw him no more. And then I did the sprint myself. 100m from the finish, I used a lower gear because I felt that I was too heavy. I continued to go full gas. I saw someone coming and then threw my bike.”

 

Breakthrough second place for 19-year-old Halvorsen in Nokere Koerse

"I find it unbelievable that I'm second here," said the 19 year-old Kristoffer Halvorsen. "For my team, this is a great race. I have some sprinter abilities, but I really see myself as an all-rounder. In the junior ranks I achieved some good results, but I got sick last year. As a result, nearly the entire season was destroyed.

 

"I trained very well last weinter. I can describe this season like a fresh start. I want to join the pros as quickly as possible. My idol? Tom Boonen. Thor Hushovd is also an idol of mine, but Boonen is still something else. I'm a big fan of him.”

 

Favourite Dylan Groenewegen: I canonly blame myself for this failure

Dylan Groenewegen sprinted to third place in the Nokere Koerse on Wednesday. Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s fast man had to come from far back in the sprint on Nokere Berg, which made it almost impossible to win the race. Timothy Dupont (Veranda’s Willems) grabbed the victory.

 

Team LottoNL-Jumbo took the hammer in its hands in the final part of the Nokere Koerse. To give sprinter Dylan Groenewegen the chance to win, the Dutch team used some riders already early on in the final to control the peloton.

 

“We started with only seven riders and after we had to take control, there weren’t many men left for the sprint lead-out,” Groenewegen said after the race.

 

He was on his own during the final kilometres, so he had to prepare the spring by himself.

 

“I came from the 40th position. That was too far from behind to win the race. I can only blame myself for that. This finish wasn’t my cup, as well. I prefer sprints at a high pace. This third place was the best I could do in this sprint, even if I wanted to win this race.”

 

“With Dylan, we had the race’s favourite in our team,” Sports Director Merijn Zeeman added. “I think that we handled that well as a team. There was a lot of wind and so it was possible that the peloton would break apart into echelons. We kept control and made sure that the race would end up in a bunch sprint. The team spent a lot energy on that part. We were aggressive and sharp.”

 

Groenewegen’s own mistake resulted in the missed opportunity.

 

“The turn to the right, with 2.5 kilometres to go was a key point,” Zeeman said. “Dylan gave another rider too much space there so he lost Robert Wagner’s wheel. Robert was going to lead him out and he was strong enough to accomplish that. They were trying to find each other afterwards so Dylan could regain his position, but they failed. Still it’s great that Dylan was able to make up so many positions to finish third. That didn’t initially look possible.”

 

"I was too far behind to really play a significant role,” Groenewegen added. “At three kilometers from the finish I did everything to move up. The pace in the large group was so high that I only succeeded in dribs and drabs. Actually, I'm even surprised that I managed to be third. This was the highest achievable today. On Friday, the Handzame Classic awaits. Perhaps the race will also be decided in a mass sprint. Perhaps the finish suits me a lot better there. "

 

Michel Kreder proves his puncheur skills with sixth place in Nokere

Roompot had a good day at Nokere Koerse after the strong showing in Ronde van Drenthe. The sixth place for Michel Kreder may actually seem like a meager reward for the selection of former winner Michel Cornelisse.

 

After many attempts in the opening stage Brian Van Goethem joined a leading group.  Van Goethem was caught 40km from the finish.

 

From that moment, especially Van Goethem, Huub Duijn, Raymond and Michel Kreder and André Looij were constantly in the front rows of the first group. After an attack of Looij in the penultimate lap, the young sprinter what involved in a crash. And because Etienne van Empel and Reinier Honig were held up, only five of the orange riders were part of the battle for victory.

 

Michel Kreder did a long sprint and finished sixth.

 

"The sprint was 50 meters too long," Kreder said. "This finish is good for me, I had already been fifth. And then my brother Raymond did a perfect lead-out in the last kilometer which made the motivation even bigger. I was also perfect from the last corner, but in hindsight I chose the wrong side of the road." 

 

Gianni Moscon confirms huge potential, solid Sky debut for Danny van Poppel

Gianni Moscon continued a strong debut pro season with an eighth place finish at Nokere Koerse.

 

The young Italian opened up the sprint on the cobbled Nokereberg climb, entering the fast left kink first before gradually fading backwards to pick up a strong top-10 finish.

 

Right alongside him was Danny van Poppel, with the Dutchman active on his Team Sky debut to also mix it up in the uphill sprint alongside Andy Fenn.

 

The pair crossed the line just outside the top 20, while Timothy Dupont (Verandas Willems) had the strength late on to pull off the victory in Belgium.

 

Team Sky moved up with five kilometres to go as Christian Knees led the line, with a lack of control in the bunch making for a scrappy finale.

 

A number of attacks tried in vain to go clear, with crashes punctuating the action on the finishing circuit as the race culminated in eight local laps.

 

Team Sky sat in the pack for much of the 199.5km event, monitoring moves in an unsettled peloton, with van Poppel to the fore on his return from injury. With two laps to go Moscon was also present in a brief move, while Xabier Zandio kicked off his season on the eve of his 39th birthday.

 

"It all looked good heading into the finish. We were in a good position," explained Sport Director Servais Knaven. "Maybe Gianni went too early but on another day that could have paid off for him. There was a bit of a headwind and it was also about having enough left in the tank for the uphill finish. It's a very difficult finish. 

 

"For Danny it was his first race back so it was really good that he was up there at that level. He hasn't raced since October and he's had some problems with his knee, so I don't think we or he himself expected he'd be that good today. It bodes really well and that little bit he was missing at the finish will come with more racing.

 

"Andy had to brake a little bit ahead of the last 200 metres so he lost a bit of speed. So it didn't go super smoothly but it's hard on a finish like today with the climb and also the run-in before it.

 

"The guys did a good race, especially considering the numbers we had at the start with six. Xabi Zandio was in his first race and Alex Peters is not really a specialist on this terrain. Christian did a great job too. It was a bit of a pity we didn't manage to get a podium but the guys gave it their all."

 

Grosu sprints to 9th, Colli tries late move

Nippo-Vini Fantini were in the mix with a 9th place for Eduard Grosu and a late attack from Daniele Colli.

 

“Before looking to the result, I’m happy with the attitude of the team," sports director Stefano Giuliani said. "The 9th place for Eduard Grosu is a good signal, but we want and we must do better. Today what I appreciate the most has been the attention and the attitude to read the race looking for a result. The good work in front of the group made by all the riders, from Japanese champion Kuboki to Riccardo Stacchiotti, from De Negri to Filosi and Berlato, coming back from the flu. All of them gave Daniele Colli the chance to try the good action at the end, and then to Grosu to be in the final sprint.”

 

Daniele Colli said: “We worked hard as a team to be part of this final part of the race. For the sprint we had Eduard Grosu, so I anticipated with an action, trying to escape when there was less than 10km to the end. As usual in Belgium, the wind makes hard to make it in a small escape in the final km, but the feelings are now good, I always feel better. I can’t wait to try again something on Friday.”

 

Eduard Grosu said: “At the startof the race we tried to get in the break, but missing this chance we had to work in front of the group to bring them back. Thanks to the team we had the chance, Daniele and I, to take part in the final km. In the last km Stacchiotti did a good job to keep us with the best riders. The condition is improving and already on Friday I want to improve my performance."

 

Tom Devriendt wins KOM prize in Nokere Koerse

The next race on the schedule forr Wanty was Nokere Koerse on Wednesday. Tom Devriendt went on the attack and won the 'bergprijs' on Nokereberg. Kenny Dehaes was the fastest finisher in tenth place. Timothy Dupont won the race for Veranda's Willems.

 

Nokere Koerse (200km) started in sunny Deinze. Wanty-Groupe Gobert started with local rider and former winner Kenny Dehaes, Roy Jans, Danilo Napolitano, Tom Devriendt, Kévin Van Melsen, Frederik Backaert, Robin Stenuit and Jérôme Baugnies.

 

After over one hour of fast racing, Tom Devriendt was the first rider on top of Nokereberg. In the descent he and six other riders managed to get a gap on the peloton.

 

“It wasn't my intention to attack today," Devriendt said. "But when we arrived in Nokere for the first time I felt good and went full gas on the Nokereberg. David Boucher and some others followed." 

 

Every lap the riders could take points on Nokereberg to win the race's mountain prize. Tom Devriendt did just that.

 

"I was with the early break so I wanted to take what there was to take. When we were in front with seven riders, we worked well. I immediately made the KOM prize a target.

 

“I know I am fast so I want to try and win a prize like this. Furthermore the race enabled me to ride at the front half of the day which further improves my condition. I am happy after today's race," Devriendt concluded.

 

Sports director Hilaire Van der Schueren was also happy with how the day unfolded, untill the last four kilometres.

 

“I think we did a perfect race, untill the final four kilometres. We were well grouped together all day and had someone in the breakaway," he analyses.

 

“Devriendt takes the mountain prize as a bonus. At three kilometres from the line we are still riding together but not with enough riders. Devriendt has been in the break of course, Van Melsen wasn't good today and Backaert already spent energy chasing an attack by Sean De Bie."

 

“In the final kilometre Jans and Dehaes found themselves way too far back. They should have had somebody with them in the final. That should have been Napolitano. He's perfect for this. Napo was very strong today but we need to save him untill the final kilometre. That's what we will do this Friday in Handzame Classic," Van der Schueren concludes.

 

Crashes destroy strong lead-out for Bora-Argon 18 in Nokere Koerse

There wasno luck today for BORA – ARGON 18. The team had several riders involved in crashes throughout the race. Phil Bauhaus hit the tarmac twice, also Andreas Schillinger and Michael Schwarzmann went down. Still the team delivered a strong performance, always at the front of the peloton and able to react actively to any attacks. But due to the crashes just Ralf Matzka and Zak Dempster could lead out Scott Thwaites in the sprint finish up the Nokereberg. They took control with 2k to go and were able to bring Thwaites to the bottom of the climb in 1st position, however this turned out to be too early for the British BORA – ARGON 18 captain. He tried to defend his position in the uphill finish, but was overtaken in the last 300m. In the end he just missed out on another top ten result, crossing the line in 13th place.

 

“It was a hard day for us. In the first big crash Phil and Schilli were involved. They could get on their bikes again, but especially Schilli had a lot of pain afterwards. Phil even went down a second time in a crash were also Schwarzi hit the tarmac. Therefor we had just Ralf and Zak in the final, which turned out to be too little to lead-out properly. Still I am proud of the boys today, because they showed that they are able to control a race like this,” said sports director André Schulze.

 

“I think we did a good job. It’s hard once you hit the downhill because you save so much energy in the wheel behind, but we had to chance it. If we had one more ride in the front, this could have worked out well,” said Zakkari Dempster.

 

“Today was a little bit disappointing in the end. The team did a great job to position me well, but I hit the front a little earlier than I would have liked. I then hesitated a bit and lost my speed, and on the cobbles there was no chance to match the guys who carried their speed from the back,” said Scott Thwaites.

 

Rick Zabel boxed in in uphill sprint at Nokere Koerse

BMC Racing Team Sports Director Allan Peiper said given the team was only five riders strong, they worked well together.

 

“It was a pretty low key day for us out there. We’re lucky that none of our guys were caught up in any of the crashes because there were quite a few,” Peiper said.

 

“Rick Zabel tried to go for the sprint but he was a boxed in a bit and didn’t the chance to really go for it. It was always going to be a bunch sprint. All in all, it was a good chance for the guys to get some more experience racing on the cobbles.”

 

No major injuries for Lotto Soudal after crash-marred race in Nokere

The break was about 40 kilometres from the finish. After that a lot of attempts occurred in the peloton, among others Sean De Bie, Jelle Wallays and Jasper De Buyst from Lotto Soudal tried to obtain a significant gap. Tosh Van der Sande was the first Lotto Soudal rider in 22nd place.

 

Just before the start of the final local lap of fifteen kilometres there was a heavy crash in the peloton. Three Lotto Soudal riders were involved. Gert Dockx and Frederik Frison, who most likely has a concussion, were taken to the hospital for a check-up. Marcel Sieberg has no troubles after his crash.

 

“Today @nokerekoerse we tried to make it a hard race, but unfortunately we lost 3 or 4 riders in a crash in the last lap... Next Handzame Classic on Friday,” van der Sande tweeted.

 

Crash takes ONE sprint out of contention in Nokere Koerse

15km into the race ONE’s Pete Williams was keen to get in on the action, briefly leaving the front of the group with a Cofidis rider but the pair were quickly swallowed up by the peloton. 45km into the race and a number of attacks were attempted but everything remained together. The ONE Pro Cycling Team Car was called up to the peloton by Race Officials to assist Sam Williams with a mechanical, which saw mechanic Andy Verrall conduct a prompt bike change for the British neo pro. While Williams fought to get back onto the group, 7 riders managed to make the first break of the day as they ascended the well known Nokereberg for the first time. Confirmation rang loud and clear on the race radio that Pete Williams was included in the breakaway group which extended its lead to a maximum of 3 minutes 30 seconds, while the rest of the squad sat comfortably in the peloton.

 

Mechanic Andy Verrall was kept on his toes as Polish rider Marcin Bialoblocki required a wheel change 58km into the race, shortly followed by Sam Williams needing a front wheel replacement following a crash just 10km later. As the peloton exited a large cobbled section on the course the pace suddenly increases bringing down the gap on the break away and splitting the peloton into 3 groups in the process. However the break including Pete Williams weren’t giving up and managed to stay away until the last 30km when everything came back together once more.

 

With less than 3 laps of the finishing circuit remaining, the squad positioned themselves really well with Chris Opie, Sam Williams, Pete Williams, and Matthew Goss in the mix at the front. With only 17km to go a crash in the peloton took down Opie, Pete Williams and Goss. Lead DS Phil West made a difficult call and asked the team to wait on Opie but with 5km to go and the peloton under pressure it soon became clear that Opie wasn’t going to make it back to the group before the finish.

 

Into the last 3km and the surge for the finish was well and truly underway, with the confusion following the crash Sebastian Lander and Karol Domagalski were left to battle it out alone on the run into the finish. The final climb up the Nokereberg saw what was left of the peloton sprinting for the line with Sebastian Lander finishing in 28th place, the rest of the team rolling over the line shortly after.

 

Tinkoff left empty-handed in crash-marred Nokere Koerse

In the sprint finish conclusion to the end of Nokere Koerse – Danilith Classic in Belgium, the six-man Tinkoff squad saw its chances of a result disappear after getting caught up in late pile-ups. Juraj Sagan was first over the line in 31st place after nearly 200km of racing.

 

The one-day Belgian race was a return to action after returning from Malaysia at the Tour de Langkawi for Sagan as well as Erik Baška, Michael Gogl and Michael Kolar, and a chance to get back up to speed at what is now becoming a semi-classic in Belgium. Covering the cobblestone ascent of the Nokereberg ten times, the race proved to be a course of attrition with a small bunch sprint fighting for victory. But this wasn’t before a hard fight after the day’s early breakaway of seven was reeled in.

 

“We didn’t go in the early break to focus on the sprint at the end with Michael Kolar but unfortunately he got caught up behind a crash which saw his chances of fighting for the win disappear,” Sport Director Tristan Hoffman explained. “We were getting in the moves towards the end as the racing was hard and we wanted to make sure that we were there but a few of the guys got stuck behind crashes which messed up our plans for the finish.”

 

The day’s early breakaway of seven was always kept under control and never really threatened to break the peloton’s hopes of a sprint. Once they had been brought back into the fold the touch paper was lit for a succession of attacks, with small groups trying their luck at getting clear and making it stick.

 

On several occasions Tinkoff was represented at the front, with Sagan and Michael Gogl especially getting some distance over the bunch, but there were several other teams also with an interest in a fast finish so coming into the final kilometres the race was all together. In a much reduced bunch, there was still four Tinkoff jersey’s present but with the high speed, and being out of position in the approach, the riders were unable to move up to contest the sprint on the uphill drag to the line on the Nokereberg.

 

“There were moments when we were out of position and this cost us but it was good to see the team getting into the action,” Hoffman concluded. “At the end of the day they got a hard day’s racing in the legs which will help them to keep building towards the coming races, especially for those who’ve returned from Malaysia. Hopefully Friday’s result will be a bit more forthcoming.”

 

The same six riders line up on Friday at the Handzame Classic, the second of a Belgian double header.

 

Bad luck for Stölting in crash-marred Nokere Koerse

The Nokere Koerse – Danilith Classic (1.HC) didn’t go to plan for Team Stölting Service Group. Four riders had to abandon due to crashes, and because of that Gerald Ciolek couldn’t get a good position in the final or mix it up in the sprint.

 

Alex Kirsch abandoned after around 80km as he had problems on the cobblestones due to his crash in Croatia. Later, Michael Carbel had a mechanical and was then caught behind a crash, meaning that there was no sense in him continuing either. Nevertheless Team Stölting Service Group still had three good cards for the final in Gerald Ciolek, Mads Pedersen and Rasmus Guldhammer

.

However, Guldhammer crashed with 25 km to go, and shortly afterwards a mass crash took down Mads Pedersen – only three riders were left in the race. Ciolek couldn’t position himself perfectly in the final and had no chance in the sprint.

 

Sports Director Gregor Willwohl commented: “It was great weather for a Belgian race, and we had only one puncture. Sadly, we were haunted by crashes instead. We wanted to show our colours in the final and participate in the chase, but with only 3-4 riders left that wasn’t an option. Gerald was sick last week, and at a narrowing of the road 1000 m from the line he wasn’t at the front of the pack which meant that the sprint was gone. Luckily nobody got seriously hurt today. We did everything right and just had a lot of bad luck. But at some point we’ll surely get a success.”

 

The next race is the Handzame Classic (1.1) on Friday, where the same squad of seven will line up for Team Stölting Service Group.