There is no Koerse like Danilith Nokere Koerse!
There is no Koerse like Danilith Nokere Koerse!
The participants of Danilith Nokere Koerse were announced at the annual press dinner. The organization deliberately chooses to race with a limited peloton. Race directors Rony De Sloovere and Gil Steyvers: ‘This way we want to ensure safety during the race. We’re racing with both men and women with 20 teams, with 140 and 120 riders respectively. By deliberately limiting the peloton, we get a less nervous race. Safety comes first.’
For both men and women, number one will again be pinned on by the defending champions, Tim Merlier and Lorena Wiebes. Chairman Robrecht Bothuyne: ‘We are very pleased with our participants. Both the men’s and women’s Belgian champions are on the entry list. And European champion Lorena Wiebes is an absolute world-class rider. And typical for Nokere, emerging talent will be at the start line for both men and women; Shirin Van Anrooij, for example, the white jersey winner from the last Tour de France, or Thibau Nys who will be starting for the first time with the Trek team.’
Will Tim Merlier succeed himself?
Belgian champion Tim Merlier was overwhelmingly the strongest on the slopes of Nokereberg in 2022. This year, the Wortegem native will again be at the start in Deinze. And with ambition! Merlier: ‘I’m going for a second consecutive victory. It’s been a long time since someone succeeded themselves. I’m going to try to make this happen!’ Merlier can expect strong competition, even from his own region! Sep Vanmarcke will be at the start. Lotto-Dstny features Victor Campenaerts and Florian Vermeersch. Edward Theuns is also seeking victory in Nokere, as is former Belgian champion Dries De Bondt. From abroad, Australian sprinter Sam Welsford, who already won twice in Argentina, and German top sprinter Pascal Ackermann will compete. Last year’s runner-up, Max Walscheid, riding for Cofidis, aims for a step higher on the podium. Besides Tim Merlier, former winner Timothy Dupont is also at the start.
Nokere is also THE race for new and emerging talent. This year, it’s particularly exciting to watch the debut of Thibau Nys, who makes his professional road racing debut for the Trek team. Looking forward to seeing what the 2021 European U23 champion and recent cyclocross U23 world champion can do among the seasoned road professionals!
Lorena Wiebes for number 3?
In the women’s race, European champion Lorena Wiebes is going for number 3. Danilith Nokere Koerse was her first major professional victory. Now the world’s fastest woman on two wheels is THE top favorite. But she faces strong competition again. She’ll have to deal with last year’s number 3, former world champion Marta Bastianelli, who already won GP Le Samyn this week. Belgian champion Kim De Baat has cyclocross rider Annemarie Worst among her support riders. Belgium’s rising talent Julie De Wilde is also expected at the start. From further afield comes Kirsten Faulkner, who won two stages in the Giro last year. And what can Cuban Arlenis Sierra do? The Movistar star finished 4th in the Tour of Flanders last year, so the Flemish cobblestones should suit her. And we haven’t even mentioned the strong Trek team or the Jumbo-Visma team… So it will be an exciting battle in the women’s race too!
