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63rd Nokere Koerse - 1.1
Belgium, March 19, 2008
2007 Results Results Past winners
Weylandts takes Nokere in style
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Twenty three year old Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) took the 63rd edition of Nokere Koerse in a mass sprint ahead of neo-pro Jürgen Roelandts (Silence - Lotto) and the German ProTour leader André Greipel (High Road).
Shortly after racing got underway three riders, Sep Vanmarcke (Davitamon - Lotto - Jong Vlaanderen), Bjorn Papstein (Team 3C - Gruppe Lamonta) and David Boucher (Landbouwkrediet), escaped the peloton. By the time they reached the start of the 14.8km finishing loop, which included the infamous Nokereberg of which they were to ride ten times they had built up a lead of 4.48 over the peloton which had broken into two large groups.
Shortly after the first ascent of the Nokereberg the main field came back together as the large front group slowed to allow the chasers to latch back on. This slowing allowed the leaders to build up a lead of around ten minutes. The lack of any serious speed in the peloton prompted the race organisers to relay a message via race radio that they needed to lift the pace or there would be chaos for the traffic which was waiting patiently for the race to pass. Almost instantly the peloton reacted and the lead of the trio was brought back to seven minutes with 70km remaining.
With 45km to the line, Hungarian Laszlo Bodrogi made the first serious move off the front of the peloton but was quickly reeled back. Out front the three leaders were still working away in the hope that their bold move would pay off with a win - or at least the maximum amount of TV time - but with 25km to go they were swallowed up by the peloton.
As the main field passed the finish line for a lap to go, Kevin Hulsmans lifted the pace in an attempt to thin out the large main field and give himself and his team-mates a greater chance for the win. His efforts were not in vain as around 40 riders moved clear.
Laurens ten Dam (Rabobank) and Domenik Klemme (Team 3C - Gruppe Lamonta) were the next to try their luck, but were unable to gain a big enough advantage as the group hit the final ascent of the Nokereberg all together. Coming into the finish, initially it looked like Roelandts would finish on the top step but Weylandts speed was too great as he crossed the line arms aloft to take the Belgian semi-classic.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Stijn Vercaemer/www.cyclingview.be
- The fans of Frank Vandenbroucke still believe in him.
- Support for Frank Vandenbroucke.
- Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) ready for the start.
- Jan Kuyckx (Landbouwkrediet) looking forward to start.
- Stefan Van Dijk, riding for team Misubishi-Jartazi is known as a fast finisher but just didn't have the legs today.
- Kevin Hulsman (Quick Step).
- The Specialized bike of Kevin Van Impe (Quick Step) .
- Johan Molly, soigneur of the Quick Step team.
- The leading group of the day with David Boucher (Landbouwkrediet) out front.
- The leaders negotiate a small climb in the heart of Belgium.
- Pieter Jacobs (Silence-Lotto) sitting happily in the peloton.
- Yannick Talabardon (Crédit Agricole).
- Wouter Weylandt (Quick-Step) rode superbly to take the 63rd edition of Nokere Koerse.
Results - 196 km
1 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step 4.48.31 (40.759 km/h) 2 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Silence - Lotto 3 André Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 4 Bobbie Traksel (Ned) P3Transfer - Batavus 5 Sjef De Wilde (Bel) Willems Veranda's Continental Team 6 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Française des Jeux 7 Niko Eeckhout (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 8 Fabien Bacquet (Fra) Skil-Shimano 9 Frédéric Amorison (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner 10 Dennis Pohl (Ger) Team 3C - Gruppe Lamonta 11 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner 12 Matthias Friedemann (Ger) Team 3C - Gruppe Lamonta 13 Johan Coenen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 14 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Crédit Agricole 15 Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil-Shimano 16 Yoann Offredo (Fra) Française des Jeux 17 Daniel Lloyd (GBr) An Post - M. Donnelly - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team 18 René Joergensen (Den) Team Designa Køkken 19 Mathieu Criquielion (Bel) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 20 Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Van Vliet - EBH Elshof 21 Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 22 Paidi O'Brien (Irl) An Post - M. Donnelly - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team 23 Geert Steurs (Bel) Silence - Lotto 24 Tobias Erler (Ger) Team 3C - Gruppe Lamonta 25 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 26 Kristof De Zutter (Bel) Willems Veranda's Continental Team 27 Stefan Ganser (Ger) Team Kuota - Senges 28 Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner 29 Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 30 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Silence - Lotto 31 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) P3Transfer - Batavus 32 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team High Road 33 John Devine (USA) Team High Road 34 Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 35 Tomas Buchacek (Cze) PSK Whirlpool - Author 36 Stijn Ennekens (Bel) Willems Veranda's Continental Team 0.20 37 Janek Tombak (Est) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 38 Andreas Klier (Ger) Team High Road 39 Dmytro Grabovskyy (Ukr) Quick Step 40 Bastian Giling (Ned) Cycle Collstrop 41 Steffen Wesemann (Swi) Cycle Collstrop 42 Frantisek Rabon (Cze) Team High Road 43 Romain Zingle (Bel) Groupe Gobert.com 44 Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Crédit Agricole 45 Tom Criel (Bel) Cycle Collstrop 0.31 46 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Cycle Collstrop 0.34 47 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 48 Koen Barbe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 49 Arnaud Gérard (Fra) Française des Jeux 50 David Kopp (Ger) Cycle Collstrop 51 Jean-Paul Simon (Bel) Josan Mercedes Benz Aalst CT 0.40 52 Igor Abakoumov (Rus) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 53 Michiel Elijzen (Ned) Rabobank 54 Kenny Van Braeckel (Bel) Willems Veranda's Continental Team 55 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step 56 Quincy Vens (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto - Jong Vlaanderen 57 Björn Papstein (Ger) Team 3C - Gruppe Lamonta 58 Justas Volungevicius (Ltu) Rietumu Bank-Riga 59 Rikke Dijkxhoorn (Ned) Van Vliet - EBH Elshof 60 Kasper Jebjerg (Den) Team Designa Køkken 61 Arnoud Van Groen (Ned) P3Transfer - Batavus 62 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux 63 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Skil-Shimano 64 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Crédit Agricole 65 Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Skil-Shimano 66 Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 67 Wim Botman (Ned) P3Transfer - Batavus 68 Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner 69 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank 70 Greg Van Aevermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto 71 Thomas Bodo (Fra) Differdange - Apiflo Vacances 72 Bram Schmitz (Ned) Van Vliet - EBH Elshof 73 Ivor Bruin (Ned) Van Vliet - EBH Elshof 74 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank 75 Geert Omloop (Bel) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 76 Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto - Jong Vlaanderen 77 Detlef Moerman (Bel) Willems Veranda's Continental Team 78 Viktor Folkesson (Swe) An Post - M. Donnelly - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team 79 Markku Ainsalu (Est) Rietumu Bank - Riga 80 Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Crédit Agricole 81 Maurice Vrijmoed (Ned) Van Vliet - EBH Elshof 82 Maxime Méderel (Fra) Crédit Agricole 83 Arturs Ansons (Lat) Rietumu Bank-Riga 84 René Obst (Ger) Team 3C - Gruppe Lamonta 85 Timothy Vangheel (Bel) P3Transfer - Batavus 86 Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Silence - Lotto 87 Vojtech Dlouhy (Cze) PSK Whirlpool - Author 88 Bert Roesems (Bel) Silence - Lotto 89 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step 90 David Boucher (Fra) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner 91 Hubert Schwab (Swi) Quick Step 92 André Schulze (Ger) PSK Whirlpool - Author 93 Leonardo Scarselli (Ita) Quick Step 94 Sebastian Forke (Ger) Team 3C - Gruppe Lamonta 95 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank 96 Dennis Kreder (Ned) Van Vliet - EBH Elshof 97 Manman Van Ruitenbeek (Ned) Van Vliet - EBH Elshof 98 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank 99 Nick Gates (Aus) Silence - Lotto 100 Martin Mares (Cze) PSK Whirlpool - Author 101 Rick Flens (Ned) Rabobank 2.16 102 Kenny Lisabeth (Bel) An Post - M. Donnelly - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team 2.57 103 Stanislav Kozubek (Cze) PSK Whirlpool - Author 3.01 104 Kevin Neirynck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner 3.59
Past winners
1st 2nd 3rd 2007 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Geert Steurs (Bel) 2006 Bert Roesems (Bel) Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Jeremy Hunt (GBr) 2005 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Igor Abakoumov (Bel) Geert Omloop (Bel) 2004 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Rudi Kemna (Ned) Jo Planckaert (Bel) 2003 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Hendrik Van Dijck (Bel) 2002 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Jans Koerts (Ned) Steven De Jongh (Ned) 2001 Michel Van Haecke Bart Voskamp (Ned) Nico Eeckhout (Bel) 2000 Hendrik Van Dyck Nico Mattan Jan Koerts (Ned) 1999 Jeroen Blijlevens Michel Van Haecke Wielfried Cretskens 1998 Scott Sunderland (Aus) Leon Van Bon (Ned) Chris Peers 1997 Hendrik Van Dyck Wim Feys Bart Voskamp (Ned) 1996 Hendrik Van Dyck Jelle Nijdam (Ned) Michel Cornelisse (Ned) 1995 Jo Planckaert Michel Vermote Geert Van Bondt 1994 Peter De Clercq Michel Cornelisse Chris Peers 1993 Michel Cornelisse (Ned) Jan Bogaert Mario De Clercq 1992 Johan Capiot Peter De Clercq Benjamin Van Itterbeeck 1991 Koen Van Rooy Johan Capiot Martin Koekelhoren (Ned) 1990 Herman Frison Roger Vandenbossche Filip Van Vooren 1989 Rik Van Slycke Andrzej Mierzejewski (Pol) Peter Spanhoven 1988 Patrick Versluys Yves Godimus Danny Janssens 1987 Etienne De Wilde Francky Van Oyen Ludo Giesberts 1986 Luc Colyn Jan Van Camp Rony Van Holen 1985 Didier Foubert Patrick Versluys Jan Bogaert 1984 Jan Bogaert Patrick Versluys Eric Stevens 1983 Walter Schoonjans Patrick Cocquyt Gerald Veldschoten (Ned) 1982 William Tackaert Ludo De Keulenaer Rudi Matthys 1981 Gerrit Knetemann (Ned) Herman Van Springel Claude Criquelion 1980 Jos Van De Poel Johan Vandevelde (Ned) Paul Jesson (NZl) 1979 Hendrik De Vos William Tackaert Tony Houbrechts 1978 Gustaaf Van Roosbroeck Jan Aling (Ned) Jos Jacobs 1977 Frans Van Looy Gerrit Knetemann (Ned) Roberto Cerieto (Ita) 1976 Luc Leman Lucien De Brauwere Geert Malfait 1975 Marc De Meyer Willy Teirlinck Jan Raas (Ned) 1974 Freddy Maertens Pierrino Gavazzi (Ita) Ronald De Witte 1973 Noël Van Tieghem Claude Magni (Fra) Gerard Vianen (Ned) 1972 Tony Houbrechts Rony Van Marcke Willy Planckaert 1971 Herman Van Springel Eric Leman Maurice Eyers 1970 Andre Dierickx Patrick Sercu Bernard Van De Kerkhove 1969 Roger Rosiers Frans Mintjes Michel Jacquemin 1968 Frans Brands Roger Cooreman Michel Jacquemin 1967 Walter Godefroot Jacques De Boever Roger Blockx 1966 Jacques De Boever Oswald De Clercq Reindert De Jongh (Ned) 1965 Arthuur De Cabooter Jos Mathy Gustaaf De Smet 1964 Robert De Middeleir Leon Van Daele André Noyelle 1963 Frans De Mulder Daniël Doom Norbert Kerckbove 1962 No race 1961 Leon Van Daele Jozef Vloeberghs Gilbert Maes 1960 Gilbert De Smet Louis Troonbeeckx Pol Rosseel 1959 No race 1958 Arthuur De Cabooter Gilbert Desmet Julien Schepens 1957 André Auquier Pino Cerami Francis Kemplaire 1956 Marcel Ryckaert Roger Declerck Lucien Mathijs 1955 Jozef Schils Briek Schotte Henri Denijs 1954 Jan Zagers Roger Decock Roger Desmet 1953 Baziel Wambeke Rik Jochums Julien Pascal 1952 Wim Van Est (Ned) André Pieters Rafaël Jonckheere 1951 Gerard Buyl Maurice Blomme Valeer Ollivier 1950 Jules De Poortere Roger Decock Flander Janssens 1949 Nest Sterckx Maurice De Simpelaere Michel Remue 1948 Roger Cnockaert André Declerck Jeroom Renier 1947 Berten Sercu Michel Remue Odiel van der Meerschaut 1946 Emanuel Thoma André Pieters Briek Schotte 1945 Briek Schotte Michel Remue Desiré Keteleer 1944 Marcel Kint Theo Middelkamp (Ned) Gustaaf Van Overloop
