Nacer Bouhanni wins Nokere Koerse

Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) claimed his first win of 2017 Wednesday at Nokere Koerse-Danilith Classic, easily out-sprinting the bunch on the wide finishing straight in Nokere.

Coming off his team's lead out in perfect position, the French fast man went through the final left-hand turn about 200 metres from the finish in first position and was never challenged as he crossed the line half a dozen bike lengths ahead of Adam Blythe (Aqua Blue Sport) and Joeri Stallaert (Cibel-Cebon).

Bouhanni took his first victory of the season following several top 10s, including two second-place finishes at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.

"I figured I'd start my sprint as soon as I was on the final pavement," he said. "I did not want to get trapped. I went with 300 meters, I did not ask any questions. When I turned in the last few meters, I saw that I had taken a good lead."

Several crashes on the last lap of the race complicated the run to the line, but Blythe said it was nothing out of the ordinary for the sprinters.

"It was hectic sprint," Blythe said. “It was dangerous, but it's like every sprint. Every sprint is dangerous. I just lost a few places with 400 metres to go, and I started sprinting a little bit slow, so I had to make up some places. It's still a good sprint. I finished strong."

Blythe said he punctured on the last lap but was able to regain the bunch with enough time to contest the finish.

"I punctured with I think 8km to go maybe, but that's just racing," he said. "It would have still been the same result, maybe a little better if I had better positioning, but it didn't really take anything away from my legs."

How it unfolded

A breakaway of seven riders that included Ole Forfang (Team Joker Icopal), Ludwig de Winter (WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect), Kenneth VanRooy (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Hamish Schreurs (Cycling Academy), Floris De Tier (LottoNL-Jumbo), Gaetan Bille (Vérandas Willems-Crelan) and Elmar Reinders (Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij) jumped away early to provide the day's carrot for the chasing peloton.

Cooperation in the group drove the gap above two minutes, but the peloton had its mind set on a sprint, and the leaders were never given much leeway.

The peloton made the catch with 23km to go, and counter attacks formed a new group off the front that included De Tier, Sean de Bie (Lotto Soudal) and Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin).

The new leaders were soon joined by another half dozen riders, and attacks quickly started to shred the front of the race. It was all back together as the peloton took the bell for the final 15.6km lap.

Team Joker Icopal took control of the front in hopes of setting up the sprint for U23 world champion Kristoffer Halvorsen, but a crash in the middle of the field with about 10km to go momentarily interrupted the procession. A second crash on the narrow Belgian roads with 6km to go caused more disruption.

BMC's Floris Gerts took advantage of the confusion to launch a solo attack, gaining a slight advantage over the peloton as a rider from Cibel-Cebon bridged to the BMC rider briefly but couldn't maintain contact.

BMC threw another late bomb into the mix, with Silvan Dillier jumping away next. Dillier's move was also short-lived as the peloton drilled the pace anticipating a large bunch sprint.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits4:07:31
2Adam Blythe (GBr) Aqua Blue SportRow 1 - Cell 2
3Joeri Stallaert (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 2 - Cell 2
4Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Team SunwebRow 3 - Cell 2
5Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 4 - Cell 2
6Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 5 - Cell 2
7Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 6 - Cell 2
8Andre Looij (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 7 - Cell 2
9Alan Banaszek (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 8 - Cell 2
10Mathias De Witte (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 9 - Cell 2
11František Sisr (Cze) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 10 - Cell 2
12Guillaume Boivin (Can) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 11 - Cell 2
13Jarl Salomein (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 12 - Cell 2
14Rob Leemans (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Jelle Mannaerts (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 14 - Cell 2
16Justin Jules (Fra) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 15 - Cell 2
17Jenthe Biermans (Bel) Katusha-AlpecinRow 16 - Cell 2
18Mihkel Räim (Est) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 17 - Cell 2
19Steven Lammertink (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 18 - Cell 2
20Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 19 - Cell 2
21Riccardo Stacchiotti (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 20 - Cell 2
22Boris Vallee (Bel) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 21 - Cell 2
23Martin Elmiger (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
24Twan Castelijns (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 23 - Cell 2
25Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 24 - Cell 2
26Timothy Stevens (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 25 - Cell 2
27Floris Gerfs (Ned) BMC Racing TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
28Aleksei Tcatevich (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 27 - Cell 2
29Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 28 - Cell 2
30Amund Grondahl Jansen (Nor) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 29 - Cell 2
31Romain Cardis (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 30 - Cell 2
32Berden De Vries (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 31 - Cell 2
33Aaron Gate (NZl) Aqua Blue SportRow 32 - Cell 2
34Fabien Grellier (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 33 - Cell 2
35Loïc Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 34 - Cell 2
36Etienne Van Empel (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 35 - Cell 2
37Anders Skaarseth (Nor) Team Joker IcopalRow 36 - Cell 2
38Miles Scotson (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Roy Jans (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 38 - Cell 2
40Bert De Backer (Bel) Team SunwebRow 39 - Cell 2
41José Gonçalves (Por) Katusha-AlpecinRow 40 - Cell 2
42Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 41 - Cell 2
43Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 42 - Cell 2
44Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Katusha-AlpecinRow 43 - Cell 2
45Arjen Livyns (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Zico Waeytens (Bel) Team SunwebRow 45 - Cell 2
47Martijn Budding (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 46 - Cell 2
48Michal Paluta (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 47 - Cell 2
49Jakub Kaczmarek (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 48 - Cell 2
50Lasse Norman Hansen (Den) Aqua Blue SportRow 49 - Cell 2
51Remy Mertz (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 50 - Cell 2
52Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 51 - Cell 2
53David Boucher (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 53 - Cell 2
55Nicolas Marini (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 54 - Cell 2
56Roman Maikin (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 55 - Cell 2
57Wesley Kreder (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 56 - Cell 2
58Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 57 - Cell 2
59Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 58 - Cell 2
60Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 59 - Cell 2
61Jonas Koch (Ger) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 60 - Cell 2
62Dries De Bondt (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 61 - Cell 2
63Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 62 - Cell 2
64Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team SunwebRow 63 - Cell 2
65Igor Boev (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 64 - Cell 2
66Kamil Malecki (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice0:00:17
67Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 66 - Cell 2
68Lennard Kämna (Ger) Team SunwebRow 67 - Cell 2
69Michael Cools (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 68 - Cell 2
70Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 69 - Cell 2
71Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 70 - Cell 2
72Benjamin Perry (Can) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 71 - Cell 2
73Anton Vorobyev (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 72 - Cell 2
74Erik Baska (Svk) Bora-HansgroheRow 73 - Cell 2
75Oscar Riesebeek (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 74 - Cell 2
76Tom Bohli (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 75 - Cell 2
77Kilian Frankiny (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 76 - Cell 2
78Maxim Belkov (Rus) Katusha-AlpecinRow 77 - Cell 2
79Guy Sagiv (Isr) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 78 - Cell 2
80Huub Duyn (Ned) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 79 - Cell 2
81Gerry Druyts (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 80 - Cell 2
82Michiel Dieleman (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 81 - Cell 2
83Paul Ourselin (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 82 - Cell 2
84Seppe Verschuere (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 83 - Cell 2
85Niels De Rooze (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 84 - Cell 2
86Florian Vachon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 85 - Cell 2
87Krists Neilands (Lat) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 86 - Cell 2
88Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:26
89Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 88 - Cell 2
90Kenny Dehaes (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 89 - Cell 2
91Sean De Bie (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 90 - Cell 2
92Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 91 - Cell 2
93Vegard Breen (Nor) Team Joker IcopalRow 92 - Cell 2
94Edward Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 93 - Cell 2
95Martijn Tusveld (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij0:00:29
96Robby Cobbaert (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 95 - Cell 2
97Maxime Vantomme (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect0:00:32
98Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 97 - Cell 2
99Dimitri Peyskens (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 98 - Cell 2
100Dmitriy Kozontchuk (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 99 - Cell 2
101Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Team SunwebRow 100 - Cell 2
102Dorian Godon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 101 - Cell 2
103Jeremy Cornu (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 102 - Cell 2
104Sindre Skjoestad Lunke (Nor) Team SunwebRow 103 - Cell 2
105Andrei Solomennikov (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 104 - Cell 2
106Mark Mcnally (GBr) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 105 - Cell 2
107Floris De Tier (Bel) Team LottoNl-Jumbo0:00:37
108Frederik Frison (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 107 - Cell 2
109Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 108 - Cell 2
110Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Soudal0:00:40
111Nicola Bagioli (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 110 - Cell 2
112Stijn Steels (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 111 - Cell 2
113Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Israel Cycling Academy0:00:59
114Kenneth Vanbilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:01:01
115Michaël Van Staeyen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 114 - Cell 2
116Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:01:04
117Kevin Ista (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 116 - Cell 2
118Leigh Howard (Aus) Aqua Blue Sport0:01:42
119Dennis Coenen (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 118 - Cell 2
120Mads Würtz Schmidt (Den) Katusha-Alpecin0:01:48
121Matthew Brammeier (Irl) Aqua Blue SportRow 120 - Cell 2
122Enzo Wouters (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 121 - Cell 2
123Brecht Dhaene (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental Team0:01:51
124Hamish Schreurs (NZl) Israel Cycling Academy0:01:54
125Ludwig De Winter (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect0:01:56
126Elmar Reinders (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 125 - Cell 2
127Martijn Keizer (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 126 - Cell 2
128Koen Bouwman (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 127 - Cell 2
129Lukas Pöstlberger (Aut) Bora-HansgroheRow 128 - Cell 2
130Jimmy Janssens (Bel) Cibel - Cebon0:02:00
131Andrew Fenn (GBr) Aqua Blue SportRow 130 - Cell 2
132Evgeny Shalunov (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 131 - Cell 2
133Ole Forfang (Nor) Team Joker Icopal0:02:09
134Michael Goolaerts (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 133 - Cell 2
135Loic Chetout (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:02:34
136Gaetan Bille (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan0:02:36
137Marco Mathis (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin0:02:41
138Adrian Kurek (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 137 - Cell 2
139Francis Mourey (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:02:44
140Patryk Stosz (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice0:02:46
141Tony Hurel (Fra) Direct Energie0:02:55
142Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe0:03:45
143Kenneth Van Rooy (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:03:52
144Alexander Maes (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 143 - Cell 2
145Aime De Gendt (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 144 - Cell 2
146Yohann Gene (Fra) Direct Energie0:04:18
147Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 146 - Cell 2
148Ryan Anderson (Can) Direct Energie0:04:21
149Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:04:29
150Jhonatan Restrepo Valencia (Col) Katusha-AlpecinRow 149 - Cell 2
151Erwann Corbel (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:05:15
152Bert-Jan Lindeman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo0:05:27
153Peter Koning (Ned) Aqua Blue Sport0:05:35
154Sander Cordeel (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan0:07:27
155Timothy Dupont (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan0:07:42
156Kristoffer Skjerping (Nor) Team Joker IcopalRow 155 - Cell 2
157Kristoffer Halvorsen (Nor) Team Joker IcopalRow 156 - Cell 2
158Adriaan Aas Stien (Nor) Team Joker IcopalRow 157 - Cell 2
159Bjorn Tore Hoem (Nor) Team Joker IcopalRow 158 - Cell 2
160Markus Hoelgaard (Nor) Team Joker IcopalRow 159 - Cell 2
161Alessandro Bisolti (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini0:08:19
162Andrew Leigh (GBr) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 161 - Cell 2
163Barry Markus (Ned) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 162 - Cell 2
164James Shaw (GBr) Lotto SoudalRow 163 - Cell 2
165Conor Dunne (Irl) Aqua Blue SportRow 164 - Cell 2
166Lawrence Naesen (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 165 - Cell 2
167Kevin Verwaest (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex0:09:01
168Jonathan Breyne (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex0:09:29
DNFStef Van Zummeren (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFLennard Hofstede (Ned) Team SunwebRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFRayane Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFKirill Sveshnikov (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFGiacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFMarino Kobayashi (Jpn) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFYuma Koishi (Jpn) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Kirsch (Lux) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFJordi Van Dingenen (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFMichiel Stockman (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 178 - Cell 2

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