Cees Bol wins crash-marred Nokere Koerse

Cees Bol (Team Sunweb) sprinted to victory at Nokere Koerse after a crash-marred final along the cobbled incline to the finish line took down his teammate Max Walscheid and cyclo-cross world champion Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus). Bol was the fastest to the line ahead of Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates).

Bora-Hansgrohe led the initial sprint into the bottom of hill and onto the cobbles with Ackermann positioned in second wheel, and although the German road champion looked as though he would hold off his rivals, Bol proved fastest with a late surge to the line that netted him the day's victory.

How it unfolded

The peloton returned to the cobbles at the mid-week Nokere Koerse on Wednesday in Belgium with a 195.6km race between Deinze and Nokere.

A quarter of the way in saw a five-man break clear the field and build a significant, seven-minute lead over the peloton behind. The riders included Yohann Offredo (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), David Boucher (Tarteletto-Isorex), Otto Vergaerde (Corendon-Circus), Axel Journiaux (Direct Energie) and Mattia Viel (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec).

While the breakaway riders pushed out front and contested hilltop sprints for category points, the peloton, led by UAE Team Emirates and Bora-Hansgrohe, increased speeds behind and reduced the gap to under six minutes by mid-race.

Deceuninck-QuickStep picked up the reins and slashed the gap in half, down to three minutes within 50km to the finish line, clearly looking for their 19th win of the season in Nokere.

As they raced closer to the finish, the breakaway fractured with only three remaining out front: Bouchaer, Offredo and Vergaerde. Although they tried to hang on to their two-minute gap, late-race attacks from Lars Boom (Roompot-Charles), Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus) and Pim Ligthart (Direct Energie) only served to shut the gap down faster. Even the young Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-QuickStep) took one dig with 20km to go, but his efforts were short-lived, and the peloton reeled him in a few metres later.

The peloton approached the remnants of the early breakaway, and two more riders attacked: Clement Russo (Arkea-Samsic) and Clement Carisey (Israel Cycling Academy), who managed to quickly picked up 30 seconds but ultimately dangled out front while the teams behind set up for a bunch sprint.

The nervousness inside the field increased and several crashes took down riders in the last 15km, but Deceuninck-QuickStep and Bora-Hansgrohe carried on with their lead-out trains into the final climb over Nokere berg.

Riders from CCC Team, Roompot, Lotto Soudal and Jumbo-Visma all moved to the front over the climbs and cobbled sections in the final five kilometres. Marco Canola (Nippo Vini Fantini) made a solo effort but crashed over the slippery cobbles, and then it was Boom who tried another move 3km out, but Deceuninck-QuickStep shut it down.

Team Sunweb took over the lead-outs under the kilometre-to-go banner. Bora-Hansgrohe jumped first into the cobbled incline in the final 500 metres, while simultaneously a crash took down several contenders. Ackermann was the first to sprint with Bol on his wheel. The Sunweb rider mustered enough force on his pedals to sprint around Ackermann and across the line with the win.

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Cees Bol (Ned) Team Sunweb4:32:37
2Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 1 - Cell 2
3Jasper Philipsen (Bel) UAE Team EmiratesRow 2 - Cell 2
4Boy van Poppel (Ned) Roompot-CharlesRow 3 - Cell 2
5Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 4 - Cell 2
6Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 5 - Cell 2
7Justin Jules (Fra) Wallonie BruxellesRow 6 - Cell 2
8Bram Welten (Ned) Arkéa SamsicRow 7 - Cell 2
9Jens Debusschere (Bel) Katusha-AlpecinRow 8 - Cell 2
10Lawrence Naesen (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 9 - Cell 2
11Szymon Sajnok (Pol) CCC TeamRow 10 - Cell 2
12Thomas Boudat (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 11 - Cell 2
13Stan Dewulf (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 12 - Cell 2
14Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles0:00:05
15André Rodrigues Carvalho (Por) Hagens Berman AxeonRow 14 - Cell 2
16Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe0:00:06
17Arjen Livyns (Bel) Roompot-Charles0:00:08
18Piet Allegaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:00:21
19Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) Israel Cycling Academy0:00:23
20Julien Trarieux (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 19 - Cell 2
21Mihkel Räim (Est) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 20 - Cell 2
22Asbjørn Kragh Andersen (Den) Team SunwebRow 21 - Cell 2
23Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Israel Cycling Academy0:00:25
24Aleksandr Riabushenko (Blr) UAE Team EmiratesRow 23 - Cell 2
25Boris Vallee (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 24 - Cell 2
26Jay Mc Carthy (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe0:00:33
27Mathias De Witte (Bel) Roompot-CharlesRow 26 - Cell 2
28Remy Mertz (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 27 - Cell 2
29Josip Rumac (Cro) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec0:00:40
30Jakub Mareczko (Ita) CCC TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Michael Gogl (Aut) Trek-SegafredoRow 30 - Cell 2
32Niels de Rooze (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 31 - Cell 2
33Lukas Pöstlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe0:00:44
34Christian Knees (Ger) Team SkyRow 33 - Cell 2
35Kenny Dehaes (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles0:00:46
36Tom Devriendt (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 35 - Cell 2
37Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 36 - Cell 2
38Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 37 - Cell 2
39Guillaume Boivin (Can) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 38 - Cell 2
40Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor) UAE Team Emirates0:00:52
41Manuele Mori (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 40 - Cell 2
42Frederik Frison (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:54
43Mikkel Bjerg (Den) Hagens Berman AxeonRow 42 - Cell 2
44Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec0:00:56
45Florian Senechal (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 44 - Cell 2
46Nicola Bagioli (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-FaizaneRow 45 - Cell 2
47Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:00:59
48Timothy Dupont (Bel) Wanty-Gobert0:01:01
49Lorrenzo Manzin (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 48 - Cell 2
50Lukasz Owsian (Pol) CCC TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
51Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:01:03
52Iljo Keisse (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 51 - Cell 2
53Eliot Lietaer (Bel) Wallonie BruxellesRow 52 - Cell 2
54Angelo Tulik (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 53 - Cell 2
55Pim Ligthart (Ned) Direct EnergieRow 54 - Cell 2
56Lars Boom (Ned) Roompot-Charles0:01:11
57Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 56 - Cell 2
58Iuri Filosi (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 57 - Cell 2
59Zico Waeytens (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 58 - Cell 2
60Damien Touze (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 59 - Cell 2
61Pavel Sivakov (Rus) Team SkyRow 60 - Cell 2
62Ian Garrison (USA) Hagens Berman AxeonRow 61 - Cell 2
63Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty-Gobert0:01:18
64Pieter Serry (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:01:21
65Christopher Lawless (GBr) Team Sky0:01:23
66Bert De Backer (Bel) Vital Concept-B&B Hotel0:01:29
67Kristoffer Halvorsen (Nor) Team Sky0:01:31
68Joan Bou Company (Spa) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane0:01:35
69Aaron Verwilst (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 68 - Cell 2
70Mathias Norsgaard Jørgensen (Den) Riwal Readynez Cycling Team0:01:36
71Andreas Stockbro (Den) Riwal Readynez Cycling TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Jordi van Dingenen (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 71 - Cell 2
73Aime De Gendt (Bel) Wanty-Gobert0:01:40
74Maikel Zijlaard (Ned) Hagens Berman AxeonRow 73 - Cell 2
75Pawel Bernas (Pol) CCC TeamRow 74 - Cell 2
76Lindsay De Vylder (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:01:43
77Yoann Offredo (Fra) Wanty-GobertRow 76 - Cell 2
78Enzo Wouters (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 77 - Cell 2
79Kamil Gradek (Pol) CCC Team0:01:46
80Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec0:01:48
81Erik Baska (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe0:01:52
82Julien van den Brande (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 81 - Cell 2
83Jonas Koch (Ger) CCC Team0:01:53
84Damiano Cima (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane0:01:55
85Jérémy Lecroq (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B Hotel0:01:56
86Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct Energie0:02:03
87Yohann Gene (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 86 - Cell 2
88Roberto Ferrari (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 87 - Cell 2
89Alvaro Hodeg (Col) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:02:05
90Willem Jakobus Smit (RSA) Katusha-Alpecin0:02:12
91Oscar Riesebeek (Ned) Roompot-Charles0:02:34
92Juraj Sagan (Svk) Bora-HansgroheRow 91 - Cell 2
93Nicolai Philip Brochner Nielsen (Den) Riwal Readynez Cycling Team0:03:15
94Harry Tanfield (GBr) Katusha-Alpecin0:03:17
95Matteo Spreafico (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec0:03:24
96Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz (Pol) Delko Marseille Provence KTM0:03:25
97Brian van Goethem (Ned) Lotto Soudal0:03:27
98Lukas Spengler (Swi) Wallonie BruxellesRow 97 - Cell 2
99Imerio Cima (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-FaizaneRow 98 - Cell 2
100Emils Liepins (Lat) Wallonie BruxellesRow 99 - Cell 2
101Adrien Garel (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 100 - Cell 2
102Clément Russo (Fra) Arkéa Samsic0:03:33
103Sondre Enger (Nor) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 102 - Cell 2
104Guy Sagiv (Isr) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 103 - Cell 2
105Jonas Aaen (Den) Riwal Readynez Cycling TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
106Jérémy Leveau (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 105 - Cell 2
107Tobias Mørch Kongstad (Den) Riwal Readynez Cycling TeamRow 106 - Cell 2
108Clément Carisey (Fra) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 107 - Cell 2
109Stijn Steels (Bel) Roompot-CharlesRow 108 - Cell 2
110Robbe Ghys (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 109 - Cell 2
111Jimmy Janssens (Bel) Corendon-Circus0:04:19
112Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 111 - Cell 2
113Jelle Mannaerts (Bel) Tarteletto-Isorex0:05:41
114Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe0:05:47
115Ludovic Robeet (Bel) Wallonie BruxellesRow 114 - Cell 2
116Marco Mathis (Ger) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 115 - Cell 2
117Will Clarke (Aus) Trek-Segafredo0:05:54
118Jonathan Brown (USA) Hagens Berman AxeonRow 117 - Cell 2
119Romain Cardis (Fra) Direct Energie0:06:08
120Michael Storer (Aus) Team SunwebRow 119 - Cell 2
121Maximilian Walscheid (Ger) Team Sunweb0:06:26
122David Boucher (Bel) Tarteletto-Isorex0:06:40
123Thibault Guernalec (Fra) Arkéa Samsic0:07:20
124Marco Canola (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane0:07:29
125Edward Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:08:04
126Stijn Devolder (Bel) Corendon-CircusRow 125 - Cell 2
127Filippo Fortin (Ita) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 126 - Cell 2
128Rui Oliveira (Por) UAE Team EmiratesRow 127 - Cell 2
129Michael Rice (Aus) Hagens Berman AxeonRow 128 - Cell 2
130Otto Vergaerde (Bel) Corendon-CircusRow 129 - Cell 2
131Rasmus Bøgh Wallin (Den) Riwal Readynez Cycling Team0:08:53
132Ludwig De Winter (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 131 - Cell 2
133Nathan Haas (Aus) Katusha-AlpecinRow 132 - Cell 2
134Maxime Cam (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 133 - Cell 2
135Hiroki Nishimura (Jpn) Nippo-Vini Fantini-FaizaneRow 134 - Cell 2
136Davide Martinelli (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 135 - Cell 2
137Ryan Mullen (Irl) Trek-SegafredoRow 136 - Cell 2
138Kim Magnusson (Swe) Riwal Readynez Cycling TeamRow 137 - Cell 2
139Marco Benfatto (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-SidermecRow 138 - Cell 2
140Kenneth Van Rooy (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 139 - Cell 2
141Alexis Guerin (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 140 - Cell 2
142Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 141 - Cell 2
143Dries De Bondt (Bel) Corendon-CircusRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFAdam Blythe (GBr) Lotto SoudalRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFLoic Chetout (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFSean De Bie (Bel) Roompot-CharlesRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFJustin Mottier (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFAlan Riou (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Daniel (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFJakob Egholm (Den) Hagens Berman AxeonRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFAxel Journiaux (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFBrenton Jones (Aus) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFJoseph Areruya (Rwa) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFLasse Norman Hansen (Den) Corendon-CircusRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFMathieu van der Poel (Ned) Corendon-CircusRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFPavel Kochetkov (Rus) Katusha-AlpecinRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFFloris Gerts (Ned) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFMattia Viel (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-SidermecRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Pelucchi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-SidermecRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFIvo Oliveira (Por) UAE Team EmiratesRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Frame (NZl) Trek-SegafredoRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFFumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Trek-SegafredoRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFJai Hindley (Aus) Team SunwebRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFJuan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Nippo-Vini Fantini-FaizaneRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFOwain Doull (GBr) Team SkyRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFJenthe Biermans (Bel) Katusha-AlpecinRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Jans (Bel) Corendon-CircusRow 166 - Cell 2
DNSJordi Warlop (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 167 - Cell 2

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Latest on Cyclingnews