Lotte Kopecky gets golden chance in Nokere Koerse
This Wednesday marks the seventh edition of Danilith Nokere Koerse for women. The finish on Nokereberg was changed last year, but that does not lessen the excitement. With Lotte Kopecky, Mischa Bredewold, and Charlotte Kool, some top contenders will be at the start. WielerFlits takes a brief look ahead.
Unlike the men’s edition of Nokere Koerse, there is a much smaller chance of a bunch sprint in the women’s race. Last year, Marta Lach took the win for SD Worx-Protime on the new course, but in previous years Kopecky managed to avoid a sprint twice (in 2023 and 2024). Amy Pieters also pulled off that scenario. The lightning-fast Lorena Wiebes has twice won a group sprint in Nokere.
No cobbled finish on Nokereberg
As mentioned, the race has been significantly changed since last year. The finish now lies on a different flank of the iconic Nokereberg; riders ascend via the also gently sloping Waregemsestraat. The organizers chose this because the former finish was sometimes tricky due to descending terrain toward Nokereberg and the sprint on the cobbles of the climb.
Nothing has changed at the start location. The riders depart (at 10:30 a.m.) from the Markt in Deinze for a 133-kilometer race. Of that distance, 17 kilometers are on cobbles. There are also ten climbs, five of which are on cobbles.
All these are in the two final laps. The Hellestraat, Holstraat, Petegemberg, Fabriekstraat, Nokereberg (twice taking the cobbled side uphill), Lange Ast, and Waregemsestraat contribute to a total of 951 meters of elevation gain. The finish in Nokere is expected between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m.
How is Kopecky doing?
At Omloop Het Nieuwsblad she had bad luck at a crucial moment, at Strade Bianche she was sent the wrong way and didn’t have her best day, and in Trofeo Binda she raced to a seventh-place finish. By Lotte Kopecky standards, that is modest. Ahead of her biggest targets, the former world champion will be keen to sharpen her form. With this lineup, that shouldn’t be a problem, making Nokere a golden opportunity for her to claim victory.
Her team SD Worx-Protime starts with a strong squad, also featuring Mischa Bredewold, Barbara Guarischi, Femke Markus, and Julia Kopecky. It is clear that this team will control the race.
Other contenders? We think of the Irish Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ), Fleur Moors and Clara Copponi (Lidl-Trek), Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal), and of course the lightning-fast Charlotte Kool from Fenix-Premier Tech. After her win at Dwars door het Hageland, she could score her second victory of the season in Belgium and showcase her sprinting speed.
