In the wheel of Team Flanders - Baloise during Nokere Koerse
Armed with our camera, we crawled into the wheel of Team Flanders - Baloise during Nokere Koerse. It turned out to be a hectic day over numerous cobbled sections and dozens of bergs, with the Eddy Merckx 525 as an ideal compagnon de route.
The start of Nokere Koerse was given at the Markt in Deinze. Supervised by several photo and autograph hunters, the riders prepared for a 188-kilometre ride around Nokere. The team leaders gave a briefing with the crucial points and the tactics to be followed, after which the riders signed present on the starting podium. Time for the race!
As soon as the starting gun sounded, the battle for the early breakaway could begin. The Team Flanders - Baloise riders were very active and both Yentl Vandevelde and Victor Vercouillie managed to slip away. Accompanied by four fellow breakaway riders, they rode over three minutes ahead of the peloton on the stones of the Holleweg.
Halfway through the race, the riders turned onto the local lap. From now on, the race could break open completely. Vandevelde and Vercouillie went to the wire, but after 140 kilometres the early breakaway's song was over.
Meanwhile, the peloton attacked in turns. Philipsen, Merlier, Wellens and Küng: all the top riders on duty joined in the debates. Ward Vanhoof on his Retrosonic 525 was also always in the lead. He nestled attentively in the first group.
Unfortunately, Vanhoof was involved in a crash in the downhill towards Nokereberg and Team Flanders - Baloise's strong race was not rewarded with a great result. He escaped with a scare so upcoming races will not be in compromised.
Meanwhile, the peloton attacked in turns. Philipsen, Merlier, Wellens and Küng: all the top riders on duty joined in the debates. Ward Vanhoof on his Retrosonic 525 was also always in the lead. He nestled attentively in the first group.
Unfortunately, Vanhoof was involved in a crash in the downhill towards Nokereberg and Team Flanders - Baloise's strong race was not rewarded with a great result. He escaped with a scare so upcoming races will not be in compromised.
With Nokere Koerse behind us, the classics are rumbling on. With races like Ghent-Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, the riders of Team Flanders - Baloise still have a lot of goodies ahead of them.
