Cycling: Pascal Ackermann (Bora – hansgrohe) just missed out on winning the Nokere Koerse one-day race. The German champion only had to admit defeat to Cees Bol (Sunweb) from the Netherlands. Unfortunately, in an exciting race, there were also numerous falls. Among other things, cross country champion Mathieu Van der Poel (Corendon – Circus) was hit hard. At Nokere Koerse voor Dames, Germany's Lisa Klein (Canyon SRAM Racing) just missed her first win of the season.
Deceuninck – Quick-Step was unbeaten in Belgium
On Belgian terrain, the Deceuninck – Quick-Step team has been unbeaten so far this year. Overall, the team has already achieved 18 victories this season. The Flemish one-day race Nokere Koerse should also be won again – that is the wish of the blue and white wolf pack. But the 195,6 kilometers from Deinze to Nokere were difficult to control. There were always falls. The peloton was torn apart several times, even in the last 60 kilometers. A total of ten slipways had to be overcome, seven of them the Nokereberg alone. When the last breakaways were made, the Deceuninck – Quick-Step team took charge and kept the pace high to prevent further attacks and to stay out of the danger zone in the event of a fall. The German team Bora – hansgrohe was also very active. For Pascal Ackermann should a mass sprint be forced.
Pascal Ackermann sprints to second behind Cees Bol
Another fall occurred within the last 1.000 meters. This time it caught among other things Cross World Champion Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus). He had to be hospitalized right at the first race of his classic campaign. The German broke the fall Max Walscheid (Sunweb), who was passed through like a lane divider after working his pace and crashed after contact with a Team CCC driver. After all, his job for his captain Cees Bol (Sunweb) paid out. The Dutchman was able to beat the German champions, who sprinted far too early into the wind Pascal Ackermann (Bora – hansgrohe) still overtake. The 23-year-old is thus celebrating the greatest success of his career. Jasper Phillipsen (UAE Team Emirates) from Belgium finished third.
🚴🏁 ¡¡Tremendo final de la #NokereKoerse!!
Victorion de Cees Bol, la primera del @TeamSunweb
In the season.¡¡Y caída durísima con Van der Poel implicado!!#LaCasadelCiclismo 📺@Eurosport_EN y📱🖥https://t.co/fLW7LTy0zL pic.twitter.com/1Tg7Jmo3Ln
- Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) March 20, 2019
Lisa Klein also narrowly missed out on victory
At Nokere Koerse, the women were on the road for the first time before the men. The Dutch woman Lorraine Wiebes (Parkhotel Valkenburg) will go down in the history of Nokere Koerse voor Dames as the first winner. The German just missed Lisa Klein (Canyon SRAM Racing) this honor. In the sprint of a large group, the 22-year-old from Erfurt had to settle for second place after 121,6 kilometers. The Belgian was third Lotte Kopeky (Lotto – Soudal). The Austrian Catherine Schweinberger (Health Mate – Cyclelive Team) finished a respectable eleventh.
(I.e. @lorenawiebes first winner of women's @NokereKoerse pic.twitter.com/CfLzHUAULw
— Thomas Maheux (@ThomasMaheux) March 20, 2019