Race
Deinze > Nokere (186.4 km)
Nokere Koerse 2026 - Race profile
18.03
Jasper Philipsen won the 2026 Nokere Koerse with a perfectly timed sprint after Alec Segaert was caught inside the final 300 metres following a long solo attack. Segaert looked set for victory after building a significant lead, but a late chase from the peloton brought him back just before the finish. Philipsen proved the strongest in the sprint and claimed his first victory of the 2026 season.
Profile
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Route
Nokere Koerse is one of those races that looks manageable on paper but rarely is in reality. The 186 kilometre route starts in Deinze and heads into the Flemish Ardennes, where the peloton is immediately tested by rolling roads and early cobbled sectors. Nothing decisive happens there, but the constant need to stay sharp starts to take its toll.
The race really opens up once it returns to Nokere. After a first passage over the Nokereberg, the riders face two local laps of around 31 kilometres and a longer final lap of roughly 38 kilometres. These circuits are filled with narrow roads and cobbled sections that follow each other quickly, making it hard to control and ideal for attacks. The finish on the Waregemstraat, a 700 metre uphill drag, comes after a long day of effort and favours riders who still have something left in the legs.
Read more in our preview
Favourites
This is a race for sprinters, but not for pure sprinters. It takes more than just speed to win here. Jordi Meeus (Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe) ticks a lot of boxes. He has been consistent all spring and his win in Le Samyn showed he can handle this type of final. With a stronger team around him, this is a big opportunity.
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin–Premier Tech) is the obvious rival. He knows how to win these races and was already one of the strongest riders here last year before his crash. If he makes it to the final in position, he will be hard to beat.
Behind them, it becomes more open. Lukáš Kubiš (Unibet Rose Rockets) and Pau Miquel (Bahrain Victorious) both benefit from a harder race, while Antonio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates–XRG) has the punch to surprise. Riders like Alberto Dainese and Matteo Moschetti will hope it still comes down to a sprint.
Explore all riders in our start list and read more about the favourites in our preview.
