Bahrain Victorious set for Nokere Koerse and Grand Prix de Denain

# Bahrain Victorious Gears Up for Nokere Koerse and Grand Prix de Denain

Bahrain Victorious is set to take on two challenging races in Belgium and northern France this week, with Nokere Koerse on Wednesday and the Grand Prix de Denain the following day.

**Nokere Koerse**, a staple of the Flemish spring calendar, kicks off in Deinze and spans over 180 kilometers, featuring narrow roads and several cobbled sectors. The race culminates with an uphill sprint on the Nokereberg. Pau Miquel is the team’s primary sprint option, supported by co-leader Matevž Govekar, who will play a crucial role in the lead-out. Other team members like Alberto Bruttomesso and Zak Erzen will focus on positioning, while Alessandro Borgo, Seth Dunwoody, and Alec Segaert are expected to provide additional support and cover essential moves throughout the race.

Pau Miquel expressed his anticipation, stating, “Nokere is a race I’m really looking forward to. The finish there suits me quite well with this uphill sprint. We come with a strong team and a lot of fast guys, so the idea is to arrive in a good position for the final. Maybe if the race becomes a bit selective and we get a reduced sprint it could be good for us, but nowadays the level in the peloton is very high so it’s not easy. We have to stay attentive all day, avoid crashes and dangerous situations, and then try to fight for the win because this is also the goal for the team.”

Sports Director Nikolas Maes also commented on the team’s strategy, noting the importance of their young riders’ development: “Looking ahead to Nokere, I think we come with a strong group, especially considering how many young riders we have in the team. Many of them have a lot of potential and races like this are important for their development, helping them grow year by year. Nokere is always a demanding race, and the weather in Belgium can also play a role with wind or rain, so positioning and attentive racing will be very important throughout the day.”

The action continues the next day at the **Grand Prix de Denain**, which is notorious for its demanding cobbled sectors and often likened to a miniature version of Paris–Roubaix. The race includes 13 cobbled sectors that can significantly influence the dynamics, making careful positioning critical.

Alec Segaert will lead the team at Denain, supported by Matevž Govekar for potential sprint finishes. Riders Oliver Stockwell, Daniel Skerl, and Alberto Bruttomesso will seek opportunities during the race, while Zak Erzen and Alessandro Borgo will be pivotal as the group approaches the pivotal cobbled sections.

Maes reflected on the challenges ahead: “Denain is always a very hard race because of the cobbled sectors. There are 13 sectors in total and some of them are similar to what you see in Paris–Roubaix, which is why people often describe it as a small Roubaix. The cobbles start roughly halfway through the race and they are quite demanding, so the race can quickly become selective.”

Alec Segaert shared his excitement for the upcoming challenge: “I’m really looking forward to Denain. It’s a race that should suit me well with the cobbled sectors, which are similar in some ways to Paris–Roubaix. I enjoyed the race last year and I was in the front group, so it’s definitely one I like. So far this season has been okay. I had a bit of bad luck in the opening weekends with a crash, but nothing too serious. Since then I’ve had a good block of training, and now we start again with Nokere and Denain. We’ll go full gas with the team and I’m ready for it.”

With promising riders and a keen strategy, Bahrain Victorious is ready to tackle the challenges of both races in hopes of achieving strong results.