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Next Wednesday, March 26, the Classic Brugge-De Panne will be held, kicking off the Vlaamse Wielerweek, the Flemish cycling week packed with great classics and culminating in the Ronde van Vlaanderen. But before that, the Belgian calendar starts warming up with two ProSeries races: the Danilith Nokere Koerse and the Bredene Koksijde Classic.

 
Danilith Nokere Koerse Women: route and favorites

The women’s race features a 134 km course with 790 meters of elevation gain. The 14 cobbled sectors spread along the route and the final uphill kilometer on Waregemsestraat (1.1 km at 3.5%) will likely be decisive.

Sprinters who can endure and classic specialists with a strong finishing kick are favorites. Marta Lach (400), Julie De Wilde (200), Sofia Bertizzolo (400), Clara Copponi (400), Maike Van Der Duin (400), Emma Norsgaard (400), Anniina Ahtosalo (400), Maria Giulia Confalonieri (400), and Victorie Berteau (200) are among the top contenders.

 
Danilith Nokere Koerse Men: route and favorites

The men’s race covers 188 km and 20 cobbled sectors, totaling 1243 meters of elevation gain. The finish is the same as the women’s race, with a final uphill kilometer.

Favorites include Jasper Philipsen (1200), Arnaud De Lie (800), Ethan Vernon (600), Gerben Thijssen (600), Milan Fretin (200), Milan Menten (400), Arne Marit (400), Alberto Dainese (400), Sebastian Molano (600), Pavel Bittner (400), Hugo Hofstetter (200), Edward Theuns (200), and Max Kanter (400).

 
Bredene Koksijde Classic: route and favorites

This race is mostly flat, except for a 20 km section mid-race that includes the five climbs of the day: Baneberg (1.1 km at 6.8%) twice, Monteberg (1.3 km at 4.5%) once, and Kemmelberg via both sides (Velvedere 0.4 km at 9% and Ossuaire 0.7 km at 10.3%). After the final climb, there are still 100 km to go, including the De Moeren stretch where wind could cause splits.

Favorites for what is likely to end in a sprint are Dylan Groenewegen (600), Ethan Vernon (600), Tobias Lund Andresen (400), Gerben Thijssen (400), Arnaud Démare (400), Fabio Jakobsen (400), Milan Fretin (400), Luca Mozzato (400), Cees Bol (200), Max Walscheid (200), and Arne Marit (400).

 
Photo: © Danilith Nokere Koerse