Is the safety movement gaining momentum? "Nokere Koerse says goodbye to iconic cobbled finish"

This news may be a setback for many cycling fans, but it is a positive step toward more safety in cycling. This is how you might assess the announcement that the finish of Nokere Koerse will no longer be on the iconic, uphill, cobbled street. For example, The race won by Tim Merlier and Fabio Jakobsen will change its format.

The decision was well thought out and made to improve safety in the final phase of the race. "With this new finish, we want to keep the race safe for our riders while further constructing the unique identity and ambiance of Danilith Nokere Koerse. Because Nokereberg remains at the heart and focus, during the race on the cobbled slope and at the finish with a unique new uphill finish," chairman Robrecht Bothuyne told several Belgian media.

Read more below the photo.

Tim Merlier won this year's Nokere Koerse, in the final kilometer Jonas Rickaert crashed.

Jonas Rickaert's crash prompts reflection on finish section

The organization continues, "It is not easy for us to take this decision. "We realize that this change will take some getting used to for many cycling fans, for whom the iconic finish on the cobblestones of Nokere was always special. This decision was not taken lightly, but in dialogue with the riders and their teams, it became clear that safety must be paramount."

The incident involving Jonas Rickaert in the last edition also played a role. The Belgian crashed and could skip the rest of the spring. "Unfortunately, our finish was also dangerous. The run-up to the cobblestones, with a fast descent, caused many crashes in recent years. Last year, on the approach to the finish, Jonas Rickaert, Boy van Poppel, and Pascal Ackermann crashed. For us, this crash was too much," reported the chairman.

Gerben Thijssen also crashed hard in the tricky final stage of the Flemish semi-classic. The race will have another uphill final next March. The final kilometer ends on the uphill Waregemstraat, near the Nokereberg. This way, the organization wants to maintain the race's identity, and of course, the Nokereberg strip on the cobblestones will remain in the race at an earlier stage.

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