“Another race with cobblestones that should suit me well” – Jordi Meeus eyes quick response at GP de Denain after Nokere Koerse near miss

Jordi Meeus did almost everything right at Nokere Koerse, but still had to settle for second place behind Jasper Philipsen after a chaotic and hard fought finale that only came together in the final metres.

The Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe sprinter was among the strongest throughout the closing phase of the race, surviving a disrupted run in that included Alec Segaert’s late solo attack and a constantly shifting peloton behind. When the Belgian was finally caught just before the line, Meeus was in position to fight for the win, but ultimately could not match Philipsen’s finishing speed on the uphill drag to the finish.

“It’s good to be on the podium again in such an important race. But I would have preferred to win,” Meeus said afterwards in a team press release.

That reaction reflected both sides of his Nokere Koerse performance. On one hand, it was another confirmation of his level in a race that suited him. On the other, it was a result that came within touching distance of something bigger.

The nature of the race added weight to that performance. Nokere Koerse did not develop into a straightforward sprint, with repeated attacks in the final kilometres forcing riders to constantly react rather than settle into a controlled lead out. Meeus acknowledged that difficulty himself. “It was tougher than I expected.”

That assessment aligned with how the race unfolded. The late move from Segaert in particular threatened to take the result away from the sprinters entirely, while crashes and interruptions earlier in the finale made positioning far from straightforward.

Even so, Meeus remained in contention throughout and was well placed when the race finally came back together in the closing metres. “Jasper was strong today though,” he added, recognising the decisive difference in the final sprint.

Rather than dwell on the narrow miss, Meeus was already looking ahead immediately after the finish, with another opportunity arriving straight away at GP de Denain. “Another race with cobblestones that should suit me well.”

That shift in focus is telling. Nokere Koerse confirmed both his condition and his ability to handle a demanding, unpredictable race, even if the result ultimately fell just short.

With Denain offering a similarly demanding parcours, the chance to turn that near miss into a win comes quickly. After coming within one place of victory at Nokere Koerse, Meeus will not have to wait long to try again.