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.
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.