Nokere Koerse is a Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

an semi classic single day cycle race

Road bicycle racing

Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...

 held in the Belgian

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

 region of Flanders

Flanders

Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...

. Since 2005, the race has been organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.

The Nokere Koerse was created in 1944, initially as the Grand Prix Jules Lowie in honour of 1938 Paris–Nice winner Jules Lowie

Jules Lowie

Jules Lowie was a Belgian racing cyclist. His major win was Paris–Nice in 1938.A native of the East Flanders town of Nokere, Jules Lowie died in Deinze two months short of his 47th birthday.- Palmares :...

 who was born in Nokere.

Only five cyclists not born in Belgium or Netherlands have been able to win this semi classic.

Winners