Tour des Region Wallonnes, Cat. 2.4

Belgium, August 1-5, 1998


1997 Results     Riders     Past Winners

Stage 1 - Luik (Rocourt) - Vise, 166 kms:
Stage 2 - Voeren - Amay, 92 kms:
Stage 3 - Amay - Amay, ITT 21 kms:
Stage 4 - Hamoir - Charleroi, 190 kms:
Stage 5 - Waver - Profondeville, 177 kms:
Stage 6 - Saint Hubert - Houffalize, 187 kms:

Brief:

The Ronde van het Waalse Gewest began in Luik (Liege) on Saturday and boasted a very strong field with Franck Vandenbroucke wanting badly to win this race. He has brought a strong Mapei team to help him.

Stage 1, Rocourt - Visé, 180 kms:

 1. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Polti            		    4.04.10 (40.816)
 2. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi
 3. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto
 4. Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto        			0.10
 5. Wilfried Crestkens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 6. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Cofidis

Stage 2, Voeren - Amay, 91 kms:

 1. Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi		    2.00.50 (45.43)
 2. Leif Hoste (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 3. Arvis Piziks (Lat)  Home Market-Charleroi
 4. Wilfried Crestkens (Bel) Vlaanderen
 5. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home Jack and Jones

GC after Stage 2


 1. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi


Stage 3, ITT 20.5 kms:

 
 1. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei          		       26.33 (46.32)
 2. Marc Streel (Bel) Casino                			0.30
 3. Leif Hoste (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002             		0.38
 4. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto            			0.47
 5. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto            			0.59

GC after Stage 3

 1. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi        	     6.31.33
 2. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto           			0.57
 3. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto            			0.59
 4. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Polti             			1.05
 5. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Dan) team Home Jack and Jones   	1.14

Stage 4, Hamoir - Charleroi, 190 kms:

 1. Marc Streel (Bel) Casino 				     4.39.50 
 2. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 				0.13 
 3. Christian Andersen (Den) Team Home-Jack and Jones
 4. Bruno Thibout (Fra) Cofidis
 5. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 
 6. Wilfried Crestkens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 7. Mickaël Leveau (Fra) Elite
 8. Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi
 9. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Polti 
10. Jurgen de Buysschere (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi 
11. Rudy Verdonck (Bel) Mapei-Rolupo Elite 
12. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack and Jones
13. Peter van den Abeele (Bel) Belgium National
14. Arvis Piziks (Lat) Team Home-Jack and Jones 
15. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
16. Robert Forster (Ger) Elite
17. Andy Vidts (Bel) Belgium National Team 
18. Leif Hoste (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
19. Franck Ramel (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi
20. Juris Silovs (Lat) Team Home-Jack and Jones
21. Kris Matthijs (Bel) Mapei-Rolupo Elite
22. Matthe Pronk (Ned) Rabobank Elite
23. Jurgen Guns (Bel) ASLK-Merckx
24. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino 
25. Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 
26. Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank Elite
27. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 
28. Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank Elite
29. Frederic Finot (Fra) Elite
30. Jehudi Schoonacker (Bel) Elite 
31. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
32. Erwin Vanderauwere (Bel) Elite
33. Christian Schrot (Ger) Elite 
34. Benjamin Bohner (Ger) Elite
35. Johan Van Nueten (Bel) Elite
36. Sebastien Demarbaix (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi
37. Marco Appler (Ger) Elite
38. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Cofidis
39. Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol) Cofidis 
40. Giulliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi 
41. Wesley Huvaere (Bel) ASLK-Merckx 
42. Tom Desmet (Bel) Collstrop 
43. Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
44. Jurgen Van Roosbroeck (Bel) ASLK-Merckx 
45. Jonas Owczarek (Ger) Elite
46. Nico Mattan (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi
47. Casper Van der Meer (Ned) Kortrijkse Groeningespurters
48. David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis 
49. Cyril Saugrain (Fra) Cofidis
50. Olivier Senicot (Bel) Pesant Luik				0.13

GC after Stage 4

 1. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 		    11.11.36 
 2. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 			0.57
 3. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 			0.59
 4. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Polti 				1.05
 5. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack and Jones 		1.14
 6. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz)  Casino				1.19
 7. Marc Streel (Bel) Casino 					1.27
 8. David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis 				1.35
 9. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi 		1.42
10. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Cofidis 				1.45
11. Wilfried Crestkens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 			1.59
12. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 				2.22
13. Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 			2.36
14. Cyril Saugrain (Fra)  Cofidis				2.52
15. Tom Desmet (Bel) Collstrop 					3.00
16. Matthe Pronk (Ned) Rabobank Elite				3.14
17. Casper Van der Meer (Ned) Kortrijkse Groeningespurters 	3.26 
18. Renaud Boxus (Bel) Pesant Luik 				3.35
19. Bruno Thibout (Fra) Cofidis 				3.41
20. Nico Mattan (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 				3.44
21. Johan Van Nueten (Bel) Elite 				3.57
22. David Plaza (Spa) Cofidis 					4.02
23. Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol) Cofidis 				4.10
24. Eric De Clercq (Bel) Collstrop 				4.16
25. Andy Engels (Ned) Rabobank Elite 				4.41
26. Wesley Huvaere (Bel) ASLK-Merckx Elite			4.42
27. Jurgen Guns (Bel) ASLK-Merckx Elite 			4.49
28. Rudy Verdonck (Bel) Mapei-Rolupo Elite 			4.52
29. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi			4.55
30. Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Elite 					5.06
31. Jurgen Van Roosbroeck (Bel) ASLK-Merckx 			5.19
32. Michaël Leveau (Fra) Elite 					5.42
33. Arvis Piziks (Lat) Team Home-Jack and Jones 		5.58
34. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 				6.04
35. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 				6.14
36. Cristophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 			7.23
37. Ivan Basso (Ita) Polti 					7.42
38. David Lefevre (Fra) Casino 					7.46
39. Franck Ramel (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi 			8.23
40. Andrea Lanzani (Ita) Elite 					9.39
41. Fabrice Coucfot (Fra) Elite 			       10.26
42. Christian Werner (Ger) Elite 			       17.24
43. Kris Matthijs (Bel) Mapei-Rolupo Elite		       20.06
44. Leif Hoste (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 			       21.50
45. Jesper Skibby (Den) Team Home-Jack and Jones  	       23.28
46. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Elite				       23.44
47. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino 				       23.49
48. Peter Van Den Abeele (Bel) Belgian National Team	       23.51 
49. Benoit Poilvet (Fra) Elite 				       24.24
50. Manu L'Hoir (Bel) Pesant Luik 			       24.36

Stage 5, Waver - Profondeville, 177 kms:

"It was such a tough race and to win in the end after a successful attack is very heartening." said the Mikael Holst Kyneb in English at the end of Stage 5. "I have made this sort of attack my speciality. I try it often. Usually in races at lower speeds. But here is was hard labour. Today was the first time as a professional that I have scored the bingo! Two years ago I was riding for the German team PSV Cologne. Then last winter, Alex Pedersen invited me to join the Danish Jack and Jones team. The coach knew of my amateur performances. He wanted to make me a good hard rider."

The stage was hard from the start. Shortly after the start, 7 riders (Kris Gerits, Tony Bracke, Bram De Groot, Juris Silovs, Stephane Berges, David Lefevre and Robert Forster) attacked. By the first hill, the Muur de Hoei at km 68 the gap had grown to 5 inutes. For Foster the Muur was to much and he was dropped. The maximum gap for the remaining 6 riders was 6.5 minutes (at Andenne, 132 kms). In the valley next to the Maas river (Andenne is on the river) the peloton starting to reduce the time-gap quickly. With 30 kms to go and the peloton closing in, Kris Gerits attacked alone from the top group. 15 kms further on he was caught and the peloton set the mass sprint up. In a chaotic finale the Dane Mikael Kyneb slipped away and took the stage. The overall leader Frank Vandenbroucke won what became a mass sprint minus one.

 1. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home Jack and Jones	     4.07.00 (42.852)
 2. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 			0.02
 3. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 4. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Polti
 5. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 6. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi
 7. Marc Streel (Bel) Casino
 8. Franck Ramel (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi
 9. David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis
10. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino
11. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
12. Sebastien Demarbaix (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi 		0.05  
13. Arvis Piziks (Lat) Team Home-Jack and Jones 
14. Manu Lhoir (Bel) Pesant Luik 				0.14
15. Tom Desmet (Bel) Collstrop 					0.21
16. Jurgen Van Roosbroeck (Bel) ASLK-Merckx
17. Matthe Pronk (Ned) Rabobank Elite
18. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
19. Rudy Verdonck (Bel) Mapei-Rolupo Elite
20. Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol) Cofidis
21. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen-2002
22. David Plaza (Spa) Cofidis
23. Jurgen Guns (Bel) ASLK-Merckx 				0.29
24. Andy Engels (Ned) Rabobank Elite 				0.43
25. Filippo Perfetto (Ita) Elite 				0.51
26. Peter Van den Abeele (Bel) Belgian National Team 		0.54
27. Johan Van Nueten (Bel) Elite
28. Casper van der Meer (Ned) Kortrijkse Groeningespurters
29. Sebastien Hatton (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
30. Ivan Basso (Ita) Polti					0.54

GC after Stage 5

 1. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi
 2. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 			0.57
 3. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 			0.59
 4. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Polti 				1.05
 5. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack and Jones 		1.14
 6. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz)  Casino				1.19
 7. Marc Streel (Bel) Casino 					1.27
 8. David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis 				1.35
 9. Sebastien Demarbaix (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi 		1.45
10. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen-2002 			2.18
11. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Vlaanderen-2002 				2.41
12. Tom Desmet (Bel) Collstrop 					3.19
13. Matthe Pronk (Ned) Rabobank Elite 				3.33
14. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Cofidis 				3.55
15. Casper van der Meer (Ned) Kortrijkse Groeningespurters 	4.18
16. David Plaza (Spa) Cofidis 					4.21
17. Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol) Cofidis 				4.29
18. Johan Van Nueten (Bel) Elite 				4.49
19. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi 			4.55
20. Rudy Verdonck (Bel) Mapei-Rolupo Elite 			5.11
21. Bruno Thibout (Fra) Cofidis 				5.13
22. Jurgen Guns (Bel) ASLK-Merckx 				5.16
23. Andy Engels (Ned) Rabobank Elite 				5.32
24. Jurgen Van Roosbroeck (Bel) ASLK-Merckx 			5.38
25. Eric De Clercq (Bel) Collstrop 				5.48
26. Arvis Piziks (Lat) Team Home Jack and Jones 		6.01
27. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 				6.04
28. Nico Mattan (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 				6.08
29. Wesley Huvaere (Bel) ASLK-Merckx 				7.06
30. Cyril Saugrain (Fra) Cofidis 				7.22

Points:

 1. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 			71 points
 2. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home Jack and Jones		58  
 3. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar  			56  
 4. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Polti 				55
 5. Marc Streel (Bel) Casino 					54
 
Teams:

 1. Lotto-Mobistar 					    46.01.11
 2. Cofidis 							0.24
 3. Casino 							4.14
 4. Vlaanderen 2002-Eddy Merckx 				5.38
 5. Mapei-Bricobi 						6.10
 
Mountains:

 1. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 			46 points
 2. Sebastien Demarbaix (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi		30
 3. Juris Silovs (Lat) Home Team Jack and Jones			24
 4. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop 				22
 5. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar  			19

Stage 6, Saint Hubert - Houffalize, 187 kms:

An early attack went away with 5 riders: Aus, Kasputis, Poilvet, Matthijs and Plaza. Vandebroucke was not really threatened by this for GC. Only the 26-year old Daniel Plaza had shown any real form. The Cofidis team were 4 minutes down in the Team's ranking. And the strong climbing Spaniard (and there were 9 hills today) could have closed that gap. By the Cote de Corbion (km 63) his fellow breakaways were gone and Plaza was storming with VDB was now under threat. By the half-way mark Plaza was in the yellow jersey "on the road". The Spaniard had a gap of 6.30. With 15 kms to go, his flight was over and the peloton prepared for the last 3 hills. On the last climb Marichal went for it and took 10 men with him on his wheel. Finally, VDB won the sprint from Vinokourov, Ludo Dierickxsens, Maurizio Fondriest and Wilfried Cretskens.

 1. Frank VandenBroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi		     4.42.40 (39.969)
 2. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino
 3. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 4. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Cofidis
 5. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 6. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Polti
 7. Bruno Thibout (Fra) Cofidis
 8. Thierry Marichal (Bel) (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 9. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home Jack and Jones
10. Marc Streel (Bel) Casino
11. Sebastien Demarbaix (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi
12. Jurgen Guns (Bel) ASLK-Merckx 				0.07
13. Arvis Piziks (Lat) Team Home Jack and Jones
14. Manu L'Hoir (Bel) Pesant Luik
15. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 				0.10
16. Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Elite
17. Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol) Cofidis				0.13
18. Jurgen Van Roosbroeck (Bel) ASLK-Merckx 			0.26
19. Rudy Verdonck (Bel) Mapei-Rolupi Elite
20. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 				0.28
21. Tom Desmet (Bel) Collstrop
22. Franck Ramel (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi			0.29
23. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 				0.37
24. Nico Sijmens (Bel) Elite 
25. Mickael Leveau (Fra) Elite
26. Casper van der Meer (Ned) Kortrijkse Groeningespurters
27. Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
28. Kris Gerits (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 				0.40
29. Filippo Perfetto (Ita) 					0.43
30. Loic Lamouller (Fra)

Final GC

 1. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi
 2. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                	0.57
 3. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar      			0.59
 4. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Polti                 		1.05
 5. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Home Jack and Jones  		1.12
 6. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino 				1.19
 7. Marc Streel (Bel) Casino 					1.27
 8. Sebastien Demarbaix (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi 		1.45
 9. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen-2002			2.18
10. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 				3.18
11. Tom Desmet (Bel) Collstrop 					3.47
12. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Cofidis 				3.55
13. Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol) Cofidis				4.42
14. Casper van der Meer (Ned) Kortrijkse Groeningespurters 	4.55
15. Bruno Thibout (Fra) Cofidis 				5.13
16. Jurgen Guns (Bel) ASLK-Merckx 				5.23
17. Rudy Verdonck (Bel) Mapei-Rolupo Elite			5.37
18. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi 			5.42
19. Jurgen Van Roosbroeck (Bel) ASLK-Merckx 			6.04
20. Arvis Piziks (Lat) Team Home Jack and Jones 		6.08
21. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 				6.14
22. Nico Mattan (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 				6.51
23. Johan Van Nueten (Bel) Elite 				6.54
24. Paolo Bossoni (Ita) 					7.40
25. Mickael Leveau (Fra) Elite 					8.43
26. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 				8.45
27. Franck Ramel (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi 			8.52
28. David Plaza (Spa) Cofidis 					9.20
29. Ivan Basso (Ita) Polti 					9.21
30. Cyril Saugrain (Fra) Cofidis 			       10.18

Points:

  1. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) 					96 points
  2. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) 					72 
  3. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) 					65 
  4. Davide Rebellin (Ita) 					65 
  5. Marc Streel (Bel)						60
  
Teams: 

 1. Lotto-Mobistar 					    60.09.21 
 2. Cofidis							0.27
 3. Casino 							5.13
 4. Vlaanderen 2002-Eddy Merckx 				6.45
 5. Mapei-Bricobi 						7.30
 
 Mountains:
 
 1. David Plaza (Spa) 						54 points
 2. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) 					52 
 3. Sebastien Demarbaix (Bel) 					30
 4. Juris Silovs (Let) 						24 
 5. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) 					23

Selected Starting List:

Mapei-Bricobi - Franck Vandenbroucke, Nico Mattan, Zbigniew Spruch (Pol), Gianluca Pianegonda (Ita), Giuliano Figueras (Ita).

Lotto-Mobistar - Jo Planckaert, Jean-Denis Vandenbroucke, Christophe Detilloux, Thierry Marichal, Ludo Dierckxsens, Steve De Wolf.

Vlaanderen 2002 - Glenn D'Hollander, Leif Hoste, Erwin Thijs, Wim Vansevenant, Stive Vermaut, Peter Wuyts.

Home Market-Charleroi - Ludovic Capelle, Jurgen De Buysscere, Sebasten Demarbaix, Romeo Hernandez, Jean-Pierre Heynderickx, Gregory Schoelens.

Collstrop - Danny Baeyens, Tony Bracke, Marc Chanoine, Danny Daelman, Eric De Clercq, Tom Desmet.

Belgium National - Andy Vidts, Bjorn Leukemans, Peter Van den Abeele, Marc Goetschalckx, Tim De Peuter, Nico Symens.

ASLK-Merckx - Wesley Huvsere, Jurgen Guns, Koen Scherre, Koen Das, Jurgen Van Roosbroeck, Kris De Coen.

Kortrijkse Groeningespurters - Bert De Waele, Christophe Roodhooft, Nico Strynckx, Jurgen Vandewalle, Geoffrey Demeyere, Casper van der Meer.

Pesant Luik - Erwin Bollen, Renaud Boxus, Olivier Senecaut, Manu L'Hoir, Cristophe Stevens, Bart Vrancken.

Mapei-Rolupo - Rudy Verdonck, Jan Peeters, Wim Heselmans, Wesley Theunis, Kris Matthijs, Jan Verstraeten.

Polti - Davide Rebellin (Ita), Ivan Basso (Ita).

Casino - Marc Streel (Bel) Casino, Lauri Aus (Est), Arturas Kasputis (Lit).

Home Jack and Jones - Jesper Skibby (Den), Danny Nelissen (Ned), Arvis Piziks (Lat).

Rabobank - Matte Pronck (Ned), Karsen Kroon (Ned).

Big Mat-Auber 93 - Ludovic Auger (Fra), Laurent Genty (Fra).

Others - Frank Pencole (Fra) Elite, Bruno Thibaut (Fra) Cofidis.

Past Winners

1995	Paolo Valoti (Ita) Elite
1996	Thomas Fleischer (Ger) Lotto
1997	Thierry Marichal (Bel) Cédico
Past winners from Mario Stiehl, Berlin