51st Course de la Paix, Cat 2.5

Czech Republic, May 8-17, 1998

1997 Results Past Winners Teams

Stage 1 - Poznan-Poznan 130 kms
Stage 2 - Szamotuly-Gorzow Wielkopolski 150 kms
Stage 3 - Torzym-Polkowice 169 kms
Stage 4 - Legnica-Jested (Cze) 224 kms
Stage 5 - Liberec-Usti nad Labem 185.5 kms
Stage 6 - Teplice-Karlovy Vary 173.5 kms
Stage 7 - Cheb-Zwickau (Ger) 228.5 km
Stage 8 - Zwickau-Halle 194 kms
Stage 9 - Freyburg-Erfurt 111.5 kms
Stage 10 - Weimar-Erfurt ITT 33.8 kms

Preview

The Course de la Paix is the glamour event of Central Europe and starts in Poznan, Poland. This will be the 51st edition of the event commonly known as the Peace Race, Course de la Paix, Warsaw-Berlin-Prague or Zavod Miru depending on your language and was the most prestigious event during the communist era, producing stars such as Olaf Ludwig. It's date signifies the end of WW2 and hence the reference to peace.

The 10 day stage race moves into the Czech Republic on the fourth stage with the tough finish to Jested/Liberec and enters the former East Germany on the Cheb-Zwickau seventh stage which is the longest at 228.5km. The race will culminate with a 33.8 kms time trial at Weimar.

A stage win will bring a rider 1000-2000DM depending on the stage, total value of race primes is 128,000DM and overall first prize is 10,000DM. 120 riders will contest the event.

Stage 1, Poznan-Poznan 130 kms:

  1. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz		     2.49.20
  2. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Saturn			0.22
  3. Danilo Hondo (Ger) Agro-Adler Brandenburg
  4. Piotr Zaradny (Pol)
  5. Jacek Mickiewicz (Pol) Mroz
  6. Michel Vanhaecke (Bel) Ipso
  7. Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Germany 2
  8. Pawel Chamidulin (Rus) Lada CSKA
  9. Michailo Chalilow (Ukr)
 10. Oskar Chavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo	       all s.t.

Complete peloton at 0.22

GC after Stage 1

  1. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz		     2.49.02
  2. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Saturn			0.34
  3. Jaroslaw Chojnacki (Pol)				0.35
  4. Danilo Hondo (Ger) Agro-Adler			0.36
  5. Dietmar Müller (Aut)				0.38
  6. Scott Fortner (USA) Saturn				0.38
  7. Stephan Gottschling (Ger) Agro-Adler     		0.39
  8. Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Poland 2      		0.40
  9. Jacek Mickiewicz (Pol) Mroz           		0.40
 10. Michel van Haecke (Bel) Ipso           		0.40

Brief

After 6 kms, Rumsas escaped with Scott Fortner (USA) and Jaroslav Chajnaki (Poland). The three reached a maximum lead of six minutes before Telekom and Agro-Adler Brandenburg started to work in the peloton. 30 kms ahead of Poznan, Rumsas left his both companions behind. At the end, he reached the finish 20 seconds ahead of the peloton.

Stage 2, Szamotuly-Gorzow Wielkopolski 150 kms:

 1. Danilo Hondo (Ger) Agro-Adler                    3.33.02
 2. Guido Trenti (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 3. Juergen Werner (Ger) Germany 2
 4. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom
 5. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz
 6. Pavel Khamidouline (Rus) Lada
 7. William-Chann McRae (USA) Saturn
 8. Marek Kaminski (Pol) Elite
 9. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom
10. Petr Bencik (Cze) Elite				s.t.

GC after Stage 2

  
 1. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz                      6.22.04
 2. Danilo Hondo (Ger) Agro-Adler      			0.26
 3. Guido Trenti (Ita) Cantina Tollo    		0.34
 4. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Saturn          		0.34
 5. R. Keller (Ger) Germany 2				0.34
 6. Juergen Werner (Ger) Germany 2			0.36
 7. Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Poland 2             		0.37
 8. Mark McCormack (USA) Saturn          		0.37
 9. Dietmar Mueller (Aut) Austria               	0.38
10. Scott Fortner (USA) Saturn          		0.38

Stage 3, Torzym-Polkowice 169 kms:

Polish cyclist Piotr Zaradny, from Team Sprandy but riding this race in the Poland 2 National Team, was the winner of the 3rd stage between the Polish cities of Torzym and Polkowice. Zaradny went in ahead of Germans Steffen Wesemann of Telekom and Danilo Hondo from Agro Adler, the winners of the last 2 stages. Zaradny had already won races over this route on four previous ocassions, the last one a few days ago.

 1. Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Poland 2                    4.15.15
 2. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom
 3. Danilo Hondo  (Ger) Agro-Adler    
 4. Jacek Mickiewicz (Pol) Mroz 
 5. Juergen Werner (Ger) Germany 2
 6. Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Germany 2                  all s.t.

GC after Stage 3

 1. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz                     10.57.19
 2. Danilo Hondo (Ger) Agro-Adler    			0.22
 3. Piotr Zaradny (Pol)               			0.25
 4. Guido Trenti (Ita) Cantina Tollo  			0.34
 5. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom       		0.34
 6. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Saturn        			0.34
 7. R. Keller (Ger) Germany 2				0.34
 8. Juergen Werner (Ger) Germany 2			0.36
 9. Thomas Liese (Ger) Germany I			0.38
10. Dietmar Mueller (Aut)               		0.38
..
31. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom				0.40

Stage 4, Legnica-Jested (Cze) 224 kms:

 1. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz                      6.13.16
 2. Chann McRae  (USA) Saturn        			0.09
 3. Steffen Wesemann  (Ger) Telekom       		1.26
 4. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz          			1.26
 5. Andrea Dolci (Ita) Cantina Tollo  			1.36
 6. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom       			1.38
 7. Uwe Ampler (Ger) Mroz          			1.38
 8. Petr Bencik (Cze)               			2.27
 9. Piotr Chmielewski (Pol) Poland I      		2.29
10. Dirk Mueller (Ger) Telekom       			2.29

GC after Stage 4

 1. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz                     17.10.25
 2. Chann McRae (USA) Saturn         			0.53
 3. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom        		2.06
 4. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz           			2.16
 5. Andrea Dolci (Ita) Cantina Tollo   			2.24
 6. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom        			2.26
 7. Uwe Ampler (Ger) Mroz          			2.28
 8. Petr Bencik (Cze)               			3.17
 9. Thomas Liese (Ger) Germany I			3.17
10. Stephan Gottschling (Ger) Agro-Adler  		3.18

Stage 5, Liberec-Usti nad Labem 185.5 kms:

 1. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo		     4.33.08
 2. Thomas Liese (Ger) Germany I			0.24
 3. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz           			1.02
 4. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom
 5. Uwe Ampler (Ger) Mroz
 6. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom
 7. Chann McRae (USA) Saturn 
 8. Andrea Dolci (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 9. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Telekom-ARD 			4.08
10. Stephan Schreck (Ger) 				6.07

GC after Stage 5

 1. Chann McRae (USA) Saturn                        21.45.28
 2. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom			1.10
 3. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz           			1.19
 4. Andrea Dolci (Ita) Cantina Tollo   			1.31
 5. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom				1.33
 6. Uwe Ampler (Ger) Mroz          			1.35
 7. Thomas Liese (Ger) Germany I			1.40
 8. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz           		4.12
 9. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo			4.36
10. Petr Bencik (Cze)                			7.29

Stage 6, Teplice-Karlovy Vary 173.5 kms:

 1. Juergen Werner (Ger) Germany 2                   4.10.47
 2. Dirk Mueller (Ger) Telekom            		s.t.
 3. Andreas Kloede (Ger) Telekom             		1.47
 4. John Lieswyn  (USA)                     		1.50
 5. Oleg Pankow (Ukr) Ipso                		1.50
 6. Bert Dietz (Ger) Telekom             		1.50
 7. Rene Andrle (Cze)                     		1.50
 8. Tomas Sedlacek (Cze)                     		2.22
 9. Zbigniew Piatek (Pol) Poland 1            		2.22
10. Jacek Mickiewicz (Pol) Mroz                		3.06

GC after Stage 6

 1. Chann McRae (USA) Saturn                        26.01.49
 2. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom			1.10
 3. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz           			1.19
 4. Andrea Dolci (Ita) Cantina Tollo   			1.31
 5. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom				1.33
 6. Uwe Ampler (Ger) Mroz          			1.35
 7. Thomas Liese (Ger) Germany I			1.40
 8. Dirk Mueller (Ger) Telekom             		1.52
 9. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz           		4.12
10. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo			4.36

Stage 7, Cheb-Zwickau (Ger) 228.5 kms:

 1. Bert Dietz (Ger) Telekom                         6.11.42
 2. Artur Krasinski (Pol) Poland 1          		s.t.
 3. Stephan Gottschling (Ger) Agro-Adler        	0.28
 4. Jaromir Purmenski (Cze)          
 5. Dainis Ozols (Lat) Mroz 
 6. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz
 7. Tomasz Brozyna (Pol) Mroz
 8. Uwe Ampler (Ger) Mroz              			0.28
 9. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz              		3.08
10. Heinrich Trumheller (Ger) Germany 1         	3.10

GC after Stage 7

 1. Uwe Ampler (Ger) Mroz                           32.15.34
 2. Steffen Wasemann (Ger) Telekom            		2.17
 3. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz               		2.24
 4. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz               		2.37
 5. Andrea Dolci (It) Cantina Tollo       		2.38
 6. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom            		2.40
 7. Chann McRae (USA) Saturn             		4.06
 8. Thomas Liese (Ger) Germany 2          		5.46
 9. Petr Bencik (Cze)                   	       11.35
10. Morten Sonne (Den) Cantina Tollo                	12.38

Stage 8, Zwickau-Halle 194 kms:

 1. Lutz Lehmann (Ger) Germany 2                    5.01.58
 2. Juergen Werner (Ger) Germany 2
 3. Danilo Hondo (Ger) Agro Adler
 4. Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Poland 2
 5. Guido Trenti (It) Cantina Tollo
 6. T. Nitsche (Ger) Germany 1
 7. Mark McCormack (USA) Saturn
 8. Koen Beeckman (Bel) Ipso
 9. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom
10. S. Kupfernagel (Ger) Germany 1
..
13. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz
25. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom
29. Uwe Ampler (Ger) Mroz 				s.t.

GC after Stage 8

 1. Uwe Ampler (Ger) Mroz                           37.17.32
 2. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom          		2.16
 3. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz                		2.21
 4. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz             		2.37
 5. Andrea Dolci (It) Cantina Tollo         		2.38
 6. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom               		2.40
 7. Chann McRae (USA) Saturn                		4.06
 8. Thomas Liese (Ger) Germany 2            		5.46
 9. Petr Bencik (Cze)                                  11.35
10. Morten Sonne (Den) Cantina Tollo           	       12.38

Stage 9, Freyburg-Erfurt 111.5 kms:

 1. Oscar Cavegnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo               2.55.11
 2. Stephan Schreck (Ger) 
 3. Raphael Schweda (Ger)
 4. Volker Ordowski (Ger) Agro-Adler
 5. Micheal Blaudzun (Den) Telekom
 6. Ronny Scholz (Ger)
 7. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom
 8. Danilo Hondo (Ger) Agro-Adler
 9. Torsten Nitsche (Ger)
10. Guido Trenti (Ita) Cantina Tollo                 all s.t.

GC after Stage 9

 1. Uwe Ampler (Ger) Mroz                           40.02.46
 2. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom             		2.16
 3. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz                   		2.21

Stage 10, Weimar-Erfurt ITT 33.8 kms:

 1. Thomas Liese (Ger) Germany 2           	       41.39
 2. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom          		0.06
 3. Dirk Mueller (Ger) Telekom              		0.30
 4. Uwe Ampler (Ger) Mroz                   		0.47
 5. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz                		0.49
 6. Chann McRae (USA) Saturn                		0.56
 7. Robert Pitonak (Cze)                    		1.00
 8. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Telekom          		1.00
 9. Andrea Dolci (It) Cantina Tollo         		1.14
10. Dainis Ozols (Lat) Mroz                		1.22
11. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom              		1.31

Final GC

 1. Uwe Ampler (Ger) Mroz                  	    40.55.15
 2. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom             		1.34
 3. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz                   		2.23
 4. Andrea Dolci (It) Cantina Tollo            		3.05
 5. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom                  		3.29
 6. Chann McRae (USA) Saturn                   		4.14
 7. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz                		4.58
 8. Thomas Liese (Ger) Germany 2               		4.58
 9. Dirk Muller (Ger) Telekom                 	       12.50
10. Petr Bencik (Cze)                        	       13.41

Brief

33 years old Uwe Ampler won the Peace Race for the fourth time, nine years after three consecutive wins as the East German amateur at the end of the communist era in the years 1987-89. This year's race has been dominated by a dramatic battle between Polish team Mroz and German Telekom which was probably finally won by Mroz, lead by German and former Telekom rider Ampler.

Piotr Cegielski is our reporter for Poland

Teams

Telekom: 

 Bjarne Riis (Den)
 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) - winner 1996 and 97,
 Dirk Baldinger (Ger)
 Bert Dietz (Ger)
 Dirk Muller (Ger)
 Michael Blaudzun (Den)

IPSO

 Peter Verbeken (Bel)
 Oleg Pankow (Ukr)

Mroz: 

 Piotr Wadecki (Pol)
 Jacek Mickiewicz (Pol)
 Tomasz Brozyna (Pol)
 Uwe Ampler (Ger) - winner 1987-89
 Dainis Ozols (Lat)
 Raimondas Rumsas (Lit)

Saturn:  

 Norman Alvis (USA)
 Chann McRae (USA),

Agro Adler: 

 Steffen Blochwitz (Ger)
 Stephan Gottschling (Ger)

Lada CSKA: 

 Pavel Chamidulin (Rus)

Cantina Tollo
TVM
Mobilvetta
Tönisteiner

Poland 1 (PEKAES group): 

 Zbigniew Piatek
 Marek Kaminski
 Artur Krasinski
 Piotr Chmielewski
 Pawel Niedzwiecki
 Radoslaw  Romanik (strong elite team with almost 200 UCI points)

Poland 2 (Sprandi Wulkan group): 

 Bernard Bocian
 Jaroslaw Chojnacki
 Slawomir Chrzanowski
 Wojciech Pawlak
 Piotr Zaradny 
 Grzegorz Gronkiewicz or Andrzej Mierzejewski

Czech Republic: 

 Sadlo
 Tomas Sedlacek
 Robert Pitonak
 Jaromir Purmenski
 Bencik
 Rene Andrle

Ukraine: 

 Mychajlo Chalilov
 Oleksej Nakazny

Germany 1: 

 Thomas Liese
 Lutz Lehmann

Slovakia: 

 Miroslav Liptak
 Jan Valach

Midden-Limburg (Ned):
  
 Marco Engels (Ned)
 Ronald Engels (Ned) 
 Ton van der Stap (Ned)
 Cees Jeurissen (Ned)
 Emanuel van Heugten (Ned)
 Luke  Mauritsen (USA)
 
Germany 2
Austria
USA
Netherlands

Past Winners

1948	Prosinek (Jug)
1948	Zoric (Jug)
1949	Vesely (Cze)
1950	Emborg (Den)
1951	Olsen (Den)
1952	Steel (GB)
1953	Pedersen (Den)
1954	Dalgaard (Den)
1955	Gustaf-Adolf Schur (E.Ger) 
1956	Krolak (Pol)
1957	Christow (Bul)
1958	Damen (Ned)
1959	Gustaf-Adolf Schur (E.Ger) 
1960	Hagen (E.Ger)
1961	Melichow (Rus)
1962	Saidchushin (Rus)
1963	Klaus Ampler (E.Ger)
1964	Smolik (Cze)
1965	Lebedjew (Rus)
1966	Guyot (Fra)
1967	Maes (Bel)
1968	Peschel (E.Ger)
1969	Danguilaume (Fra)
1970	Szurkowski (Pol)
1971	Szurkowski (Pol)
1972	Moravec (Cze)
1973	Szurkowski (Pol)
1974	Szozda (Pol)
1975	Szurkowski (Pol)
1976	H.-J. Hartnick (E.Ger)
1977	Pikkuus (Rus)
1978	Awerin (Rus)
1979	Suchorutchenkov (Rus)
1980	Barinow (Rus)
1981	Zagretdinow (Rus)
1982	Olaf Ludwig (E.Ger)
1983	Falk Boden (E.Ger)
1984	Suchorutchenkov (Rus)
1985	Lech Piasecki (Pol)
1986	Olaf Ludwig (E.Ger)
1987	Uwe Ampler (E.Ger)
1988	Uwe Ampler (E.Ger)
1989	Uwe Ampler (E.Ger)
1990	Jan Svorada (Cze)
1991	Rjaksinski (Rus)
1992	Steffen Wesemann (Ger)
1993	Bilek (Cze)
1994	Jens Voigt (Ger)
1995	Pavel Padrnos (Cze)
1996	Steffen Wesemann (Ger)
1997	Steffen Wesemann (Ger)

Past winners from my friend Mario Stiehl in Berlin