1997 Results
Brief:Wim Feys (Lotto-Mobistar) took his first victory for the season after a strong attacking ride in the GP Izegem. The other attraction was the "knee" - would it hold up to competition? was it ready? Johan Museeuw went a long way to answer these questions. It was a good recovery ride for Museeuw, even though he was at the back of the peloton, using these races to rebuild his condition.The GP Izegem came down to the last hour with a group of 15 riders clear at the front. Farazijn, Feys, Verheyen, Pauwels, De Geyter, Vanderaerden, Heirewegh, Strohl, Van Lancker, Vansevenant, Torrekens, De Neef, De Buysser, the Dutch stagiair Hoedemaker and Thierry Masschelein (Elite) were working well together and more than 5 minutes ahead of the main peloton. As they went under the red kite, the Lithuanian rider Dariusz Strole went for all with all guns blazing. Pauwels countered. With 700 metres left, Feys put the hammer down. Pauwels did not have anything left. Feys caught Strole in the last few metres to take the prize. He said afterwards: "I felt that things were finally coming together. Last month I have no form at all. I think that in Paris-Brussel and the GP Fourmies I will have a strong chance to show myself." His contract with Lotto-Mobistar has been extended for another year. Izegem, 163 kms:1. Wim Feys (Bel) 3.46.00 2. Thierry Maschelein (Bel) elite 3. Bart Heirewegh (Bel) Ipso 4. Jurgen De Buysschere (Bel) Home Market 5. Eddy Torrekens (Bel) Tonissteiner 6. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 7. Gert Vanderaerden (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 8. Dariusz Strole (Lit) Ipso stagiare 9. Geert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 10. Berry Hoedemakers (Ned) Spar stagiare 11. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 12. Steven De Neef (Bel) Collstrop 13. Kurt Van Lancker (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 14. Karl Pauwels (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 15. Johan De Geyter (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 16. Etienne De Wilde (Bel) Spar 6.10 17. Niko Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 18. Pavel Khamidouline (Rus) Elite 6.15 19. Mario De Clercq (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 6.25 20. Lars Teutenberg (Ger) EC Bayer 21. Peter Spaenhoven (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 22. Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 23. Geert Omloop (Bel) Spar 24. Oleg Pankov (Ukr) Ipso 25. Casper Van der Meer (Ned) Elite 26. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop 27. Hans De Clercq (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 28. Ronny De Meuter (Bel) Elite 29. Chris Pollin (Bel) Elite 30. Kristof Trouve (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 6.25 Started: 108 |