1997 Results
Brief:The good folk in Merelbeke, were treated to Johan Museeuw - riding his 4th race since he returned to racing, the World Madison Champions Etienne De Wilde and Matthew Gilmore and National Champion Tom Steels. It was Steels who triumphed at the end. From the start there was an attack from Niko Eeckhout who quickly built up a 3 minute lead. He exhausted himself though. Then a group of 25 riders formed at the front and went away from the peloton. Steels and De Wilde were present.With 10 kms to go, three riders (Jans Koerts, Wim Omloop and Ronny Assez) attacked. It was all or nothing. Behind them, Etienne De Wilde came up with a very fast "track jump", but Jans Koerts and Tom Steels were too fast for him. The National Champion won from fast finishing Jarno Vanfrachem. Steels said later: "My form is good after a short rest period. This week I will ride in Koolskamp and then the Giro di Puglia. This will be my last race before the Worlds in Valkenburg. This sort of race today was just what I needed." Merelbeke, 170 kms:1. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 4.04.00 (41.803) 2. Jarno Vanfrachem (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 3. Jean-Pierre Heynderickx (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi 4. Ronny Assez (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi 5. Andy De Smet (Bel) Ipso 6. Michel Cornelisse (Ned) Spar-RDM 7. Bart Heirewegh (Bel) Ipso 8. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 9. Tom Desmet (Bel) Collstrop 10. Hans De Meester (Bel) Tonissteiner 11. Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 12. Oleg Pankov (Ukr) Ipso 13. Berry Hoedemakers (Ned) Spar-RDM * 14. Kristof Trouve (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 15. Michel Vanhaecke (Bel) Ipso 16. Koen Beeckman (Bel) Ipso 17. Jans Koerts (Ned) Rabobank 18. Jurgen Vandewalle (Bel) Elite 19. Geert Omloop (Bel) Spar-RDM 20. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 21. Hans Redant (Bel) Ipso 22. Wim Omloop (Bel) Spar-RDM 23. Rik Van Slycke (Bel) Spar-RDM 24. David Verreth (Bel) Ipso 25. Etienne De Wilde (Bel) Spar-RDM Started: 83* stagiaire |