83rd Ronde van Vlaanderen, World Cup Round 2

Main Page Progress of Race from Start 10.00: The RVV is away. The weather at the start in Brugge is misty but dry. The Lampre-Daikin and Vitalicio Seguros teams were subjected to blood tests with all the riders testing negative. 10.16: After 4 kms Collstrop's Tony Bracke is the first to attack. 10.30: Tony Bracke was quickly brought back and then two other riders tried - Nico Eeckhout and Kris Gerits have a 15 second lead after 13 kms. 11.00: Nico Eeckhout and Kris Gerits were also hauled back in quickly. At Oostende, two other riders took their chance - Swede Marcus Ljunqvist (Cantina Tollo-Alexia) and Belgian Wilfried Cretskens (Vlaanderen 2002). The peloton is strung right out and the speed is currently (along the flats) up to 60 km/h. Fast. 11.06: The two leaders have been joined by Bart Leysen (Bel-Mapei-Quick Step), Steven De Jongh (Ned-TVM), Enrico Cassani (Ita-Team Polti), Valentino China (Ita), Mario Traversoni (Ita-Saeco), Gianpaolo Mondini (Ita-Cantina Tollo), Patrick D'Hont (Bel-La Française des Jeux), Jan Schaffrath (Ger-Telekom), Samuele Schiavina (Ita-Riso Scotti-Vinavil), Kris Gerits (Bel-Vlaanderen 2002), Robbie Hunter (RSA-Lampre-Daikin) and Tony Bracke (Bel-Collstrop). The 14 riders have a 12 second gap. The average speed for the first hour was 42 km/h. 11.26: The adventure did not last. After they were caught the next attack came from Wim Vansevenant (Bel-Collstrop) as they rode through his birthplace of Eernegem. Together with Glen D'Hollander (Bel-Vlaanderen 2002) the two have a 12 second gap. At km 56, Spaniard Pascual Rodrigues (Spa-Kelme-Costa Blanca) is the first to abandon. 11.43: The peloton have passed through Torhout (at km 70) and was maintaining the very quick tempo. None of the several attacks has a chance of getting any leeway. 12.00: At km 75 a large leading group formed comprising Bart Leysen (Bel-Mapei-Quick Step), Stefano Zanini (Ita-Mapei-Quick Step), Wim Feys (Bel-Lotto-Mobistar), Jann Kirsipuu (Est-Casino), Ruben Galvan (Spa-Kelme-Costa Blanca), Steve De Wolf (Bel-Cofidis), Mirko Crepaldi (Ita-Team Polti), Alessandro Guerra (Ita-Saeco), Patrice Halgand (Fra-Festina), Germano Pierdomenico (Ita-Cantina Tollo), Giovanni Lombardi (Ita-Telekom), Miguel Angel Martin (Spa-ONCE), Gianluca Pianegonda (Ita-Lampre-Daikin, Gianluca Sironi (Ita- Vini Caldirola), Diego Ferrari (Ita-Riso Scotti-Vinavil), Christian Vandevelde (VSA-US Postal), Kris Gerits (Bel-Vlaanderen 2002), Jurgen Guns (Bel-Vlaanderen 2002), Tony Bracke (Bel-Collstrop), Eros Poli (Ita-Crédit Agricole), Franky Van Haesebroucke (Bel-Collstrop), Franky De Buyst (Bel-Tönissteiner), Johan De Geyter (Bel-Tönissteiner) en Andreas Klier (Ger-TVM). They are a gap of 15 seconds on Fabian De Waele (Bel-Lotto-Mobistar), Steven De Jongh (Ned-TVM) and Emmanuel Magnien (Fra-La Française des Jeux). The peloton is at 1 minute. 12.30: De Waele, De Jongh and Magnien have joined the front group and the 27 riders have a lead of around 30 seconds at Olsene (km 113). 12.50: The first cobbled section at Wannegem-Lede passed and the leaders have consolidated their lead at 0.52. 13.05: On the first climb of the day - Den Ast - 3 riders are trying to bridge the gap - Philippe Gaumont (Fra-Cofidis), George Hincapie (USA-US Postal) and Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel-Cofidis). 13.15: Bracke has been dropped from the front group. The 28 leaders which now includes Frank Vandenbroucke have a lead of 1.05 on the peloton at km 135. The temperature is 10 degrees with a light wind. 13.30: At the front Gaumont (Cofidis) is doing the most work for Vandenbroucke. The front group has 1.20 on the peloton as they begin the climb of the Molenberg. 13.38: On the sharp turn as they go onto the Molenberg Vandenbroucke is in trouble. He was not badly damaged. The peloton comes into this corner quickly and the Molenberg is at the end of a very narrow track over a small bridge. It is very easy to fall on that corner as the riders are working for position. In the chasing peloton Michele Bartoli is driving the tempo. 13.46: Gaumont has also fallen on the cobbles. He will have to chase to rejoin the top group. 13.58: The top group is now holding a 1.50 gap with 100 kms to go. A small group tried to break away in the peloton with Belgian Ludo Dierickxsens instigating the move but they did not have any success. 14.10: The peloton has started to work hard under the direction of Luca Scinto (Ita-Mapei) and Jan Boven (Ned-Rabobank) and the gap is already down to 1.12. After 4 hours the average speed is a fast 43 km/h. Gaumont has abandoned the race after his fall and is being taken to the hospital. 14.20: After the second feed station the games started in the top group with Kris Gerits trying to go clear and then later TVM's Steven De Jongh. They still have 80 kms and all the climbing to come. 14.32: The riders are over the Kluisberg with 75 kms still to go and the race is all together. The next climb is the Knokteberg. Image 14.45: They are coming up to the Oude Kwaremont and all the favourites are starting to push to the front. There is an enormous crowd on the hill and in some places they are 4 and 5 deep. Over the Oude Kwaremont - Image 14.53: Rolf Sorensen (Den-Rabobank) was first over the Oude Kwaremont. He continued to attack with Johan Museeuw chasing. The two riders were then being chased by 19 other riders. 14.57: Michele Bartoli decided to wait to the Paterberg to attack. Frank Vandenbroucke is the only one who reacts. The rest of the top group is close with the first group in the chasing peloton at 1.10. It is starting to rain. Image - Avoiding cobbles - Vainsteins chasing 15.08: Rolf Sorensen is the first over Kortekeer just ahead of Peter Farazijn (Bel-Cofidis). At 20 seconds there are 6 riders with Wilfried Peeters (Bel-Mapei), Beat Zberg (Swi-Rabobank), George Hincapie (USA-US Postal), Jo Planckaert (Bel-Lotto), Romans Vainsteins (Lat-Vini Caldirola) and Servais Knaven (Ned-TVM). The remaining bunch which includes Museeuw is at 0.40. Over Koetekeer. 53 kms to go now. 15.19: Over the top of Eikenberg (44 kms to go) Jo Planckaert is driving the race. He is visibly strained but is leading the chasing group with the big guns of the race - Van Petegem, Tchmil, Vandenbroucke and Museeuw. Martin Den Bakker in the top group At the beginning of the Leberg, Climb 12 (of 16), the first three groups have come back together. There is still 36 kms and 4 climbs to go. 15.30: Michele Bartoli attacks on the Leberg. Only Museeuw, Tchmil, Den Bakker and Van Petegem can respond. A little later Chris Peers (Bel-Lotto) and Peter Farazijn come to them. 15.35: On the Berendries (Climb 13 of 16) with 31 kms to go, a group has formed with Ludo Dierckxens (Bel-Lampre) and Franck Vandenbroucke leading. The top group 15.45: Now only 25 kms to go and 2 climbs - the Muur and the Bosberg. There are now 34 riders in the top group all with chances still. Approaching Geerardsbergen and the Muur 15.53: Belgian Marc Wauters (Rabobank) tried to go clear but was quickly brought bak. There are 11 top riders at the front - useeuw, Vandenbroucke, Tchmil, Van Petegem, Sorensen and Zabel. It is beginning to rain. 15.59: There was fall on the Muur van Geraardsbergen after Peter Van Petegem and Johan Museeuw passed over. The two riders went over alone and were followed by Michele Bartoli with the rest at 15 seconds. There is now only 15 kms to go. 16.02: Museeuw is clear with Van Petegem. To the Bosberg 16.03: Frank Vandenbroucke was the most affected by the fall at the foot of the Muur and is now chasing the two leaders. He is 6 seconds behind at the top of the Bosberg. There is now only 12 kms to go. 16.10: Frank Vandenbroucke has joined with Van Petegem and Museeuw. Johan is sitting on their wheels. The leaders 16.12: The three are going under the 5 kms to go banner and they have a 25 second gap on Bartoli's group. 16.16: The three are still leading with 4 kms to go and Rabobank are trying to close it down - Rabobank train Results 1. Peter van Petegem (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites 6.16.43 2. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis 3. Johan Museeuw (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step 4. Michele Bartoli (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 0.15 5. Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin The winner Complete results