83rd Ronde van Vlaanderen, World Cup Round 2

Belgium, April 4, 1998

Report:

29-year old Peter Van Petegem scored his first major victory when he won the Ronde van Vlaanderen. The rider from East Flanders turned professional in 1992 with the PDM team. He rode for Lotto in 1993 and Trident in 1994. From 1995 he has been a member of the TVM team. He took a long time to show his potential. He came to the fore in the peloton in 1997 and 1998 when he won two the Omloop Het Volk in both years and went on in 1998 to take the silver medal in the World Championship road race.

Peter Van Petegem has shown he is in great form so far this season with a recent win the the Driedaagse van De Panne earlier in the week. He was 7th in Milan-San Remo and now leads the World Cup (on a countback - see below). But he had to hold off two other Belgians to score his first big win - the new strong man of cycling, Frank Vandenbroucke, and his long-time idol and three-times winner of the race Johan Museeuw.

World number 1, Italian Michele Bartoli, had to be content with 4th place and the sprint victory in the peloton. With Museeuw in the front group, the Italian could hardly put in an active finale.

The victory emerged on the second last of 16 climbs - the legendary Muur de Geerardsbergen only 16 kms from the end. Vandenbroucke and Swiss rider Markus Zberg fell at the base of the climb and Van Petegem and Museeuw attacked and created a gap.

Vandenbroucke rode like a demon and caught the other two on the climb of the Bosberg, only 4 kms from the end. But he paid for his efforts in the final sprint and was unable to hold off the fast finish by Van Petegem.

Van Petegem said afterwards: "The Ronde van Vlaanderen was my main objective for this season. With this victory I will be happy for the rest of my life. I arrived in front at the foot of the Muur. And when Museeuw was with me, I did not hesitate to attack. Normally it is Blijlevens who takes the final victories for our team, like in the Tour de France, but for me I am glad we have been able to win a major classic."

For Peter Van Petegem and Johan Museeuw - the final stages of the race towards Meerbeke were met with acclamation from an adoring Flemish public.

Vandenbroucke had the comfort that Andre Tchmil and Italian Michele Bartoli, did not gain points on him in the World Cup.

It was clear that the sprint would go to Van Petegem. Vandenbroucke had worked too hard in the chase from the Muur and Museeuw is now less explosive than he was in the past. But Museeuw was happy with his third place. He said: "When you think where I have been in the last 12 months ...." referring to his terrible accident at Paris-Roubaix and his miracle comeback. Patrick Lefevere, Museeuw's team manager said: "What a magnificient race."

Brugge - Meerbeke, 270 kms:

 1. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites             6.15.00 (43.2 km/h)
 2. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis
 3. Johan Museeuw (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                   0.01
 4. Michele Bartoli (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 0.08
 5. Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin                    0.08
 6. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                            0.08
 7. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     0.08
 8. Tristan Hoffman (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                  0.08
 9. Denis Zanette (Ita) Team Polti                         0.08
10. Lars Michaelsen (Den) La Française des Jeux            0.08
11. Franco Ballerini (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                   0.08
12. Maximilian Sciandri (GB) La Française des Jeux         0.08
13. Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                0.08
14. Wilfried Peeters (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                0.08
15. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia            0.08
16. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                           0.08
17. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis                           0.08
18. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                      0.08
19. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                            0.34
20. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.55
21. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service                1.04
22. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom                               1.04
23. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                            1.04
24. Gian Matteo Fagnini (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale             1.04
25. Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Vini Caldirola Sidermec        1.04
26. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lampre-Daikin                   1.04
27. Michel Van Haecke (Bel) Tönissteiner-Colnago           1.04
28. Hans De Clercq (Bel) Palmans-Ideal                     1.04
29. Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) Vini Caldirola Sidermec       1.52
30. Enrico Cassani (Ita) Team Polti                        1.52
31. Fabiano Fontanelli (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi         1.52
32. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       1.52
33. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                        1.52
34. Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                   1.52
35. Davide Casarotto (Ita) TVM-Farm Frites                 1.52
36. Hendrick Van Dyck (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                1.52
37. Geert Van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                  1.52
38. Gianpaolo Mondini (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia           1.52
39. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                  1.52
40. Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                 1.52
41. Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                     1.52
42. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                  1.52
43. Stuart O.Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole                   1.52
44. Kristof Trouve (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                   1.52
45. Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                    1.52
46. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                              1.52
47. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                 1.52
48. Sergio Barbero (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi             1.52
49. Johan Verstrepen (Bel) Lampre-Daikin                   1.52
50. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina Lotus                     1.52
51. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                      1.52
52. Kurt Van Lancker (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                 1.52
53. Matthew White (Aus) Vini Caldirola Sidermec            1.52
54. Mauro Radaelli (Ita) Vini Caldirola Sidermec           1.52
55. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                           1.52
56. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                1.52
57. Christophe Mengin (Fra) La Française des Jeux          1.52
58. MassimilianoMori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                1.52
59. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti                         1.52
60. Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola Sidermec        1.52
61. Ermanno Brignoli (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi           1.52
62. Wim Feys (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          1.52
63. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom                         1.52
64. Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  1.52
65. Christian Vandevelde (USA) US Postal Service           1.52
66. Franky De buyst (Bel) Tönissteiner-Colnago            14.28
67. Rolf Aldag (Ger) Telekom                              14.28
68. Tom Stremersch (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                  16.05
69. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis                           16.05
70. Davy Delme (Bel) Tönissteiner-Colnago                 16.05
71. Franz Hotz (Swi) Festina Lotus                        16.05
72. Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti Vinavil         16.05
73. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service               16.05

Started: 193
Finished: 73

World Cup Standings after Round 2:

                                                              MSR     RVV    Total

 1. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                    28     100     128
 2. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        100      28     128
 3. Zbignew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin                         50      36      86
 4. Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Deutsche-Telekom                     70       4      74
 5. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                           0      70      70
 6. Johan Museeuw (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                        0      50      50
 7. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                                13      32      45
 8. Michele Bartoli (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                      0      40      40
 9. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Mercatone Uno Bianchi               40       0      40
10. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                     36       0      36
11. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                                32       3      35
12. George Hincapie (Usa) US Postal Service                    20       5      25
13. Tristan Hoffman (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                       0      24      24
14. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                         24       0      24
15. Denis Zanette (Ita) Team Polti                              0      20      20
16. Maximiliam Sciandri (GB) La Française des Jeux              5      14      19
17. Lars Michaelsen (Den) La Française des Jeux                 0      16      16
18. Gabriele Balducci (Ita) Navigare-Gaerne                    16       0      16
19. Franco Ballerini (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                        0      15      15
20. Alexandre Gontchenkov (Rus) Ballan-Alessio                 15       0      15
21. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Ballan-Alessio                      14       0      14
22. Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                     0      13      13
23. Wilfried Peeters (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                     0      12      12
24. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                           12       0      12
25. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                 0      11      11
26. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                                1      10      11
27. Nicola Loda (Ita) Ballan-Alessio                           11       0      11
28. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina Lotus                         10       0      10
29. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis                                0       9       9
30. Bo Hamburger (Dan) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                     9       0       9
31. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                           0       8       8
32. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                            8       0       8
33. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                                 0       7       7
34. Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                    7       0       7
35. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                            0       6       6
36. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                          6       0       6
37. François Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole                        4       0       4
38. Dario Pieri (Ita) Navigare-Gaerne                           3       0       3
39. Gian Matteo Fagnini (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  0       2       2
40. Fabiano Fontanelli (Ita) Mercatone Uno Bianchi              2       0       2
41. Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Vini Caldirola Sidermec             0       1       1
Note: UCI rules state that in event of a tie, the most recent results takes precedence and therefore, Peter van Petegem will wear the leader's jersey into Paris-Roubaix.