63rd Waalse Pijl/Flèche Wallonne, Cat HC

Belgium, April 14, 1999

1998 Results     Past Winners     Route     Riders

Preview

Today the Walloon Arrow - the Waalse Pijl - the Fleche Walloone is staged and continues its comeback after declining as a large classic when it was not included in the World Cup. The race involves three ascents of the legendary wall of Huy, which has usually been the place where the race is won and lost. The wall of Huy is a narrow road climbing out if the village of Huy which sits next to the River Meuse (just south of Luik). It is only 1.4 kms long but has a slope of some 19 per cent and is very tough.

Rabobank has chosen this race as the first important target for Michael Boogerd this season. Adri van Houwelingen said: "It will not be good if Michael starts last climb of Huy with favourites like Jalabert, Rebbelin and Bartoli. He doesn't have the explosive power of these riders. We will thus have to make the race hard and start our fight on the second climb of Huy."

Another Rabobank rider wants to win as well - Maarten den Bakker. He said: "I had a lot of bad luck last Sunday in Paris-Roubaix. Vandenbroucke hit me with his bike in the corner before the Muur van Geraardsbergen. I was super that day." Den Bakker will wait until the final stages of the race. "Normally FW starts in the last 40 kms. The climbs are good for me, except the Muur of Huy. With my legs at this moment, I'm not afraid of anybody."

However, Laurent Jalabert (ONCE), the recent winner of the Catalan Week and then the Tour of the Basque Country is the logical favourite for the 63rd edition of the Waalse Pijl/Flèche wallonne, a race he has won twice before in 1995 and 1997.

He is aiming to join the Belgians Marcel Kint and Eddy Merckx, and also the Italian Moreno Argentin, who all won this classic three times. The race is often considered a better test than some of the World Cup races.

Italian Michele Bartoli (Mapei), the world number 1 is testing his fitness before the real race for him this week next Sunday - Luik-Bastenaken-Luik. Like Jalabert, Bartoli has all the athletic skills to be dangerous on the climb of the mur de Huy, the major difficulty in the race.

In contrast to the cobbles of the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix, the Flèche Wallonne offers riders decent road surfaces but hilly terrain. Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) and Davide Rebellin (Polti) are well placed as climbers to push their hopes. Boogerd is however not as fast as Jalabert and Rebellin in the sprints and he will have to attack on the côtes de Bohissau and Ahin, which are situated, respectively, 26 and 11 kms from the end.

As is expected, German Jan Ullrich is not racing. And Belgian Franck Vandenbroucke has taken a day off after his efforts in Paris-Roubaix. The Italian Marco Pantani, who is suited to this course is also absent. He is recovering from a fall in the Catalan Week.

Another rider who may threaten is 25-year old Stefano Garzelli, the winner of the Tour de Suisse 1998, who is leading his team in the Ardennes races. A good climber and sprinter, Garzelli constitutes a definite danger to Jalabert and Bartoli.

How it unfolded:

This morning 188 riders started and of those 25 riders are backing up from Paris-Roubaix last Sunday. Two of them: Johan Verstrepen and Ludo Dierckxsens were dropped on the first climb of the Muur de Huy. With still 93 km to go they are on the second climb of the Muur de Huy and there are 13 leaders, including Tobias Steinhauser (Mapei), Patrick Jonker (Rabobank), Bobby Julich (Cofidis), Jens Voigt (Credit Agricole), Gilles Maignan (Casino), and Nicolas Vogondy (La Francaise des Jeux). At the top of Huy the leaders had 40 seconds.

The peloton was being led by Michael Boogerd, Markus Zberg, and Oscar Camenzind. Ludo Dierckxsens abandoned. The weather is bad - rain, cold but no wind. Last night and this morning there was even wet snow in the Benelux region.

13.50: After the second climb of the Muur de Huy the group of 13 leaders comes together with a lot of other riders. Up until now the average speed was 40.493 km/h. Cesar Solaun (Banesto) attacks but within a few minutes the peloton comes back to him and Bartoli comes to the front.

13.58: Michele Bartoli attacked over the top and only Maarten den Bakker and Oscar Camenzind could follow.

14.10: There were three leaders now consolidated - Michele Bartoli (Mapei), Oscar Camenzind (Lampre) and Maarten den Bakker (Rabobank). The weather is very cold and there is wet snow. This is April in the Ardennes! Bartoli is wearing a knee warmers and a jacket.

14.27: Peloton was at 2.00

14.35: Cote d'Ossogne - still 50.5 kms to go and the peloton was losing time.

14.40: Peloton at 2.41 with three leaders. Average speed 41.494 km/h.

14.42: The weather was deteriorating and Bartoli and Den Bakker change gloves to get dry ones. Oscar Camenzind wants to change his world championship shirt in a hurry. His zip is stuck. The problem with the zipper on Camenzind's shirt was responsible for him losing contact with Bartoli and Den Bakker. Team Polti and Lotto led the peloton behind.

14.44: Camenzind went to the mechanic in his team car for help with his half open shirt.

14.46: Camenzind gets his new shirt but he has now lost contact with the leaders. Bartoli and Den Bakker didn't wait for him. Mario Aerts (Lotto) led peloton at 2.36.

14.51: Two leaders: Michele Bartoli (Mapei) and Maarten den Bakker (Rabobank). Oscar Camenzind (Lampre) at 0.09, peloton at 2.29. Still 45 kms.

14.53: Camenzind at 0.22. Eric Vanderaerden, now a TV commentator for Belgium TV says: "It is bad sportspersonship for Bartoli and Den Bakker not to wait for Camenzind while he fixed his shirt problem. Camenzind did his work in the leader's group and helped them get away. The three has so much time, why can't you stop your legs for a minute? Okay, I can understand that Den Bakker doesn't wait - he thinks there is only one rider over instead of three, and I'm the weakest. Maybe Bartoli can see the result already next Sunday. He will not expect to get any help ever again from Lampre. You never forget such a thing. Even when you have to wait for 3 years, if you can do something back, you will. I know that for sure."

15.01: Camenzind was at 0.29. Mario Aerts led peloton again at 2.55.

15.06: Laurent Genty (Big Mat and last Sunday riding in Paris-Roubaix) attacked in peloton. Still 34 kms.

15.12: Peloton at 3.28

15.16: Boogerd led the peloton. RTBF-motor bike rider with cameraman fell. Laurent Jalabert lost contact with peloton.

15.18: Camenzind at 2.15; peloton at 3.28

15.20: Still 25 kms. Mario Aerts (again!) attacked with Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) - at 3.20, while peloton at 3.45.

15.23: Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) and Mario Aerts (Lotto) join up with Oscar Camenzind (Lampre). The three riders were now at 3.20 and the rest of peloton (broken in three parts) was at 3.45

15.24: The weather was atrocious. Pouring rain (snow-water) and/or wet snow. The temperature is 3 Celsius. Speed: 39.910 km/h.

15.30: Group of 3 was at 3.05 and first part of peloton was at 3.52

15.34: The climb to Cote de Ahin approached with 14 kms still to rider for the two leaders.

15.42: Bartoli and Den Bakker reached top of Cote de Ahin. Boogerd, Aerts and Camenzind at 3.00, peloton were at 4.08 .

15.44: There was still 10 kms to go.

15.55: Up until the last few hundred meters from the finish line, Bartoli and Den Bakker were working together. One tempo-change was enough for Bartoli to take the win ahead of the Dutchman.

Charleroi - Huy, 201 kms:

 1. Michele Bartoli (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step		      4.52.46
 2. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank				 0.14
 3. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar				 3.06
 4. Oskar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin				 3.13
 5. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank				 3.34
 6. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom					 3.40
 7. Marco Velo (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi			 3.42
 8. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank				 3.45
 9. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crèdit Agricole				 3.48
10. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale			 3.53
11. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Banesto				 3.59
12. Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step			 4.02
13. Aitor Osa (Spa) Banesto					 4.07
14. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step				 4.11
15. Luca Scinto (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step				 4.18
16. Alvaro Gonzalez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros			 4.22
17. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti				 4.42
18. Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step				 4.44
19. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service			 4.48
20. Unai Osa (Spa) Banesto					 4.53
21. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar				 4.58
22. Jörg Jaksche (Ger) Telekom					 5.03
23. Gian Mario Ortenzi (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi		 5.04
24. Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom					 5.17
25. Abraham Olano (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank			 5.20
26. Geert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar				 5.38
27. Laurent Genty (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93			 5.58
28. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar				 6.11
29. Bobby Julich (USA) Cofidis					 6.23
30. Kurt Van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			 6.26
31. Christian Vandevelde (USA) US Postal Service		 6.59
32. Steve Vermaut (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002				 7.23
33. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step			 7.38
34. Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank				 7.42
35. Mauro Gianetti (Swi) Vini Caldirola-Sidermec 		 8.13
36. Vladislav Bobrik (Rus) Riso Scotti-Vinavil 			11.28
37. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina Lotus 				11.32
38. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Crèdit Agricole 			11.33
39. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux 		11.33
40. Roland Meier (Swi) Cofidis 					11.34
41. Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin  				11.34
42. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step  			11.34
43. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Team Polti 				11.35
44. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros 			11.36
45. Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 			11.41
46. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank 				11.44
47. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93 			11.45
48. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis 				11.55
49. Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia 			12.00
50. Riccardo Forconi (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi 		12.05
51. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino 				12.32
52. Tom Stremersch (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 			13.31
53. Cesar Solaun (Spa) Banesto 					13.35
54. Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crèdit Agricole 			18.04
55. Roméo Hernandez (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi 		22.01
56. Sergio Barbero (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi 			22.07

Route:

CHARLEROI start Place Charles II
official start Gilly                            0     11.00
Chatelet                                        1     11.02
Fleurus                                         2     11.04
Sombreffe - Ligny                              10     11.14
Sombreffe                                      13     11.19
Corroy-le-Château                              15     11.23
Grand Manil                                    18     11.30
Gembloux                                       19     11.31
Perwez                                         33     11.48
Noville                                        39     11.56
Eghezèe                                        43     12.01
Hanret                                         44     12.03
Hambraine                                      46     12.05
Forville                                       49     12.11
Bierwart                                       52     12.15
Hanneche                                       53     12.17
Burdinne                                       56     12.21
Lamontzée                                      58     12.24
Oteppe                                         61     12.28
Huccorgne                                      64     12.31
climb: Côte 'Route Jolie'                      66     12.36
Fumal                                          68     12.40
Vinalmont                                      70     12.43
Wanze                                          75     12.47
Huy                                            76     12.49
climb: Mur du Huy                              79     12.54
Feed Station                                   80     15.55
Stree                                          82     12.57
Ombret                                         88     13.03
Amay                                           94     13.12
climb: Côte d'Amay                             95     13.16
Jehay                                          97     13.18
Bodegnée                                      101     13.23
Fize-Fontaine                                 103     13.26
Villers-le-Bouillet                           106     13.31
Pâturages                                     109     13.35
Huy                                           110     13.36
climb: Mur du Huy                             115     13.45
provisioning                                  116     13.47
Stree                                         116     13.47
Ombret                                        125     13.57
climb: Côte de France                         128     14.02
Villers-le-Temple                             129     14.03
Scry (Tinlot)                                 133     14.10
Pont-de-Bonne                                 141     14.21
climb: Côte de Pailhe                         147     14.30
Havelange                                     150     14.35
Flostoy                                       153     14.41
Evelette                                      156     14.45
Ohey                                          160     14.48
Coutisse                                      163     14.53
Andenne                                       167     14.57
Côte de la Flisme                             172     15.02
Coutisse                                                                  
climb: Côte de Bohisseau                      174     15.08
Ben-Ahin                                      177     15.13
Solières                                      179     15.16
Hénimont                                      181     15.18
climb: Côte d'Ahin                            190     15.31
Fléron                                                                    
Marchin                                       192     15.33
Huy                                           198     15.43
FINAL CLIMB TO FINISH Mur du Huy              201     15.48

Complete Starting List

Cantina Tollo-Alexia			Mapei-Quick Step

1					11 Michele Bartoli (Ita)
2 Paolo Bossoni (Ita)			12 Paolo Bettini (Ita)
3 Oscar Cavagnis (Ita)			13 Gianni Faresin (Ita)
4 Gabriele Colombo (Ita)		14 Giuliano Figueras (Ita)
5 Massimiliano Gentili (Ita)		15 Axel Merckx (Bel)
6 Luca Mazzanti (Ita)			16 Andrea Noe (Ita)
7 Germano Pierdomenico (Ita)		17 Luca Scinto (Ita)
8 Guido Trenti (USA)			18 Tobias Steinhauser (Ger)

Rabobank				Lotto-Mobistar

21 Michael Boogerd (Ned)		31 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel)
22 Niki Aebersold (Swi)			32 Mario Aerts (Bel)
23 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned)		33 Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel)
24 Patrick Jonker (Ned)			34 Christophe Detilloux (Bel)
25 Koos Moerenhout (Ned)		35 Manu L'Hoir (Bel)
26 Grischa Niermann (Ger)		36 Kurt Van de wouwer (Bel)
27 Beat Zberg (Swi)			37 Geert Verheyen (Bel)
28 Markus Zberg (Swi)			38 Peter Wuyts (Bel)

Cofidis					Crédit Agricole

41 Christophe Rinero (Fra)		51 Chris Boardman (Gbr)
42 Steve De Wolf (Bel)			52 Frédéric Delalande (Fra)
43					53 Sébastien Hinault (Fra)
44 Bobby Julich (USA)			54 Christopher Jenner (Nzl)
45 Massimiliano Lelli (Ita)		55 François Simon (Fra)
46 Roland Meier (Swi)			56 Cédric Vasseur (Fra)
47 David Moncoutie (Fra)		57 Jens Voigt (Ger)
48 Arnaud Pretot (Fra)			58

Team Polti				Casino

61 Davide Rebellin (Ita)		71 Laurent Roux (Fra)
62 Daniel Atienza (Spa)			72 Fréderic Bessy (Fra)
63 Rossano Brasi (Ita)			73 Pascal Chanteur (Fra)
64					74 David Delrieu (Fra)
65 Stefano Cattai (Ita)			75 Fabrice Gougot (Fra)
66 Mirco Crepaldi (Ita)			76 Gilles Maignan (Fra)
67 Stephane Goubert (Fra)		77 Benoit Salmon (Fra)
68 Cristian Salvato (Ita)		78 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz)

Mercatone uno-Bianchi			Kelme-Costa Blanca

81 Stefano Garzelli (Ita)		91 José Enrique Gutierrez (Spa)
82 Sergio Barbero (Ita)			92 José De los Angeles (Spa)
83 Maurizio Caravaggio (Ita)		93 Ruben Galvan (Spa)
84 Michele Coppolillo (Ita)		94 Aitor Gonzalez Jimenez (Spa)
86 Riccardo Forconi (Ita)		95 Elicio Requejo (Spa)
87 Dimitri Konyshev (Rus)		96 Toni Tauler (Spa)
88 Giammario Ortenzi (Ita)		
89 Marco Velo (Ita)			

La Francaise des Jeux			Festina

101 Stéphane Heulot (Fra)		111 Patrice Halgand (Fra)
102 Xavier Jan (Fra)			112 Wladimir Belli (Ita)
103 Yvon Ledanois (Fra)			113 Franz Hotz (Swi)
104 Bradley Mcgee (Aus)			114
105 Anthony Morin (Fra)			115
106 Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra)		116 Andrei Kivilev (Kaz)
107 Cyril Saugrain (Fra)		117 Laurent Madouas (Fra)
108 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra)		118 Alexandre Moos (Swi)
					120 Laurent Lefevre (Fra)

ONCE-Deutsche Bank			Saeco-Cannondale

121 Laurent Jalabert (Fra)		131 Roberto Petito (Ita)
122 Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa)		132 Dario Frigo (Ita)
123 David Etxebarria (Spa)		133 Vitali Kokorine (Rus)
124 M Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa)	134 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita)
125 Abraham Olano (Spa)			135 Harald Morscher (Aut)
126 Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa)		136 Igor Pugaci (Mda)
127 Andrea Peron (Ita)			137 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita)
128 Marcos Serrano (Spa)		138 Francesco Secchiari (Ita)

Vitalicio Seguros			Lampre-Daikin

141 Santiago Blanco (Spa)		151 Oscar Camenzind (Swi)
142 David Garcia (Spa)			152 Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat)
143 Francisco Garcia Rodriguez (Spa)  	153 Massimo Codol (Ita)
144 Inigo Gonzalez Heredia (Spa)	154 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel)
145 Ernesto Manchon (Spa)		155 Gabriele Missaglia (Ita)
147 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa)		156 Pavel Padrnos (Cze)
148 Gines Salmeron (Spa)		157 Mariano Piccoli (Ita)
150 Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa)	158 Johan Verstrepen (Bel)

Vini Caldirola-Sidermec			Team Deutsche Telekom

161 Mauro Gianetti (Swi)		171 Bjarne Riis (Den)
162 Ruggero Borghi (Ita)		173 Udo Bolts (Ger)
163 Filippo Casagrande (Ita)		174 Alberto Elli (Ita)
164 Massimo Donati (Ita)		175 Francesco Frattini (Ita)
165 Serhiy Honchar (Ukr)		176 Jens Heppner (Ger)
167 Guido Trentin (Ita)			177 Jorg Jaksche (Ger)
168					178 Andréas Kloden (Ger)

Banesto					US Postal Service

181 Aitor Osa (Spa)			191 Christian Vandevelde (USA)
182 Candido Barbosa (Por)		192 Dylan Casey (USA)
183 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita)		193 David George (RSA)
184 Eladio Jimenez (Spa)		194 Tyler Hamilton (USA)
185 David Latasa (Spa)			195 Marty Jemison (USA)
186 Francisco Mancebo (Spa)		196 Benoit Joachim (Lux)
187 Unai Osa (Spa)			197 Peter Meinert-Nielsen (Den)
188 César Solaun (Spa)			198 Jonathan Vaughters (USA)

Riso Scotti-Vinavil			Vlaanderen 2002

201					211 Glenn D'Hollander (Bel)
202 Mauro Bartoli (Ita)			212 Davy Daniels (Bel)
203 Vladislav Bobrik (Rus)		213 Stijn De Schoenmacker (Bel)
204 Cristiano Mancini (Ita)		214 Jurgen Guns (Bel)
205 Oscar Pozzi (Ita)			215 Tom Stremersch (Bel)
206					216 Kurt Van Lancker (Bel)
207 Filippo Simeoni (Ita)		217 Jurgen Van Roosbroeck (Bel)
208 Alain Turicchia (Ita)		218 Steve Vermaut (Bel)

Big Mat-Auber 93			Home Market-Charleroi

221 Lylian Lebreton (Fra)		231 Gilles Bouvard (Fra)
222 Ludovic Auger (Fra)			232 Vincent Cali (Fra)
223 Philippe Bordenave (Fra)		233 Stéphane Cueff (Fra)
224 Thierry Bourguignon (Fra)		234 Frédéric Gabriel (Fra)
225 Laurent Genty (Fra)			235 Charles Guilbert (Fra)
226 Denis Leproux (Fra)			236 Stéphane Hennebert (Bel)
227 Dominique Rault (Fra)		237 Roméo Hernandez (Bel)
228 Alexei Sivakov (Rus)		238 Laurent Pillon (Fra)

Collstrop

241 Erwin Bollen (Bel)
242 Tony Bracke (Bel)
243 Eric De Clercq (Bel)
244 Bart Everaert (Bel)
245 Dimitri Fofonov (Kaz)
246 Andrey Mizurov (Kaz)
247 Francky Van Haesebroucke (Bel)
248 Wim Vansevenant (Bel)