Ronde van het Waals Gewest, Cat 2.4

Belgium, July 31-August 4, 1999

1998 Results     Past Winners

This race is also known as the Tour de la Région Wallonne.

Prologue, Ploegsteert, 6.1 kms:

AVS: 46.329 km/h

 1. Marc Streel (Bel) Team Home-Jack and Jones 		7.54
 2. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			0.05
 3. Bradley McGee (Aus) La Française des Jeux		0.07
 4. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole		0.10
 5. Arturas Kasputis (Lit) Casino			0.11
 6. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop				0.12
 7. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino				0.12
 8. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis			0.13
 9. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar		0.15
10. Christophe Bassons (Fra) La Française des Jeux	0.17
11. Bert Roesems (Bel) Tönissteiner-Colnago		0.17
12. Michael-Steen Nielsen (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones	0.18
13. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) French Selection		0.19
14. Frédéric Delalande (Fra) Crédit Agricole		0.21
15. Laurent Pillon (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi		0.21
16. Nico Mattan (Bel) Cofidis				0.22
17. Mikael-Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones	0.23
18. Vincent Cali (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi		0.23
19. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			0.24
20. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93			0.25
21. Stéphane Bergès (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93		0.25
22. Maximilian Sciandri (Gbr) La Française des Jeux	0.26
23. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar		0.26
24. Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) VC Saint-Quentin		0.26
25. Chris Jenner (Nzl) Crédit Agricole			0.27
26. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis			0.27
27. Philippe Koehler (Fra) French Selection		0.28
28. Michel Vanhaecke (Bel) Tönissteiner-Colnago		0.28
29. René Jørgensen (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones		0.29
30. Renaud Boxus (Bel) Saeco-Mapei			0.30

Stage 1, Mons - Frameries, 176 kms:

 1. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Jack & Jones	     4.24.38
 2. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step		2.05
 3. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino				2.05
 4. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002		2.05
 5. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop				2.05
 6. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis			2.05
 7. Niclas Ekström (Swe) Tönissteiner-Colnago		2.05
 8. Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi		2.05
 9. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			2.05
10. Olivier Perraudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole		2.05
11. Michel Vanhaecke (Bel) Tönissteiner-Colnago		2.05
12. Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Rabobank			2.05
13. Alexandre Chouffe (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93		2.05
14. Ief Verbrugghe (Bel) Saeco-Mapei			2.05
15. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole		2.05
16. Eddy Torrekens (Bel) Tönissteiner-Colnago		2.05
17. Bradley McGee (Aus) La Française des Jeux		2.05
18. Vincent Cali (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi		2.05
19. René Jørgensen (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones		2.05
20. Olivier Génicot (Bel) RC Pésant			2.05
21. Andrei Mizourov (Kaz) Collstrop			2.05
22. Freddy Ravaleu (Fra) French Selection		2.05
23. Wesley Huvaere (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002		2.05
24. Renaud Boxus (Bel) Saeco-Mapei			2.05
25. Frédéric Delalande (Fra) Crédit Agricole		2.05
26. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis			2.05
27. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis				2.05
28. Marc-Strange Jacobsen (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones	2.05
29. Mark Vlijm (Ned) Rabobank				2.05
30. Arturas Kasputis (Lit) Casino			2.05

GC after Stage 1 

 1. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones
 2. Marc Streel (Bel) Jack and Jones 			1.42
 3. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			1.47
 4. Bradley McGee (Aus) (Aus) La Française des Jeux	1.49
 5. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole		1.52
 6. Arturas Kasputis (Lit) Casino			1.53
 7. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop				1.54

Stage 2, Tubeke - Dinant, 218 kms:

 1. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step	     5.38.16
 2. Ludovic Capelle (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi		0.03
 3. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino 				0.03
 4. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis			0.03
 5. Freddy Ravaleu (Fra) French Selection		0.03
 6. Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Rabobank			0.03
 7. Olivier Perraudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole		0.03
 8. Björn Leukemans (Bel) Saeco-Mapei			0.03
 9. Nicklas Ekström (Swe) Tönissteiner-Colnago		0.03
10. Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step		0.03
11. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002		0.03
12. Dimitry Fofonov (Kaz) Collstrop			0.03
13. Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) Cofidis			0.03
14. Nico Sijmens (Bel) ASLK-Merckx Boys			0.03
15. Jurgen Guns (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002			0.03
16. Leif Hoste (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step			0.03
17. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			0.03
18. Eddy Torrekens (Bel) Tönissteiner-Colnago		0.03
19. Frédéric Delalande (Fra) Crédit Agricole		0.03
20. Wesley Huvaere (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002		0.03
21. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			0.03
22. Mikael-Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones	0.03
23. Franck Bouyer (Fra) La Française des Jeux		0.03
24. Christophe Brandt (Bel) Saeco-Mapei			0.03
25. Charles Guilbert (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi	0.03
26. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop				0.03
27. Stéphane Bergès (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93		0.03
28. Johan Museeuw (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step		0.03
29. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			0.03
30. Wilfried Peeters (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step		0.03

GC after Stage 2 

 1. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones 10.11.14
 2. Marc Streel (Bel) Jack and Jones 			1.42
 3. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			1.47
 4. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole		1.52
 5. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop				1.54
 6. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino				1.54
 7. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis			1.55
 8. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar		1.57
 9. Bert Roesems (Bel) Tönissteiner-Colnago		1.59
10. Fréderic Delalande (Fra) Crédit Agricole		2.03

Stage 3, Libin - Arlon, 195 kms:

AVS: 36.983 km/h

 1. Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi	     5.16.31
 2. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 3. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino
 4. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
 5. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
 6. Maximilian Sciandri (Gbr) Française des Jeux
 7. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 8. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop
 9. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis
10. Olivier Perraudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole
11. Freddy Ravaleu (Fra) French Selection
12. Mikael-Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones
13. Björn Leukemans (Bel) Saeco-Mapei
14. Alexandre Chouffe (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
15. Eric De Clercq (Bel) Collstrop
16. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino
17. Nico Sijmens (Bel) ASLK-Merckx Boys
18. Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Rabobank
19. René Jørgensen (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones
20. Marc Streel (Bel) Team Home-Jack & Jones
21. Christophe Brandt (Bel) Saeco-Mapei
22. Nicklas Ekström (Swe) Tönissteiner-Colnago
23. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis
24. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
25. Ief Verbrugghe (Bel) Saeco-Mapei
26. Andrei Mizourov (Kaz) Collstrop
27. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
28. Chris Jenner (Nzl) Crédit Agricole
29. David Delrieu (Fra) Casino
30. Bradley McGee (Aus) La Française des Jeux		s.t.

GC after Stage 3 

 1. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones
 2. Marc Streel (Bel) Jack and Jones 			1.42
 3. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			1.47
 4. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole		1.52
 5. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop				1.54 
 6. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino 				1.54
 7. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis 			1.55
 8. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 		1.57
 9. Frédéric Delalande (Fra) Crédit Agricole		2.03
10. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			2.06
11. Pascal Lino (Fra) La Française des Jeux 		2.07
12. Stéphane Berges (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93 		2.07
13. Maximilian Sciandri (GB) La Française des Jeux 	2.08
14. Christophe Jenner (NZ) Crédit Agricole 		2.09
15. Bradley McGee (Aus) La Française des Jeux 		2.09
..
68. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis 		       15.54

Stage 4a, Houffalize - Blegny, 81.1 kms:

Wilfried Cretskens is having an excelent week. He was 4th in Frameries, 7th in Aarlen and 11th in Dinant. He dominated the short morning stage from Houffalize to Blegny and it was only Andrei Tchmil who was able to upset his plans for the stage.

He said: "In the last kms I still had a chance. I went too early though and then Tchmil went on with the move. I had figured that it would be Figueras who would be the biggest danger for the stage win. But it was the Tchnil who went hard with 300 metres to the line and I got his wheel but then he pushed harder and I was not able to hold it. It is a blow because I really wanted to win. But you have to have the legs. I am happy though. Don't forget that I am coming out of a rest period. Together with Kris Gerits I have been riding long kms in training in the Ardennes. Now I am hoping to see some results from that. I shall be going hard for that as I still do not have a contract for next year. I am feeling at home with Swerts but my two-year agreement is up and I have not as yet heard anything of the future. There have been some contacts with other teams but nothing really concrete. I hope that I can continue next year. My strongest suit is my self-discipline. But still you have to have results. I won a stage in the Circuit des Mines. I feel that since then I have gained strength, particularly in the sprints. I am also climber better by the day." 

 1. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar		     1.49.09
 2. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002		0.03
 3. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop				0.03
 4. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino				0.03
 5. Maximilian Sciandri (GB) La Française des Jeux	0.03
 6. Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi		0.03
 7. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step		0.03
 8. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis			0.03
 9. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones	0.03
10. Olivier Perraudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole		0.03
 ..
12. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis				0.03 
51. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis			0.40

Stage 4b, Herve - Voeren, ITT, 26.1 kms:

Luik rider Marc Streel won the 26 kms ITT in a time of under 32 minutes. He was too strong for Andrei Tchmil who won the morning stage. But with 500 metres to go, the top rider from Lotto punctured. he still within a second of beating Tony Bracke. Marc Streel was still nearly 30 seconds slower than he needed to be to take the yellow leader's jersey from his teammate Mikael Holst Kyneb from Denmark.

The riders are now regretting allowing the Dane so much free time on Stage 1 when he finished more than 2 minutes clear of the best riders. The final stage from Amay to Amay will feature some of the toughest parts of the parcours used in Luik-Bastenaken-Luik. Thus it is still possible that Streel who is 0.28 down can pull back the gap.

An extremely happy Streel said: "I had very good legs today. I was motivated to beat Tchmil and to perhaps take the yellow jersey. But Kyneb also rode very strongly and he remains in yellow. It is good that whichever way it went the jersey would stay within the team."

Tony Bracke (Collstrop) was also more than happy with his second place. He said: "In the Vuelta Asturias I rode well in the ITT and came in 7th and only 20 seconds behind Olano. My team manager Vanderschueren has said to me that I must develop my talent in this event. Now I am aware of my potential and I am enjoying the challenge. If I can keep this condition then in the coming weeks you will be hearing from me." 

 1. Marc Streel (Bel) Jack and Jones 		       32.28
 2. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop				1.04
 3. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			1.06
 4. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole		1.12
 5. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones	1.14
 6. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis			1.19
 7. Bert Roesems (Bel) Tönissteiner-Colnago		1.22
 8. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino				1.47
 9. Leif Hoste (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step			1.48
10. Bradley McGee (Aus) La Française des Jeux		1.48
.. 
40. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis			3.27

GC after Stage 4b 

 1. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones
 2. Marc Streel (Bel) Jack and Jones			0.28
 3. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			1.35
 4. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop				1.41
 5. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole		1.50

Stage 5, Amay - Amay, 169 kms:

AVS: 38.848 km/h

 1. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step	     4.21.01
 2. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step		0.02
 3. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis			0.04
 4. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop				0.06
 5. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			0.06
 6. Renaud Boxus (Bel) Saeco-Mapei			0.06
 7. Mikael-Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones	0.06
 8. Bradley McGee (Aus) La Française des Jeux		0.06
 9. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis				0.06
10. Dimitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Collstrop			0.06
11. Marc Streel (Bel) Team Home-Jack & Jones		0.06
12. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino				0.13
13. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole		0.13
14. Ief Verbrugghe (Bel) Saeco-Mapei			0.13
15. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino			0.13
16. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002		0.13
17. Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) VC Saint-Quentin		0.20
18. Stéphane Bergès (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93		0.20
19. Frédéric Delalande (Fra) Crédit Agricole		0.20
20. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93			0.20
21. Maximilian Sciandri (Gbr) La Française des Jeux	0.20
22. Christophe Brandt (Bel) Saeco-Mapei			0.28
23. Nico Sijmens (Bel) ASLK-Merckx Boys			0.30
24. Andrei Mizourov (Kaz) Collstrop			0.35
25. David Delrieu (Fra) Casino				0.41
26. Freddy Ravaleu (Fra) French Selection		0.41
27. René Jørgensen (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones		0.46
28. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			0.52
29. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar		0.52
30. Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) Cofidis			0.55

GC after Stage 5 

 1. Mikael-Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones 22.11.46
 2. Marc Streel (Bel) Team Home-Jack & Jones		0.28
 3. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			1.35
 4. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop				1.41
 5. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole		1.57
 6. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis			1.58
 7. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino				2.34
 8. Bradley McGee (Aus) La Française des Jeux		2.43
 9. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step		3.14
10. Stéphane Bergès (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93		3.15
11. Renaud Boxus (Bel) Saeco-Mapei			3.24
12. Frédéric Delalande (Fra) Crédit Agricole		3.25
13. Dimitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Collstrop			3.41
14. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93			3.51
15. Ief Verbrugghe (Bel) Saeco-Mapei			3.55
16. Johan Museeuw (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step		4.04
17. Freddy Ravaleu (Fra) French Selection		4.08
18. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis				4.12
19. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino			4.14
20. Maximilian Sciandri (Gbr) La Française des Jeux	4.16
21. Andrei Mizourov (Kaz) Collstrop			4.36
22. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002		5.00
23. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar		5.12
24. Christophe Brandt (Bel) Saeco-Mapei			5.27
25. Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) VC Saint-Quentin		5.31
26. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			5.32
27. David Delrieu (Fra) Casino				5.52
28. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step		6.09
29. Nico Sijmens (Bel) ASLK-Merckx Boys			6.11
30. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			6.17

Past Winners

1995    Paolo Valoti (Ita) Elite
1996    Thomas Fleischer (Ger) Lotto
1997    Thierry Marichal (Bel) Cédico
1998	Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi
Past winners from Mario Stiehl, Berlin