Paris Brussels

Belgium, September 11, 1999

Romans Vainsteins wins Paris Brussels

Romans Vainsteins of the Vini Caldirola squad won the 79th edition of the 260kms Paris-Brussels race held on September 11. The 26 year-old Vainsteins, a former champion of the military world, was followed across the line by Swiss rider Beat Zberg (Rabobank) with Italian rider Fabio Baldato finishing third, some eight seconds behind. The race also saw a major return to form by Johan Museeuw, who attacked 40kms from the finish to create the first major selection. "For the first time since my fall in Paris-Roubaix in 1998, I find my explosiveness. It is good for the moral," he said.

Among the riders to follow Museeuw was Zberg, who made the final decisive attack at the foot of the Keperenberg, 18km from the finish. Zberg was joined by Vainsteins and they built up a lead of no more than 20 seconds from a chasing group of 20. The duo stayed away until the final sprint which Vainsteins, the more powerful of the two, claimed easily. Paris-Brussels is Vainsteins' fifteenth victory as a professional and his tenth this season. "It is really good to gain a race of first category," said Vainsteins after the race. "That proves that I am in form for the World Championships in Verona," he said.

79th Paris - Brussels, Cat 1.1, 260.4 km

September 11, 1999
 
1. Romans Vainsteins (Let) Vini Caldirola         5.59:00 (42,869km/h)
2. Beat Zberg (CH) Rabobank
3. Fabio Baldato (Ita) Ballan                       +0:08
4. Léon Van Bon (Ned)
5. Gert Vanderaerden (Bel)                          +0:10
6. Arvis Pizkis (Let)                               +0:11
7. Guliano Figueras (Ita)
8. Marco Serpellini (Ita)
9. Mirko Celestino (Ita)
10. Pascal Richard (CH)
11. Peter Farazijn (Bel)
12. Michaël Boogerd (Ned)
13. Dave Bruylants (Bel)
14. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel)
15. Sergueï Lelekin (Rus)
16. Maximilian Sciandri (GBR)
17. Johan Museeuw (Bel) 
18. Max Van Heeswijk (PBS)                          +2:59
19. Bart Heirewegh (Bel)                            +3:03
20. Nicola Loda (Ita)
21. Frédéric Guesdon (Fra)                          +3:45
22. Oleg Pankov (Ukr)                               +3:50
23. Serhey Hontchar (Ukr)
24. Eric de Clercq (Bel)
25. Alessandro Calzolari (Ita)
26. Steven de Neuf (Bel)
27. Michael Blaudzun (Den)
28. Jurgen van Roosbroek (Bel)
29. Hans de Clercq (Bel)
30. Nicolay Bo Larsen (Den)
31. Mauro Gianetti (Swi)
32. Oleg Grichkine (Rus)
33. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat)
34. Alessandro Bertonlini (Ita)
35. Mindaugas Goncaras (Lit)
36. Cees Jeurissen (Ned)
37. Andrea Tonti (Ita)
38. Erik Zabel (Ger)
39. Pedro Munoz Horrillo (Spa)
40. Valerio Tebaldi (Ita)
41. Renger Ypenburg (Ned)
42. Michael van der Wolf (Ned)
43. Karel Vereecke (Bel)
44. Wim Vansevenant (Bel)
45. Erwin Thijs (Bel)
46. Oscar Friere Gomez (Spa)
47. Frank Corvers (Bel)
48. Jans Koerts (Ned)
49. Wim Feys (Bel)
50. Wilfried Peeters (Bel)
51. Mario Aerts (Bel)
52. Thierry Marichal (Bel)
53. Tom Steels (Bel)
54. Luca Mazzanti (Ita)
55. Luca Scinto (Ita)

177 Starters