La Fleche Wallonne

Belgium, April 12, 2000

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Complete live report

Please join us at 14:00 CET

The weather forecast is for 6 degree temperatures, rain, and possible snow. Should be a fun race!

14:00 CET - at 113 kms with 85 kms to go

At this moment we have two riders in an early break. Chris Boardman (Credit Agriciole) and Raimondas Rumsas (Fassa Bortolo) in a lead. At the first passage of the Mur de Huy, after 71 kms, they had a ten minute lead. At the second passage, twelve minutes and Boardman did most of the work up the climb. Another duo, Italians Coppolillo (Mercatone) and Marchesini (Liqiugas) have made a 20 second gap to the peloton climbing the Mur de Huy right now.

14.06 - 120 kms

At the Côte de France the duo is still in the lead but the peloton is speeding up now. Boardman and Rumsas left the peloton at 12 kms, the race is 198, and 78 remain to the finish from the Côte de France. The gap still over ten minutes.

14.15 - 124 kms

Rabobank is taking care of the work in the peloton right now when climbing the Côte de France at 10.40 from the leading pair. The two Italians are caught by the peloton.

14:30 - 132 kms

The peloton is at 8.33 now when the peloton reaches Scry at 125 kms . Den Bakker is active making several small attacks mostly to raise the speed and maybe shake off some people from the peloton. Not much organisation now with 70 kms to go for the peloton, and five less for the leaders

14:37 - 140 kms

Some fifty riders in the peloton now. And at last den Bakker (Rabobank) gets a good gap to the peloton together with Australian Matthew White (Vini Caldirola) who rode a strong Paris - Roubaix last Sunday. Their gap to the peloton is some 20 seconds and seven minutes to Boardman and Rumsas ahead.

14:50 - 150 kms

Six minutes for the leaders to den Bakker and White and the peloton still within reasonable distance at the last climb before the cyclists enter the province of Namur. Den Bakker and White have a growing gap to the peloton now in the headwind.

14:58

Telekom has started the engine in the peloton. Klöden has abandoned so it's Vinokourov today. Also Liquigas is working for Rebellin. The gaps: Den Bakker and White at 5.25 from leading Boardman and Rumsas and the peloton another 1.20 down

It's reported that young Genevieve Jeanson of Canada has won the women's World Cup here ahead of Finland's Pia Sundstedt.

15:10 - 162 kms

The leaders at Côte de Bellaire now and followers still closing in. White seems to suffer trying to follow den Bakker who is chasing the leaders at 3.56 now. The gap is shrinking and there is still some 38 kilomters to go. Telekom and Liquigas still working in the peloton, two from each team. They are a minute after the bridging pair, den Bakker and White.

15:20 - 165 kms

With 33 kilometers to go the two leaders are still well ahead down from the Côte de Bellaire, While White suffers up the hill on den Bakker's wheel. Down in the peloton Bettini at last is doing some sort of attack, tearing the peloton apart. Rebellin, Elli and Ivanov are also along and more coming from behind on the way down.

15:25 - 170 kms

Côte de Bohissau, a short climb. Before Andenne at 165 kms the gaps were 3.23 and 3.50. In town, another 15 seconds less.

15:30 - 174 kms

Den Bakker and White were caught on the Côte de Bohissau by the peloton with Alberto Elli up front, Zberg high up in the peloton with a fairly free role on the team. Elli gives up before the top and the peloton slows down when Lotto's Rik Verbrugghe attacks. Lotto has an all Belgian team today and Verbrugghe gets some ten seconds. The gap to the leaders 2.22.

15:35

Axel Merckx (Mapei) is trying to bridge up to Verbrugghe, rides with number 1, which might indicate that he has the captain's role. He reaches Verbrugghe but the peloton is not far behind when Velo (Mercatone) tries to speed up but Bettini is disturbing. 1.40 now to the leaders.

15:40 - 180 kms

Merckx and Verbrugghe are keeping the peloton at a distance in the headwind, 15 seconds. They are 1.15 behind the two leaders and have 20 seconds to the following peloton.

15.50 - 186.5 kms

The last climb along the road, Côte de Ahin. Verbrugghe and Merckx are closing in now to take the first Belgian victory since 1989 when Claude Criquelion won. The gap is 43 seconds between ther two pairs, the peloton 27 seconds after the Belgians and losing ground on the flat before the climb. The road between the pairs is cleared from vehicles before the climb. Something must happen in the peloton here, or are all the stars waiting for the finish up the steep Mur de Huy?

Yes, Vinokourov attacks as he has done a number of times this year. Boogerd and Rebellin neutralizes when Etxebarria attacks in the peloton with a better result than Vinokourov. And Casagrande is also coming. Rumsas and Boardman caught by the Belgians now with eleven kilometres to go from the top, when Rumsas leaves Boardman who is caught first. And now Casagrande reaches the front, passes the Belgian pair and they hang on chasing and catching Rumsas.

16:00 - 192 kms

Entering Huy. Sergei Ivanov (Farm Frites), Russian Champion, leaves the peloton trying to bridge up to Casagrande, Verbrugghe and Merckx who work well together now. This smells good for Casagrande. He should be the superior in the climb up to the finish on top of the Mur de Huy. Gaps: Ivanov 16 seconds behind, the peloton 29.

16:05 - 194.5 kms

ONCE driving for Jalabert in the peloton now. Ivanov is caught and the peloton is 19 seconds after the front trio. Merckx takes off his shoe covers for some reason. A little more than two kilometres left with the final climb waiting. Casarande has to do most of the job now.

16.10 - 198 kms

Merckx was the first to be dropped on the final climb, but to get rid of Verbrugghe, Casagrande had to put in an extra attack but then it was a one man show. Casagrande won, Verbrugghe second while Merckx was caught by the peloton with Jalabert up front.

Preliminary results:

1. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Vini Caldirola    4.52.44
2. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto-Adecco
3. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) Once
4. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Liquigas-Pata
5. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto
6. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis
7. Davide Etxebaria (Spa) Once
8. Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
9. Mauro Gianetti (Swi) Vini Caldirola
10. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei Quick Step

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