88th Grote Scheldeprijs - Cat. 1.1Belgium, April 19, 20001999 results Scott Sunderland's report Results Start list Past winners A fast sprinters race
The 88th edition of the Belgian semi classic, Grote Scheldeprijs (Grand Prix de l'Escaut) was decided in the end by a bunch sprint, despite a strong attempt by six riders to steal the show. Italian sprinter, Endrio Leoni had the fastest set of legs today, surpassing Polti's Jeroen Blijlevens (who won last year) and Leon van Bon of Rabobank. It was Leoni's fourth win of the year. After an early break of 25 was caught coming into the closing circuit, another six went with 36 kilometres to go, despite the fact that the pack was travelling very quickly (they averaged 47 km/h for the 200 kms). Hans de Clercq (Palmans), Wim Omloop (Bankgiroloterij), Lars Michaelsen (FDJ), Andreas Klier (Farm Frites), Benoit Joachim (USPS) and Robert Hunter (Lampre) were not allowed much freedom, being chased mainly by Mapei with three of the 12 kilometre laps of the finishing circuit to go. They were caught on the last lap, however Mapei's sprinters, Tom Steels and Oscar Freire were not able to finish everyone off gaining 9th and 14th in the bunch sprint. The sprint was nearly stolen by 1998 winner, Servais Knaven (Farm Frites) who was chasing Palmans' Hendrick van Dijck in the closing kilometres. He caught and passed van Dijck, but was himself caught within sight of the finish. Many of the top contenders for this weekend's Amstel Gold Race were riding today, however most were fairly quiet. Possibly staying out of trouble as there were a few falls during the race: Kai Hundertmarck and Giovanni Lombardi (Telekom) were amongst these and the latter was taken to hospital with a suspected broken elbow. Also, Stefan van Dijk (Team Cologne) fell on one of the cobbled sections and broke his collarbone. He will be out of the peloton for at least 5 weeks. Scheldeprijs Schoten - the finale to the Belgian spring classics
Thus, I took rest - more rest than I wanted unfortunately because I got an early Belgian Easter present: a serious sinus and throat infection. This meant antibiotics for a week and as little training as possible. I started to get really impatient with the way my form was going. With Scheldeprijs coming closer and closer I knew I'd have to change my original plan for that race. I decided that I would have three goals: to stay in front out of trouble, to go with early breaks, and to do as many kms of the race as possible. Everything was going to plan at first: I sat in the front of the peloton and I went with an early break (after 20kms) consisting out of 25 riders. (The break got caught just before the three local laps - after 160 kms). But I had to blow out the candle earlier than expected; the fuel tank was empty, completely and utterly empty. The average speed was incredible, with 47 kms/hour average being the speed record for this race in the 88 years it has been run - I'll need a few more sessions behind the scooter to get into the shape for a race of more than 150 kms at that tempo. Once I woofed down a sandwich and drank a couple of sports drinks I felt human again. The energy levels came up very quickly but I still preferred Sabine to drive home, resting my legs upon the dashboard. Don't laugh, an 'old' guy like myself can justify all that. Ask Paul Van Hyfte, Koen Beekman and Mario Aerts (Lotto-Addeco). At the start line, they inquired about my grey hairs. I explained to them that they are not real, told them I had them streaked grey; because women seem to like it! When I asked why his young head is showing off a receding hairline, Van Hyfte could not reply. I advised him to get it shaved, like GeertVan Bondt, maybe it's a way for Belgian guys to win races (e.g. also Dierixcksen), and seeing Van Bondt's popularity - when we're out training - with the Flemish women, it must work miracles for the image too. Anyway, I wasn't that happy with my race today but I know, from experience, that it's only a matter of doing a few more before I'll get back into the swing of things. Paris and Rome weren't built in one day, were they? And, at least the team is riding great, with Van Dijck showing excellent form today. I really thought he'd make it, when he attacked with 4 kms to go, but I guess Servais Knaven, who caught up to him in the last 500 metres didn't think that way.
For the Mapei guys the day didn't go as expected either though. Mapei, who worked like hell to make sure the pack stayed together in the last laps, were not able to finish it off. Oscar Freire and Tom Steels did not have the legs to engage in the bunch sprint and the relatively unknown Alessio team saw their rider Leone (31) winning the sprint before Blijlevens and Van Bon. Quite a performance if you ask me. (Previous seasons, Leone has won stages in Tour of Spain, Tour of Italy and Tirreno-Adriatico) Another guy I was really impressed with is Matt Gilmore (Jack&Jones). Matthew has only started racing again 4 weeks ago. He was out for a long time after having the titanium pins removed from his spine. The first serious operation this season was followed only 2 weeks later by a second one. While removing the pins, the surgeons had damaged an artery and Matt kept losing blood internally, so there was no other way but to open things up again to stop that bleeding. Today, after very few races really, Matt finished 10th, which according to me (and I have followed his difficult recovery from close by), was an exceptional result. Seeya at the start line in Maastricht (Amstel Gold Race) on Saturday! Yours in cycling, Scott
Results - 200.4 km1. Endrio Leoni (Ita) Alessio-Banca SMG 4.24.00 (45.5 km/h) 2 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) Polti 3 Leon van Bon (Ned) Rabobank 4 Ronny Assez (Bel) Flanders-Prefetex 5 Gian Matteo Fagnini (Ita) Telekom 6 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Francaise des Jeux 7 Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom 8 Paolo Bossini (Ita) Cantina Tollo 9 Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step 10 Matthew Gilmore (Bel) Memorycard-Jack&Jones 11 Frank McCormack (USA) Saturn 12 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 13 Peter van Petegem (Bel) Farm-Frites 14 Oscar Freire (Spa) Mapei-Quick Step 15 Servais Knaven (Ned) Farm-Frites 16 Gerben Lowik (Ned) Farm-Frites 17 Ivan Quaranta (Ita) Mobilvetta Design 18 Oleg Pankov (UKr) Collstrop 19 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Francaise des Jeux 20 Harm Jansen (Ned) Saturn 21 Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Charleroi-New Systems 22 Berry Hoedemakers (Ned) Spar-Oki 23 Jens Zemke (Ger) Nurnberger 24 Leonardo Guidi (Ita) Alessio 25 Jan Svorada (Svk) Lampre-Daikin 26 Frank Corvers (Bel) Memorycard-Jack&Jones 27 Andy Desmet (Bel) Spar-Oki 28 Fabiano Fontanelli (Ita) Mercatone Uno 29 Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal 30 Geert Omloop (Bel) Collstrop 31 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Memorycard-Jack&Jones 32 Jurgen Werner (Ger) Nurnberger 33 Christophe Mengin (Fra) Francaise des Jeux 34 Remco van der Ven (Ned) Farm-Frites 35 Davide Casarotto (Ita) Alessio 36 Soren Peterson (Den) Team Cologne 37 Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 38 Davy Delme (Bel) Tonissteiner 39 Paul van Schalen (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus 40 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 41 Christian Pepoli (Ita) Cantina Tollo 42 Jurgen van Roosbroeck (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 43 Karel Vereecke (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 44 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank 45 Marco Artunghi (Ita) Mercatone Uno 46 Scott Guyton (NZl) Flanders-Prefetex 47 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Alessio 48 Marco della Vedova (Ita) Lampre-Daikin 49 Matthew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 50 Alberto Vinale (Ita) Alessio 51 Geert van Bondt (Bel) Farm-Frites 52 Wim Feys (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 53 Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin 54 Benoit Joachim (Lux) US Postal 55 Bert Roesems (Bel) Tonissteiner 56 Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 57 Bart Bowen (USA) Saturn 58 Matthe Pronk (Ned) Rabobank 59 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 60 Dylan Casey (USA) US Postal 61 Dave Bruylandts (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 62 Kirk O'Bee (USA) US Postal 63 Paul van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 64 Heinrich Trumheller (Ger) Nurnberger 65 Levy Leipheimer (USA) US Postal 66 Eric de Clercq (Bel) Collstrop 67 Coen Boerman (Ned) Rabobank 68 Donates Virbickas (Ned) Collstrop 69 Wim Omloop (Bel) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus 70 Wilfried Peeters (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step 71 Hans de Clercq (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 72 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step 73 Franco Ballerini (Ita) Lampre-Daikin 74 Sergio Barbero (Ita) Lampre-Daikin 75 Dirk Aernouts (Bel) Collstrop 76 Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 77 Jan Schaffrath (Ger) Telekom 78 Karl Pauwels (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 79 Hendrik van Dijck (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 80 Steven de Jongh (Ned) Rabobank 81 Andreas Klier (Ger) Farm-Frites 82 Jesper Skibby (Den) Memorycard-Jack&Jones 83 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Telekom 84 Luca Scinto (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 85 Graciano Recinella (Ita) Mobilvetta Design 86 Robert Hunter (SAf) Lampre-Daikin 87 Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step 88 Johan Verstrepen (Bel) Lampre-Daikin Complete results courtesy of Ronald Schipper Start listTEAM POLTI LOTTO - MOBISTAR
1 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) 11 Mario Aerts (Bel)
2 Mirko Celestino (Ita) 12 Andrei Tchmil (Bel)
3 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) 13 Geert Verheyen (Bel)
4 Bart Voskamp (Ned) 14 Koen Beeckman (Bel)
5 Enrico Cassani (Ita) 15 Peter Wuyts (Bel)
6 Rossano Brasi (Ita) 16 Kurt Van De Wouwer (Bel)
7 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) 17 Paul Van Hyfte (Bel)
8 Pascal Hervé (Fra) 18 Wim Heselmans (Bel)
TEAM DEUTSCHE TELEKOM TEAM NURNBERGER
21 Rolf Aldag (Ger) 31 Dirk Baldinger (Ger)
22 Gian Matteo Fagnini (Ita) 32 Klaus Diewald (Ger)
23 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) 33 Christoph Goehring (Swi)
24 Danilo Hondo (Ger) 34 Alexander Kastenhuber (Ger)
25 Kai Hundertmark (Ger) 35 Roland Mueller (Swi)
26 Jan Schaffrath (Ger) 36 Heinrich Trumheller (Ger)
27 Stephan Schreck (Ger) 37 Jens Zemke (Ger)
28 Erik Zabel (Ger) 38 Artour Babaitsev (Rus)
TEAM COLOGNE LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX
41 Raymond Meijs (Ned) 51 Lars Michaelsen (Den)
42 Michael Schlickau (Ger) 52 Frank Hoj (Den)
43 Bert Hiemstra (Ned) 53 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita)
44 Bert Grabsch (Ger) 54 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra)
45 Sören Petersen (Den) 55 Daniel Schnider (Swi)
46 Martin Müller (Ger) 56 Cyril Saugrain (Fra)
47 Stefan Kupfernagel (Ger) 57 Patrick D'Hont (Bel)
48 Jos Lucassen (Ned) 58 Christophe Mengin (Fra)
LAMPRE - DAIKIN MAPEI - QUICKSTEP
61 Franco Ballerini (Ita) 71 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita)
62 Sergio Barbero (Ita) 72 Stefano Zanini (Ita)
63 Mariano Piccoli (Ita) 73 Johan Museeuw (Bel)
64 Marco Pinotti (Ita) 74 Wilfried Peeters (Bel)
65 Marco Serpellini (Ita) 75 Tom Steels (Bel)
66 Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) 76 Andrea Tafi (Ita)
67 Marco Della Vedova (Ita) 77 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa)
68 Johan Verstrepen (Bel) 78 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned)
MERCATONE UNO - BIANCHI CANTINA TOLLO
81 Fabiano Fontanelli (Ita) 91 Alessandro Baronti (Ita)
82 Ermanno Brignoli (Ita) 92 Paolo Bossoni (Ita)
83 Gian Mario Ortenzi (Ita) 93 Gabriele Colombo (Ita)
84 Marco Artunghi (Ita) 94 Federico Colonna (Ita)
85 Massimo Cigana (Ita) 95 Gianpaolo Mondini (Ita)
86 Marcello Siboni (Ita) 96 Cristian Pepoli (Ita)
87 Maurizio Caravaggio (Ita) 97 Guido Trenti (USA)
88 Riccardo Forconi (Ita) 98 Germano Pierdomenico (Ita)
ALESSIO SGM MOBILVETTA - ROSSIN
101 Davide Casarotto (Ita) 111 Eugeni Berzin (Rus)
102 Sasa Gajicic (Yug) 112 Domenico Gualdi (Ita)
103 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) 113 Ivan Quaranta (Ita)
104 Martin Hvastija (Slo) 114 Graziano Recinella (Ita)
105 Endrio Leoni (Ita) 115 Alberto Ongarato (Ita)
106 Rodolfo Ongarato (Ita) 116 Corrado Serina (Ita)
107 Serguei Outschakov (Ukr) 117 Laurent Roux (Fra)
108 Leonardo Guidi (Ita) 118 Paolo Valoti (Ita)
RABOBANK FARM FRITES
121 Leon Van Bon (Ned) 131 Andreas Klier (Ger)
122 Steven De Jongh (Ned) 132 Servais Knaven (Ned)
123 Erik Dekker (Ned) 133 Jans Koerts (Ned)
124 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) 134 Robbie McEwen (Aus)
125 Marc Wauters (Bel) 135 Geert Van Bondt (Bel)
126 Jan Boven (Ned) 136 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned)
127 Matthé Pronk (Ned) 137 Peter Van Petegem (Bel)
128 Karsten Kroon (Ned) 138
BANKGIROLOTERIJ-BATAVUS US POSTAL SERVICE
141 Johan Bruinsma (Ned) 151 Frankie Andreu (USA)
142 Rudi Kemna (Ned) 152 Dylan Casey (USA)
143 Wim Omloop (Bel) 153 Julian Dean (Nzl)
144 Paul Van Schalen (Ned) 154 David George (RSA)
145 Lars Teutenberg (Ger) 155 George Hincapie (USA)
146 Kees Jeurissen (Ned) 156 Benoît Joachim (Lux)
147 Wim Van De Meulenhof (Ned) 157 Levy Leipheimer (USA)
148 Rik Reinerink (Ned) 158 Kirk O'Bee (USA)
SATURN CYCLING TEAM MEMORYCARD-JACK&JONES
161 Michael Barry (Can) 171 Tristan Hoffman (Ned)
162 Bart Bowen (USA) 172 Jesper Skibby (Den)
163 Harm Jansen (Ned) 173 Frank Corvers (Bel)
164 Trent Klasna (USA) 174 Matthew Gilmore (Bel)
165 Frank McCormack (USA) 175 Arvis Piziks (Lat)
166 Seth Pelusi (USA) 176 Nicolay Bo Larsen (Den)
167 Chris Wherry (USA) 177 Jakob Storm Piil (Den)
168 178 Michael Sandstod (Den)
VLAANDEREN2002-EMERCKX PALMANS-IDEAL
181 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) 191 Nico Eeckhout (Bel)
182 Davy Daniels (Bel) 192 Hans De Clercq (Bel)
183 Kris Gerits (Bel) 193 Wim Feys (Bel)
184 Bjorn Leukemans (Bel) 194 Scott Sunderland (Aus)
185 Erwin Thijs (Bel) 195 Gert Vanderaerden (Bel)
186 Wesley Theunis (Bel) 196 Hendrik Van Dyck (Bel)
187 Jurgen Van Roosbroeck (Bel) 197 Dave Bruylandts (Bel)
188 Karel Vereecke (Bel) 198 Karl Pauwels (Bel)
TONISSTEINER-COLNAGO COLLSTROP - FED.VERZ.
201 Michel van Haecke (Bel) 211 Dirk Aernouts (Bel)
202 Bert Roesems (Bel) 212 Tony Bracke (Bel)
203 Davy Delme (Bel) 213 Danny Baeyens (Bel)
204 Jan Poppe (Bel) 214 Eric De Clercq (Bel)
205 Tom Desmet (Bel) 215 Hans De Meester (Bel)
206 Björn Cornelissen (Ned) 216 Roger Hammond (GB)
207 Niclas Ekström (Swe) 217 Geert Omloop (Bel)
208 Marc Chanoine (Bel) 218 Oleg Pankov (Ukr)
VILLE DE CHARLEROI SPAR - OKI
221 Marc Streel (Bel) 231 Danny Daelman (Bel)
222 Ludovic Capelle (Bel) 232 Andy De Smet (Bel)
223 Grégory Barbier (Fra) 233 Bart Heirwegh (Bel)
224 Renaud Boxus (Bel) 234 Barry Hoedemakers (Ned)
225 Vincent Cali (Fra) 235 Tom Hoedemakers (Ned)
226 Laurent Pillon (Fra) 236 Gianni Rivera (Ita)
227 Philip Vereecke (Bel) 237 John Talen (Ned)
228 Jorgen Bo Petersen (Den) 238 Koen Vandvelde (Bel)
FLANDERS - PREFETEX
241 Ronny Assez (Bel)
242 Steven De Neef (Bel)
243 Olivier Genicot (Bel)
244 Scott Guyton (Nzl)
245 Tim Lenaers (Bel)
246 Kris Matthijs (Bel)
247 Marek Salermo (Fin)
248 Christian Selin (Fin)
Past Winners1907 Maurice Leturgie (Fra) 1908 A. Kranskans (Bel) 1919 Isidoor Mechant (Bel) 1921 René Vermandel (Bel) 1922 Florence Van den Bergh (Bel) 1923 Emile Thollembbek (Bel) 1924 René Vermandel (Bel) 1926 Joseph Dervaes (Bel) 1927 Georges Ronsse (Bel) 1928 Joseph Dervaes (Bel) 1929 Joseph Wauters (Bel) 1930 Denis Verschueren (Bel) 1931 Godefried De Vocht (Bel) 1932 Godefried De Vocht (Bel) 1933 Horemans (Bel) 1934 Léon Tommies (Bel) 1935 Gerard Loncke (Bel) 1936 Marcel Van Schil (Bel) 1937 Sylvain Grysolle (Bel) 1938 Antoine Dignef (Bel) 1939 Achiel Buysse (Bel) 1941 Stan Ockers (Bel) 1942 Lode Busschops (Bel) 1943 Eloi Meulenberg (Bel) 1946 Stan Ockers (Bel) 1947 René Mertens (Bel) 1948 Achiel Buysse (Bel) 1949 Roger Decorte (Bel) 1950 André Pieters (Bel) 1951 Ernest Sterckx (Bel) 1952 Roger Decorte (Bel) 1953 Hans Dekkers (Ned) 1954 Roger Decock (Bel) 1955 Alberic Schotte (Bel) 1956 Rik Van Looy (Bel) 1957 Rik Van Looy (Bel) 1958 Raymond Vrancken (Bel) 1959 Willy Butzen (Bel) 1960 Piet Oellibrandt (Bel) 1961 Raymond Vrancken (Bel) 1962 Piet Oellibrandt (Bel) 1963 Piet Oellibrandt (Bel) 1964 Joseph Hoevenaers (Bel) 1965 Willy Vannitsen (Bel) 1966 Joseph Spruyt (Bel) 1967 Paul In 'T'Ven (Bel) 1968 Edward Sels (Bel) 1969 Walter Godefroot (Bel) 1970 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) 1971 Gustaaf Van Roosbroeck (Bel) 1972 Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1973 Freddy Maertens (Bel) 1974 Marc Demeyer (Bel) 1975 Ronald Dewitte (Bel) 1976 Frans Verbeeck (Bel) 1977 Marc Demeyer (Bel) 1978 Dietrich Thurau (Ger) 1979 Daniel Willems (Bel) 1980 Ludo Peeters (Bel) 1981 Ad Wijnands (Ned) 1982 Ludo Schurgers (Bel) 1983 Jan Bogaert (Bel) 1984 Ludo Peeters (Bel) 1985 Adri Van der Poel (Ned) 1986 Jean-Paul Van Poppel (Ned) 1987 Etienne De Wilde (Bel) 1988 Jean-Paul Van Poppel (Ned) 1989 Jean-Marie Wampers (Bel) 1990 John Talen (Ned) 1991 Mario Cipollini (Ita) 1992 Wilfried Nelissen (Bel) 1993 Mario Cipollini (Ita) 1994 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) 1995 Rossano Brassi (Ita) 1996 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) 1997 Erik Zabel (Ger) 1998 Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites 203 kms in 4.19.19 1999 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites 201 kms in 4.35.00Past winners from Mario Stiehl in Berlin |
