21st GP Eddy Merckx - 1.2Belgium, August 27, 20001999 Results Preview Start list Results Past Winners Armstrong and Ekimov a class aboveAmericna Lance Armstrong and his Russian teammate, Viatcheslav Ekimov won the 27th edition of the GP Eddy Merckx in Brussels with a commanding 2'10 margin over second placed Chris Boardman and Jens Voigt (Credit Agricole). The other pre-race favourites Marc Wauters and Erik Dekker (Rabobank) finished a further 12 seconds behind in third. The US Postal combination averaged just under 50 km/h for the 63.5 kilometre race, leading at every time check. It was one of the last that Armstrong will do before the Sydney Olympics and despite having some rest after the Tour de France, Armstrong appears to be close to his best again, and the Olympic time trial should see him as favourite. Results - 63.5 km1. Lance Armstrong (USA)/Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 1.16.18 (49.9 km/h) 2. Chris Boardman (GBr)/Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole 2.10 3. Marc Wauters (Bel)/Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 2.22 4. David Millar (GBr)/Nico Mattan (Bel) Cofidis 3.19 5. Peter van Petegem (Bel)/Servais Knaven (Ned) Farm Frites 3.52 6. Daniele Nardello (Ita)/Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step 4.01 7. Leif Hoste (Bel)/Wilfried Peeters (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step 4.10 8. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel)/Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 4.17 9. Tyler Hamilton (USA)/Christian Vandevelde (USA) US Postal 4.22 10. Andrei Tchmil (Bel)/Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 4.40 11. Tony Bracke (Bel)/Marc Streel (Bel) Collstrop-De Federale 4.40 12. Hendrik Van Dyck (Bel)/Hans De Clercq (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 6.13 13. Erwin Thijs (Bel)/Jürgen Van Roosbroeck (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 6.28 PreviewThe Grand Prix Eddy Merckx paired time trial to be held today, August 27 over a 62.5 kilometre parcours near Brussels. Principal favourites are the in form Erik Dekker with his partner Marc Wauters, as well as Lance Armstrong who will ride with Postal teammate Viatcheslav Ekimov. The remainder of the 10 team field is by no means weak, with Chris Boardman/Jens Voigt (Credit Agricole), David Millar/Nico Mattan (Cofidis), Tyler Hamilton/Christian Vandevelde (USPS) and Andrei Tchmil/Thierry Marichal (Lotto) being good chances for the podium. It's an important contest for Armstrong, as it is his second last race before the Olympic Games in Sydney (the last is the GP des Nations). He will certainly be fresher than Erik Dekker who just won the Ronde van Nederland, but that didn't seem to stop Dekker the day after San Sebastian when he won the Joseph Voegli Memorial. Starting ListErwin Thijs (Bel)/Jürgen Van Roosbroeck (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Past Winners1980 Knut Knudsen (Nor) 1981 Knut Knudsen (Nor) 1982 Daniel Willems (Bel) 1983 Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke (Bel) 1984 Claude Criquielion (Bel) 1985 Eric Vanderaerden (Bel) 1986 Charly Mottet (Fra) 1987 Eric Vanderaerden (Bel) 1988 Edwig Van Hooydonck (Bel) 1989 Sean Yates (GB) 1990 Frans Maassen (Ned) 1991 Erik Breukink (Ned) 1992 Jelle Nijdam (Ned) 1993 Chris Boardman (GB) 1994 Tony Rominger (Swi) 1995 Johan Museeuw (Bel) 1996 Chris Boardman (GB) 1997 Abraham Olano (Spa) 1998 Abraham Olano (Spa) and Jose-Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto 1999 Marc Wauters (Bel) and Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank Past winners by Mario Stiehl, Berlin |