55th Omloop Het Volk - Cat 1.1Belgium, February 26, 20001999 Results Results Live coverage Start list Course description Past winners PreviewBy Tomas Nilsson For any spring classics rider, the Omloop Het Volk is an important dress rehearsal for the longer races of Belgium and France in April. One seasoned campaigner, Dane Brian Holm gives his opinion on the Belgian season opener on Danish site Infosport.dk "Most Belgian and Dutch teams have been out to test the parcours that changes for each year. Strategic cobbled climbs such as the Oude Kwaremont, Muur van Geradsbergen, Molenberg and Paterstraat are parts of the race each year, although in different order. In order to be present in the finale, the last 40 kms, it is essential to be at the front at those points." "Allan Peiper once said that being at the front over the cobbles is a question of concentration. From the moment the route is published you start to rehearse it to yourself. It is essential to know when the various climbs come in the race. Everyone with winning ambitions wants to be among the top fifteen at the beginning of a climb, so it's elbows out and no hesitation to use them. This means that the ten kilometers before each climb is like a mass sprint at a Tour stage. Full speed ahead." It is an advantage to be what the Belgians call a "vechtjas", a ruffian. The first climb is mostly the Oude Kwaremont where the first elimination takes place, that is 40 to 50 riders will be hung off. The same will happen at the Muur, Molenberg and Paterstraat so that the field will be cut down from 200 to 20 to 50 riders depending on weather and wind. Brian Holm maintains that Belgians excel in three things: cobble riding, pushing and cursing. "When you're rushing towards a cobbled hill at 60 kph with your break handles at the butts of the two preceding riders and pushing with your elbows at the ones on your sides and there's all of a sudden a Belgian under your arm you are forced to defend your position verbally." "In those situations you'd better yell "klootzak" (the editor's limited knowledege in Flemish as well as Danish,combined with a natural shyness prohibits a translation) or "stomme Exel" (dumb Ass - the animal, that is). If a rider lets go of the wheel in the crosswind or otherwise acts unprofessionally it would be suitable to bellow "kut-amateur" (ought not to be translated) while you tear at his jersey." "Personally I've always been fond of "pannekoek" (pancake). Maybe not the world's worst oath but uttered in the correct way, not too loud and with lots of vocal disgust it is the most disrespectful you can say to a rider who consider himself a top athlete," writes Holm. In Flemish races everyone curses in Flemish. Italians and French, Latvians and Spaniards, Russians and Finns, according to Holm. What about the Wallonians?
Course descriptionGENT START at 11.30 am St.-Pietersplein - Kunstlaan - Left Ch. De Kerckhovelaan, right traffic lights K.V. Rijsselberghedreef - Left H E. Clauslaan 2x crossroads, traffic lights, right turn Krijgslaan a/d roundabout v/d Sterre, left H dir. Oudenaarde - N60 - Oudenaardsestwg. (bridge over ringroad + E40) OFFICIAL START Km Time The third crossroads, traffic lights (after the bridge) 0 11.45 Grote Steenweg Noord Grote Steenweg Zuid N60 DE PINTE - Zevergem 2x crossroads, traffic lights, right turn N60 Rijksweg bridge over E17 2 11.48 NAZARETH - Eke 2x roundabout, right turn Nieuwe Stwg. crossroads, traffic lights, right turn N60 8 11.57 ZINGEM 2x crossroads, traffic lights, right turn Gentsebaan N60 Gentsestwg. N60 12 12.03 OUDENAARDE Roundabout, right turn Westerring N60 12 12.03 Right dir. Avelgem N453 - Minnebroederstraat 21 12.16 Crossroads, right N453 - Minnebroederstraat WORTEGEM - PETEGEM Petegem at the Schelde, right turn N453, Kortrijkstraat 22 12.18 PROVINCE OF WEST-VLAANDEREN AVELGEM - Kerkhove Roundabout, right turn N8 Oudenaardsestwg. 30 12.30 Waarmaarthe, right turn N8 Oudenaardsestwg. Left dir. "Ruien" Ruggestr. - bridge over Schelde 33 12.34 PROVINCE OF OOST-VLAANDEREN KLUISBERGEN - Ruien Avelgemstraat 35 12.37 Right Kapellestraat, train tracks Left +, right Wuipelstraat - Turn right Buissestraat Turn right Bergstraat 1st Climb: KLUISBERG 37 12.40 PROVINCE OF HENEGOUWEN MONT DE L'ENCLUS - Orroir T-junction, right Enclus du Haut, right turn rue des Résistants, T-junction, Left Ch. de la Libération 38 12.42 Left, Place d'Orroir, Amougies - right turn rue Couture du Moulin T-junction, Left, church + right Place d'Amougies 40 12.45 Ruisseignies, right turn Ch. du Moulin Left (the elektrocab.) rue Labroye, rue de Trieu 42 12.48 Second Climb: COTE DE TRIEU 44 12.51 PROVINCE OF OOST-VLAANDEREN KLUISBERGEN - Kwaremont Knokstraat, right Drogenbroodstraat T-junction, Left Ronthe v. Vlaanderenstraat, turn left N36 Ronsebaan !!!!! before dorpskern, Berchem - Stationstraat, right before the railway - Parklaan 47 12.55 Right Bruggestraat - crossroads, right Broektestr. 48 12.57 Kwaremont, right turn Kwaremontplein - Schilderstraat Third Climb: OUDE KWAREMONT 51 13.01 Left H + bijk. strook cobbles (2.800m) Turn left, Ronsebaan N36 - Left Zandstraat N425 Right turn Hotondberg Molen 54 13.05 Right turn Zandstraat N425, Zulzeke, right turn Kruisstraat N425 RONSE - crossroads, right Ommegangstr. N425 (travelling with the N60b) 56 13.08 MAARKEDAL - Nukerke Right turn Ommegangstraat N425 ,Etikhove, Right turn Stwg to Schorisse - church N454 60 13.14 Schorisse - crossroads, right (Wolfsgat) - Koekamerstr. 62 13.17 PROVINCE OF HENEGOUWEN ELLEZELLES - Flobecq Crossroads, left (Quatre Vents) dir. "Brakel" N48 200m, right dir. "Flobecq" N520 64 13.20 Left Queneau (before chapel) 66 13.23 Crossroads, left Paillaert (door bos RAH) 4th Climb: POTTELBERG 69 13.27 Turn right (chapel) d'Hoppe Crossroads, right N48 Houppe - Dir. Brakel 72 13.32 PROVINCE OF OOST-VLAANDEREN BRAKEL Opbrakel, right turn Ronsestraat N48, Nederbrakel - roundabout Right Steenweg N493 dir. Geraardsbergen 76 13.38 Parike - Steenweg N493 - church 80 13.45 GERAARDSBERGEN Zarlardinge, right turn Oudenaardestr. N493 Goeferdingen, left H Stwg. to Geraardsbergen N493 dir. "Geraardsb." Overboelare - crossroads, traffic lights, left Astridlaan 84 13.51 Crossroads, traffic lights, right roundabout Zonnebloemstr. (under railwaybridge) N495 Geraardsbergen, right (after the bridge) Weverstr.85 13.53 Turn left, Denderstraat - crossroads, right turn Oude Steenweg, right (the superette) Oudebergstraat 5th Climb: MUUR (500m cobbles) 86 13.55 Right turn Driepikkel, T right Oude Steenweg, crossroads Right turn Onkerzelestraat - Speed bump x3, Onkerzele - Left at the church Kampstraat, crossroads, right turn Kampstraat Overpass !!!! + bridge Dender Schendelbeke, right turn Kerkborre/church, train tracks 90 14.01 Moenebroekstraat, Ophasselt - crossroads, right turn Moenebroekstr. Rd Bildeken, turn left Leopoldlaan N8 BEVOORRADING From N8 Leopoldlaan to 500m before the lights 93 14.05 Crossroads, N 42 (the 1st str. right) 95 14.08 Crossroads, traffic lights RC (De Kat) N8 Crossroads, traffic lights, right turn Brambroek - N8 (travelling with N42) LIERDE - St.-Maria-Lierthe, right turn N8 Steenweg, train tracks 96 14.10 BRAKEL Brakel, right Beekstraat N462, Watermolenstraat N462 102 14.22 300m left Driehoekstraat, right roundabout Kerkhofstr., right turn Valkenbergstr. 6th Climb: VALKENBERG 104 14.25 Turn left Twaalfbunderstraat, turn left +20m, right Oudenaardestraat 105 14.27 Zegelsem - Oudenaardestr. N8 HOREBEKE St.-Kornelis-Horebeke, right turn Heerweg N8 Left Stene N454 dir. "Schorisse" 109 14.33 MAARKEDAL - Schorisse Right turn Zottegemstr. - church, right N457 Schorissestraat 112 14.37 Maarke-Kerkem - church 114 14.40 Right Kokerellestraat - turn right Eikenberg Overpass 7th Climb: EIKENBERG (1.400m cobbles) 117 14.43 OUDENAARDE - Edelare Turn left Kerzelare N8, right turn Edelareberg church Leupegem, right Aalststraat N46 119 14.46 Crossroads, right Van the Fonteynel. (300m cobbles) Turn left Mijttestraat Volkegem, right turn Tivolistraat Crossroads, right turn Wolvenbergstraat 8th Climb: WOLVENBERG 122 14.50 Crossroads, right turn Ruiterstraat 800m cobbles + Left H Mater - turn right St.-Amalbergastr. + Left H Turn right St.-Amalbergastr. + Turn right Driesleutelstr. Turn right Matersplein - church - K. Martelstr. 123 14.52 Turn left Holleweg N441 2.200m cobbles Turn left Houwaart N8 dir. "Brakel" 127 14.58 Left (the Brouwerij Roman) 127 14.58 HOREBEKE St.-Mar.-Horebeke, right turn Dorpstr., right Koekoekstr. Dir. "St.-Kor. Horebeke 1" St.-Kornelis-Horebeke - St.-Kornelisplein - church 128 15.00 Turn left Meersestraat, right Haaghoek - 2.300m cobbles BRAKEL - Zegelsem, Left Leberg 9th Climb: LEBERG 132 15.07 Turn right Pottenberg Elst - crossroads, right turn Lepelstr. crossroadsroundabout, right turn Lepelstr Michelbeke - Left H Groenstraat, Riedeplein - Berendries 10th Climb: BERENDRIES 136 15.13 ZOTTEGEM - Sint-Maria-Oudenhove Turn left Brakelstraat - St.-Hubertusplein 137 15.14 Crossroads, left Oudenhovestr. - crossroads, left Langendries (afdaling) ZWALM Rozebeke - 300m cobbles Right Boekbekestr. at the church right until the end of cobbles 142 15.21 50m Left Vijflindenstraat - turn right N415 Hooglaan St.-Blasius-Boekel - crossroads, left N454 Boekelbaan 143 15.22 Crossroads, right turn N454 Boekelbaan HOREBEKE St.-Mar.-Horebeke, right Smarre 145 15.24 ZWALM - Sint-Denijs-Boekel, right turn Molenberg 11th Climb: MOLENBERG (300m cobbles) 147 15.26 Turn left Wijlegem - crossroads, right turn Wijlegem Turn right Kouteren - 1ste str., left Kouteren Turn right Wijlegem, Crossroads, Borstekouterstraat (following N415) 149 15.28 Roborst, right turn at the church Borstekouterstr. 300m cobbles +, train tracks 151 15.30 ZOTTEGEM Velzeke, right turn Paddenstraat 2.300m cobbles Turn right Romeinsplein 154 15.34 Left Lippenhovenstraat - 1.000m cobbles Crossroads, left Lippenseweg - crossroads, right Provinciebaan N46 Elene - crossroads traffic lights, right turn N46 - Provinciebaan 157 15.38 Train tracks N46 - Steenweg to Aalst, Oombergen - crossroads traffic lights Left N42, dir. "Gent" - Europaweg 159 15.41 OOSTERZELE - Balegem Right turn N42 Geraardsbergsestwg. 160 15.42 Oosterzele - 2 X crossroads traffic lights Right turn N42 Geraardsbergsestwg. 165 15.49 Gijzenzele, right turn N42 Geraardsbergsestwg. WETTEREN - Kwatrecht Right turn bridge E40 169 15.55 Crossroads traffic lights, right turn N417 (following N9) - Zuidlaan 170 15.56 Wetteren - crossroads traffic lights, right turn N417 !!!! + Overpass Zuidlaan - Acacialaan Crossroads traffic lights, right (railwaybridge) Warandelaan / 18-augustuslaan 174 16.02 Wegvoeringsstr. - turn right N416 Dendermondsesteenweg WICHELEN - Schellebelle Right turn N416 Wettersestr. - Turn right !!!! Hekkergemstr. Turn right Hoekstr. - Left Oostakkerstr. 178 16.08 Turn left Bruinebeekstr. - turn right Dendermondsestwg. N416 N416 brugsken, right turn Steenweg to Wichelen Wichelen - crossroads traffic lights Left N407 Rijksweg 180 16.11 BERLARE - Uitbergen Right turn Scheldebridgestr. N407 - Left H Veerstr. church 181 16.12 Overmere, right (the Café Groendijk) - 's Hereeerstr. Right turn Koningstraat 700m cobbles 184 16.16 Turn left Broekstraat (2x Speed bump) Crossroads, traffic lights, left Kruisstr. Fortstr. Burg. De Lausnaystr. N445 Crossroads, right turn, N445 Church - Dendermondsestwg. 187 16.20 Left dir. "Kalken" - Gaverstraat LAARNE - Kalken Left (Speed bump) Berringstraat, 500m cobbles 188 16.21 Turn right Boombosstraat - Turn right Boombosstraat Right turn Kalkendorp - church 189 16.22 Right Nerenweg (bushokje) Right Steenbeekstraat 600 m cobbles 190 16.23 Turn right N445 Dedermondsesteenweg Crossroads traffic lights Left Schriekstr. - Hasseveldstr. 191 16.24 LOCHRISTI - Beervelde Right turn Lootveld, right Kerrebroekstraat 196 16.31 Left (before bridge) Vogelzangstr. 1.300m cobbles 197 16.32 LOKEREN - Heiende Left Heiendestr. - church (4x Speed bump) Hillarestraat 199 16.35 Lokeren - crossroads, traffic lights, left Kon. Fabiolalaan Bridge over the railway 202 16.38 Traffic lights, right Gentsesteenweg N70 203 16.39 Crossroads, traffic lights, right turn Tweebridgegenstr. Bridge over the Durme N70 Crossroads, traffic lights, right turn Bergendriesstraat N70 FINISH Approximately 20m before Brouwerijstr. 204 16.40 Total: 11 climbs. Cobbles: Kwaremont km 51 2,800m; Muur van Geraardsbergen km 86 500m; Eikenberg km 117 1,400m; Leupegem km 119 300m; Volkegem km 122 800m; Mater km 123 2,200m; St,-Kornelis Horebeke km 128 2,300m; Rozebeke km 142 300m; Molenberg km 147 300m; Roborst km 150 300m; Velzeke Paddestraat km 151 2,300m; Velzeke Lippenhove km 154 1,000m; Overmere km 184 700m; Kalken Berringstraat km 188 500m; Kalken Steenbeekstraat km 190 600m; Lokeren Heienthe km 197 1,300m, Total: 16 sections: 17.6km Start ListCOFIDIS LOTTO - ADECCO
1. Frank Vandenbroucke 11. Andrei Tchmil
2. Steve De Wolf 12. Jacky Durand
3. Peter Farazijn 13. Mario Aerts
4. Philippe Gaumont 14. Fabien De Waele
5. David Lefevre 15. Geert Verheyen
6. Nico Mattan 16. Thierry Marichal
7. Chris Peers 17. Paul Van Hyfte
8. Jo Planckaert 18. Kurt Van Lancker
VLAANDEREN 2002 PALMANS-IDEAL
21. Wilfried Cretskens 31. Scott Sunderland
22. Davy Daniels 32. Hendrik Van Dyck
23. Kris Gerits 33. Wim Feys
24. Jurgen Guns 34. Gert Vanderaerden
25. Tom Stremersch 35. Hans De Clercq
26. Erwin Thijs 36. Karl Pauwels
27. Jurgen Van Roosbroeck 37. Nico Eeckhout
28. Karel Vereecke 38. Jurgen Van De Walle
TONISSTEINER COLLSTROP - DE FEDERALE
41. Michel Vanhaecke 51. Dany Baeyens
42. Bert Roesems 52. Tony Bracke
43. Davy Delmé 53. Eric De Clercq
44. Jan Poppe 54. Hans De Meester
45. Tom Desmet 55. Roger Hammond
46. Kurt Van Landeghem 56. Geert Omloop
47. Morgan Fox 57. Oleg Pankov
48. Cees Hopmans 58. Bert Scheirlinckx
SPAR - OKI VILLE DE CHARLEROI
61. Danny Daelman 71. Marc Streel
62. Andy De Smet 72. Ludovic Capelle
63. Bart Heirewegh 73. Grégory Barbier
64. Berry Hoedemakers 74. Renaud Boxus
65. Tom Hoedemakers 75. Stéphane Hennebert
66. Gianni Rivera 76. Jürgen Petersen
67. John Talen 77. Jean-Denis Vandenbroucke
68. Koen Van De Velde 78. Philip Vereecke
FLANDERS PREFETEX TEAM NURNBERGER
81. Ronny Assez 91. Artur Babaitsev
82. Steven De Neef 92. Bert Dietz
83. Olivier Genicot 93. Klaus Diewald
84. Scott Guyton 94. Christoph Göhring
85. Tim Lenaers 95. Alexander Kastenhuber
86. Kris Matthijs 96. Roland Müller
87. Marek Salermo 97. Heinrich Trumheller
88. Christian Selin 98. Thorsten Wilhelms
DEUTSCHE TELEKOM CREDIT AGRICOLE
101. Ralf Grabsch 111. Magnus Backstedt
102. Danivo Hondo 112. Pierrick Fedrigo
103. Kai Hundertmarck 113. Frédéric Finot
104. Mathias Kessier 114. Sébastien Hinault
105. Andrey Mizurov 115. Thor Hushovd
106. Jan Schaffrath 116. Jérome Neuville
107. Stephan Schreck 117. Stuart O'Grady
108. Steffen Wesemann 118. Franck Pencole
AG2R PREVOYANCE LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX
121. Jaan Kirsipuu 131. Jimmy Casper
122. Lauri Aus 132. Patrick D'Hont
123. Stephane Barthe 133. Frédéric Guesdon
124. Laurent Estadieu 134. Guidi Fabrizio
125. Christophe Agnolutto 135. Francis Hos
126. Innar Mandoja 136. Bradley McGee
127. Ludovic Turpin 137. Emmanuel Magnien
138. Christophe Magnien
BIGMAT - AUBER 93 JEAN DELATOUR
141. Ludovic Auger 151. Laurent Brochard
142. Stéphane Berges 152. Gilles Bouvard
143. Alexandre Chouffe 153. Christophe Bassons
144. Carlos Dacruz 154. Cyril Dessel
145. Thierry Gouvenou 155. Patrice Malgrand
146. Jeremy Hunt 156. Eddy Seigneur
147. Alexeï Sivakov 157. Bruno Thibout
148. Jay Sweet 158. Olivier Trastour
FESTINA TEAM POLTI
161. Olivier Asmaker 171. Enrico Cassani
162. Stephane Augé 172. Rossano Brasi
163. Florent Brard 173. Mirko Celestino
164. Andy Flickinger 174. Michele Colleoni
165. Sacha Henrix 175. Rafael Perez Mateos
166. Rolf Huser 176. Eddy Mazzoleni
167. Laurent Madouas 177. Fabio Secchi
168. Nicolas Reynaud 178. Bart Voskamp
LAMPRE DAIKIN MAPEI QUICK STEP
181. Franco Ballerini 191. Leif Hoste
182. Rubens Bertogliati 192. Bart Leysen
183. Marco Cannone 193. Johan Museeuw
184. Gabriele Missaglia 194. Daniele Nardello
185. Robert Hunter 195. Wilfried Peeters
186. Marco Serpellini 196. Tom Steels
187. Zbigniew Spruch 197. Max Van Heeswijk
188. Johan Verstrepen 198. Stefano Zanini
CANTINA TOLLO VINI CALDIROLA - SIDERMEC
201. Alessandro Baronti 211. Romans Vainsteins
202. Paolo Bossoni 212. Gianluca Bortolami
203. Federico Colonna 213. Massimo Apollonio
204. Moreno Di Biase 214. Andrej Hauptman
205. Marco Antonio Di Renzo 215. Zoran Klemencic
206. Gian Paolo Mondini 216. Marco Milesi
207. Germano Pierdomenico 217. Mauro Radaelli
208. Ruggero Marzoli 218. Gianluca Sironi
RABOBANK FARM FRITES
221. Erik Dekker 231. Geert Van Bondt
222. De Jongh Steven 232. Andreas Klier
223. Maarten Den Bakker 233. Servais Knaven
224. Marc Wauters 234. Jans Koerts
225. Aart Vierhouten 235. Gerben Löwik
226. Matthé Pronk 236. Peter Van Petegem
227. Jan Boven 237. Wim Van Sevenant
228. Karsten Kroon 238. Martin Van Steen
MEMORY CARD - JACK & JONES
241. Tristan Hoffman
242. Jesper Skibby
243. Arvis Piziks
244. Michael Blaudzun
245. Jacob Moe
246. Michael Nielsen
247. Allan Johansen
248. Bjarke Nielsen
Past Winners1945 Jean Bogaerts (Bel) 1946 André Pieters (Bel) 1947 Albert Sercu (Bel) 1948 Sylvain Grysolle (Bel) 1949 André Declerck (Bel) 1950 André Declerck (Bel) 1951 Jean Bogaerts (Bel) 1952 Ernest Sterckx (Bel) 1953 Ernest Sterckx (Bel) 1954 Karel De Baere (Bel) 1955 Lode Anthonis (Bel) 1956 Ernest Sterckx (Bel) 1957 Norbert Kerckhove (Bel) 1958 Joseph Planckaert (Bel) 1959 Seamus Elliott (Ire) 1961 Arthur De Cabooter (Bel) 1962 Robert DeMiddeleir (Bel) 1963 René Van Meenen (Bel) 1964 Frans Melckenbeek (Bel) 1965 Noél De Pauw (Bel) 1966 Jo De Roo (Ned) 1967 Willy Vekemans (Bel) 1968 Herman Vanspringel (Bel) 1969 Roger DeVlaeminck (Bel) 1970 Frans Verbeeck (Bel) 1971 Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1972 Frans Verbeeck (Bel) 1973 Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1974 Joseph Bruyere (Bel) 1975 Joseph Bruyere (Bel) 1976 Willem Peeters (Bel) 1977 Freddy Maertens (Bel) 1978 Freddy Maertens (Bel) 1979 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) 1980 Joseph Bruyere (Bel) 1981 Jan Raas (Ned) 1982 Alfons De Wolf (Bel) 1983 Alfons De Wolf (Bel) 1984 Eddy Planckaert (Bel) 1985 Eddy Planckaert (Bel) 1987 Teun Van Vliet (Ned) 1988 Ronny Van Holen (Bel) 1989 Etienne De Wilde (Bel) 1990 Johan Capiot (Bel) 1991 Andreas Kappes (Ger) 1992 Johan Capiot (Bel) 1993 Wilfried Nelissen (Bel) 1994 Wilfried Nelissen (Bel) 1995 Franco Ballerini (Ita) 1996 Tom Steels (Bel) 1997 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) 1998 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) 202 kms in 5.08.00 1999 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) 202 kms in 5.12.00 (38.846 km/h) Past Winners by Mario Stiehl, Berlin |