55th Omloop Het Volk - Cat 1.1

Belgium, February 26, 2000

Live coverage as it happened

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11.25 - 0 km

Before the start - the weather is dry and sunny, which is unusual for this race. The gun goes off, but the public don't move. There is a delay but it is OK.

11.41 - 0 km

Official start at St Pietersplein. 195 riders in the group, but Jean-Denis Vandenbroucke (Ville de Charleoi), Marco Serpellini and Zbigniew Spruch (Lampre) do not start.

11.52 - 4 km

First attack of the race. Karl Pauwels (Palmans), Bart Heirewegh (Spar - Oki) and Rolf Huser (Festina).

12.00 - 10km

The three are caught - Steven De Neef (Flanders Prefetex) also tries but is caught within a kilometer. The peloton are very jumpy early on.

12.18 - 20 km

Jacky Durand (Lotto), De Neef, Frédéric Finot (CA), Gabriele Missaglia (Lampre), Christophe Agnolutto (Ag2R) and Matthé Pronk (Rab) try to attack, but are quickly brought back.

12.50 - 44 km

2nd Climb. Cote de Trieu, and it is Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93 over first, with a break of 45 seconds over the bunch. The Cofidis team of Vandenbroucke is active.

13.08 - 51km

3rd Climb. Oude Kwaremont, Gouvenou is caught as the riders go over the top.

13.15 - 56km

The bunch, which had split into two large groups is now altogether. They approach the Pottelberg.

13.45 - 80 km

The bunch is approaching the Muur van Gerardsbergen. No major attacks at the moment.

14.03 - 86 km

The peloton remains together over the top of the Muur. Vandenbroucke leads over the top from Museeuw and Wesemann (Telekom).

14.10 - 89 km

Bjarke Nielsen (MC J&J) has a go by himself, but doesn't last long. Eric De Clercq, Ludovic Auger, and Patrice Halgand counter but are caught within 4 km, when there is a regrouping of the bunch.

14.17 - 95 km

Peloton reaches St Maria-Lierde. Still no riders making a serious break. The Mapei and Cofidis teams are controlling.

14.24 - 98km

Peloton splits into two groups. In the first, there is only one well known name. Jacky Durand (Lotto). But they are caught within 6 km.

14.28 - 102km

Attack on the Valkenberg by Eddy Seigneur (Jean Delatour) and Philippe Gaumont (Cof). Paul Van Hyfte (Lotto) follows.

14.34 - 105 km

A flurry of attacks by young riders (they know the live TV-coverage has started)

14.40 - 109 km

Attack by Nico Mattan (Cofidis). He gets 25 seconds but is reeled in. Alexander Chouffe (Big Mat) goes into a ditch, but gets back on easily

14.49 -119 km

Peloton reach Leupegem , Mattan is caught.

14.55 - 124km

Jo Planckaert, Frank Vandenbroucke (Cof) and Hendrik Van Dyck (Palmans), have a 100 m gap on the bunch. Fall. Cees Hopmans (Tonissteiner). Collar bone?

14.58 - 126km

The three have changed. Frank Vandenbroucke, Johan Museeuw and Steffen Wesemann are in front.

15.04 - 132km

Top of the Leberg, and the three are caught. The riders only have the Berendries and the Molenberg, and is thinning out. 1 kilometer later, and Peter Van Petegem tries to bring the peloton back to the front three, but leaves it to Mario Aerts.

15.12 - 136 km

In the first group. Museeuw, Vandenbroucke, Jo Planckaert, Nardello, Farazijn, Tchmil, Wesemann, Magnien, Steels, Ballerini, Peers, Knaven, Aerts, Vainsteins, Van Petegem, and Kirsipuu.

15.23 - 146km

A group of seven try to escape, and get 20 seconds. Peter Farazijn (Cofidis), Kai Hundertmarck (Telekom), Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole), Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour), Max van Heeswijk (Mapei), Romans Vainsteins (Vini Caldirola) and Andreas Klier (Farm Frites).

15.28 - 149 km

Over the top of the last climb, the Molenberg, and the peloton is in three groups, with a large front group. Could the selection come on the cobbles?

15.37 - 154 km

Franco Ballerini (Lampre) is in front along the cobbles at Lippenhovenstraat. The rest of the bunch are at 100 meters.

15.42 - 158 km

Tchmil, Vainsteins, Museeuw and Ballerini are away from a group containing 18 riders, with the rest of the favourites. A second group is at one minute.

15.49 - 165 km

16 leaders (incl. Museeuw, Hundertmarck, Peers, Ballerini, Steels, Tchmill, O'Grady, Planckaert, Aerts, Nardello, Hoffman, Kirsipuu, Wesemann, Knaven) have a 1 minute lead (!) on a group of seven with Frank Vandenbroucke, Peter van Petegem, Brochard, and Peeters. But group of 40 bridges up to the group of 7.

16.00 - 174 km

The leaders at Wetteren are: Chris Peers, Jo Planckaert (Cofidis), Andrei Tchmil, Mario Aerts (Lotto), Kai Hundertmarck, Steffen Wesemann (Telekom), Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole), Jaan Kirsipuu (AG2R), Ludovic Auger (BigMat), Franco Ballerini (Lampre), Johan Museeuw, Daniele Nardello, Tom Steels (3 man from Mapei!), Romans Vainsteins (Vini Caldirola), Andreas Klier and Servais Knaven (Farm Frites) . They have just 30 km to go with a minute on the chase bunch.

16.09 - 179 km

Johan Museeuw (Mapei) and Servais Knaven (Farm Frites) have attacked. Wesemann (Telekom) and Ballerini (Lampre) join the two leaders. VDB group is closing on the others, being led by Rabobank who have no riders in the top group. The leading four have 20 seconds on the rest with 25 km to go. Tchmil driving hard at the front with Kirsipuu.

16.15 - 184 km

Four leaders arrive at Overmere for the last of 4 cobblestone sections (700m); After this they have Kalken Berringstraat 500m (16 km to go); Kalken Steenbeekstraat (600m, 14 km) and Lokeren Heiende (1.300m, 10km to go). The group with Tchmil is at 45 seconds!

16.26 - 194 km

Museeuw attacks! Still two cobbled sections to go. Wesemann tries to bridge up but is unsuccessful. The Belgian legend has never won Het Volk, and now has 16 seconds on the chasing three. He is driving!

16.30 - 197 km

Museeuw has 24 seconds. He reaches the last pave section (1300 meters) in Heiende. Still 7 km to the finish.

16.33 - 199 km

Museeuw has 38 seconds with 5 km to go. This has surely got to be his race.

16.38 - 202 km

Museeuw takes a drink, gets some encouragement from the team car and puts his head down for the finish. The other three are looking at each other, but no-one has attacked.

16.40 - 204 km

Museeuw gets it! First time that he has won the Omloop Het Volk (and not a drop of rain in sight). In second place, 52 seconds back is Stefan Wesemann of Telekom, defeating Servais Knaven (Farm Frites) and Franco Ballerini (Lampre) in the three up sprint.