G.P. Fiatgarage Koetsier - Cat. 3

Hardewijk, Netherlands, October 7, 2000

Vervecken breaks Rabobank grip

Last year the Rabobank team was the strongest in cyclocross events with the trio of Groenendaal, Van der Poel and Nijs. However, Adri van der Poel has retired, Sven Nijs is injured, so World Champion Richard Groenendaal and newcomer Gerben de Knegt have to do it this season.

In the opening race in Harderwijk, Groenendaal fell and had troubles with his equipment, and De Knegt couldn't follow Vervecken in the finale.

"They call me the successor of Van der Poel, but mostly they say that with a laugh. Okay, I came in the team instead of him, but it's questionable if I can play the same role that he did. Adri was a special class," said de Knegt.

Results

Elite/Espoirs

1. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Royal Cyclist's Pésant Club
2. Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank
3. Maarten Nijland (Ned) WTC Woerden
4. Wim de Vos (Ned) Spaarselect
5. Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank
6. Ben Berden (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002-Eddy Merckx
7. Mario De Clercq (Bel) Palmans
8. Gretinus Gommers (Ned) WTC Woerden
9. Jiri Pospisil (Cze)
10. Tim Pauwels (Bel)
11. Wiland van Gils (Ned)
12. Wilfred Veldkamp (Ned)
13. Thijs Verhagen (Ned)
14. Roel van Houtum
15. Roland Schätti (Sui)
16. Jean-Pierre Leyten (Ned)
17. Geert VanDaele (Bel)
18. Tadeusz Korzeniewski (Pol)
19. Thijs Volker (Ned)
20. Malte Urban (Ger)
21. André Schrader (Ned)
22. Tomas Kendts (Pol)
23. Frans-Josef Nieberding (Ger)
24. Pascal Alleleijn
25. Geert Lauwers (Bel)

Juniors:

1. Gerben de Vries (Ned)
2. Maarten Hol (Ned)
3. Guus Magielse (Ned)
4. Mariusz Gill (Pol)
5. Marco Wesseling (Ned)
6. Peter Kouwenhoven (Ned)
7. Coen Sevens (Ned)
8. Pieter Klok (Ned)
9. Jens Petroll (Ger)
10. Ries van der Sanden

Women:

1. Inge Velthuis (Ned) Trek-Sjef van Bergen
2. Ilona Meter (Ned)
3. Marieke Haverdings (Ned) Sponser
4. Anja Reinders (Ned)
5. Elly van Boxmeer (Ned) Trek-Sjef van Bergen
6. Suzanne de Goede (Ned)
7. Nicole Kottkamp (Ger)
8. Bea Bleumink (Ned)
9. Janneke Kanis (Ned)
10. Cora Verhoeve (Ned)

Thanks to Dick Verweij for the results