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2001 results Preview Route details Start list Results Blow-by-blow report Past winners
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By Jeff Jones
The 57th edition of Omloop Het Volk takes place on the first Saturday in March, and is traditionally the first road event on the Belgian calendar. Starting in Gent's Vrijdagmarkt, the parcours twists and turns through East and West Flanders, taking in 10 climbs before finishing in Lokeren. Many of the climbs will feature in the Ronde van Vlaanderen in April, and Het Volk is seen as an important preparation for the biggest Belgian classic.
The climbing starts at kilometre 37 with the Kluisberg (Mont de l'Enclus), followed by the Cote de Trieu, Oude Kwaremont, Muziekbos and the famous Muur Van Geraardsbergen. This climb comes after only 84 kilometres, and is therefore not likely to be as decisive as it is in the Ronde, when it features as the second last climb.
From Geraardsbergen, the race heads back towards Brakel before tackling the Valkenberg (km 102), Eikenberg (km 113), Leberg (km 124), Berendries (km 129) and Molenberg (km 139), the last real climb. With 63 kilometres of flattish racing to follow before the finish in Lokeren, the finale will be different to the Ronde, but the peloton could well be shattered by this stage.
The defending champion is Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo) who took one of his few victories last season in this race, surprising many of the Belgian favourites. However he will miss Het Volk 2002 due to flu, despite having good form, winning the Tour of the Mediterranean in mid-February. The Fassa Bortolo team is still powerful, and will rely on the expierenced Fabio Baldato to lead them in Het Volk.
Looking to the other major Italian team, Mapei-Quick Step, it looks as though Paolo Bettini (Mapei-Quick Step), winner of the Giro Ligure Ponente last week, is the man in form. If it comes down to any sort of a sprint, then Bettini is an excellent chance.
From the Belgian point of view, the two main teams looking for success are Lotto-Adecco and Domo-Farm Frites. The former has already started off season 2002 with a string of wins in Australia and France. The latter needs to regain its morale after the scandal this week surrounding 1999 winner Frank Vandenbroucke, who is currently helping police with their inquiries for the possession of illegal doping products.
Look out for Lotto's Peter Van Petegem and Andrei Tchmil, and Domo's Johan Museeuw, winner of this race in 2000.
Other riders to watch include the US Postal Service classics captain George Hincapie, who is in excellent early season shape. Ag2r's Jaan Kirsipuu is also in good form again, and can certainly do well in this type of classic.
Km gone Time
GENT
Official start - Vrijdagmarkt 0 11.45
De Pinte
Zevergem 2 11.48
Nazareth
Eke 7 11.55
Zingem 11 12.00
Oudenaarde 20 12.13
Wortegem-Petegem
Petegem/Schelde 21 12.14
Avelgem
Kerkhove 30 12.27
Waarmaarde 33 12.31
Kluisbergen
Ruien 35 12.34
Climb 1: KLUISBERG 37 12.37
Mont de l'Eclus
Orroir 39 12.39
Amougies 41 12.42
Russeignies 42 12.44
Climb 2: CÔTE DE TRIEU 44 12.45
Kluisbergen
Kwaremont 44 12.45
Berchem 48 12.52
Kwaremont
Climb 3: OUDE KWAREMONT 51 12.56
53 12.59
Zulzeke 54 13.00
Ronse 56 13.03
Maarkedal
Nukerke 57 13.05
Ronse 59 13.07
Climb 4: MUZIEKBOS
Ellezelles 62 13.11
Flobecq
Brakel
Opbrakel 67 13.18
Nederbrakel 71 13.24
Parike 75 13.30
Zarlardinge 78 13.34
Overboelare 80 13.37
Geraardsbergen 83 13.41
Climb 5: MUUR 84 13.42
Onkerzele 86 13.45
Schendelbeke 88 13.48
Ophasselt 89 13.49
Feed Zone
92 13.53
Sint-Maria-Lierde 95 13.58
Brakel 99 14.03
Climb 6: VALKENBERG 102 14.07
Zegelsem 103 14.09
St.Kornelis-Horebeke 107 14.14
Schorisse 110 14.18
Maarke-Kerkem 111 14.20
Climb 7: EIKENBERG 113 14.23
Edelare 113 14.23
Volkegem 114 14.24
Mater 118 14.30
Sint-Maria-Horebeke 120 14.32
Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke 121 14.34
Zegelsem 123 14.37
Climb 8: LEBERG 124 14.38
Elst 125 14.39
Michelbeke 127 14.42
Climb 9: BERENDRIES 129 14.45
Sint-Maria-Oudenhove 130 14.46
Rozebeke 133 14.51
Sint-Blasius-Boekel 135 14.53
Sint-Maria-Horebeke 138 14.58
Sint-Denijs-Boekel 139 14.59
Climb 10: MOLENBERG 139 14.59
140 15.00
Roborst 142 15.03
Velzeke 147 15.10
149 15.13
Elene 150 15.14
Oombergen 152 15.17
Balegem 453 15.18
Oosterzele 159 15.27
Gijzenzele 159 15.27
Kwatrecht 162 15.31
Wetteren 167 15.38
Schellebelle 170 15.42
171 15.44
Wichelen 173 15.46
Uitbergen 175 15.49
Overmere 178 15.53
179 15.55
Kalken 181 15.58
183 16.00
Beervelde 188 16.07
191 16.10
Heiende 193 16.14
Lokeren 195 16.17
196 16.18
198 16.21
201 16.27
Finish 202 16.27
Fassa Bortolo Telekom 1 11 Rolf Aldag (Ger) 2 Fabio Baldato (Ita) 12 Robert Bartko (Ger) 3 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) 13 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) 4 Nicola Loda (Ita) 14 Danilo Hondo (Ger) 5 Kim Kirchen (Lux) 15 Kai Hundertmarck (Ger) 6 Roberto Petito (Ita) 16 Andreas Klier (Ger) 7 Denis Zanette (Ita) 17 Jan Schaffrath (Ger) 8 18 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Rabobank Mapei-Quick Step 21 Marc Wauters (Bel) 31 Paolo Bettini (Ita) 22 Karsten Kroon (Ned) 32 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) 23 Matthé Pronk (Ned) 33 Dario Cioni (Ita) 24 Matthew Mayman (Aus) 34 Fabien De Waele (Bel) 25 Steven De Jongh (Ned) 35 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) 26 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) 36 Daniele Nardello (Ita) 27 Jan Boven (Ned) 37 Tom Steels (Bel) 28 Sven Nijs (Bel) 38 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Lotto-Adecco Cofidis 41 Mario Aerts (Bel) 51 Peter Farazijn (Bel) 42 Hans De Clercq (Bel) 52 Tom Flammang (Lux) 43 Niko Eeckhout (Bel) 53 Nico Mattan (Bel) 44 Thierry Marichal (Bel) 54 Chris Peers (Bel) 45 Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus) 55 Jo Planckaert (Bel) 46 Andrei Tchmil (Bel) 56 Robert Sassone (Fra) 47 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) 57 Jean-Michel Tessier (Fra)) 48 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) 58 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) US Postal Service Domo - Farm Frites 61 Tom Boonen (Bel) 71 Enrico Cassani (Ita) 62 Dylan Casey (USA) 72 Servais Knaven (Ned) 63 George Hincapie (USA) 73 Jans Koerts (Ned) 64 Benoit Joachim (Lux) 74 Marco Milesi (Ita) 65 Gian Paolo Mondini (Ita) 75 Johan Museeuw (Bel) 66 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) 76 67 Victor Hugo Pena (Col) 77 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) 68 Matthew White (Aus) 78 Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Lampre - Daikin Tacconi Sport 81 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) 91 Gabriele Balducci (Ita) 82 Matteo Frutti (Ita) 92 Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) 83 Luciano Pagliarini (Bra) 93 Paolo Bossoni (Ita) 84 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) 94 Mauro Gerosa (Ita) 85 Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) 95 Andrej Hauptman (Slo) 86 Maximilian Sciandri (GBr) 96 Zoban Klemencic (Slo) 87 Marco Serpellini (Ita) 97 Mauro Radaelli (Ita) 81 Johan Verstrepen (Bel) 98 Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Team CSC Tiscali Credit Agricole 101 Geert Van Bondt (Bel) 111 Yohann Charpenteau (Fra) 102 Martin Rittsel (Swe) 112 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) 103 Tristan Hoffman (Ned) 113 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) 104 Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) 114 Thor Hushovd (Nor) 105 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) 115 Christopher Jenner (NZl) 106 Raphael Jeune (Fra) 116 Anthony Langella (Fra) 107 Bjarke Nielsen (Ben) 117 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 108 Arvis Piziks (Lat) 118 Yan Tournier (Fra) Team Coast Alessio 121 Stefan Adamsson (Swe) 131 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) 122 Anton Chantyr (Rus) 132 Davide Casarotto (Ita) 123 Frank Hoj (Den) 133 Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) 124 Andre Korff (Swi) 134 Martin Hvastija (Slo) 125 Lars Michaelsen (Den) 135 Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) 126 Raphaël Schweda (Ger) 136 Cristian Moreni (Ita) 127 Thorsen Wilhelms (Ger) 137 Dario Pieri (Ita) 128 Malte Urban (Ger) 138 Alberto Vinale (Ita) Ag2R Prevoyance Jean Delatour 141 Ludovic Capelle (Bel) 151 Laurent Brochard (Fra) 142 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) 152 Stéphane Augé (Fra) 143 Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) 153 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) 144 Lauri Aus (Est) 154 Ivaylo Gabrovski (Bul) 145 Linas Balciunas (Ltu) 155 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) 146 Andy Flickinger (Fra) 156 Christophe Laurent (Fra) 147 Nicolas Inaudi (Fra) 157 Eddy Seigneur (Fra) 148 Innar Mandoja (Est) 158 Bruno Thibout (Fra) Bonjour La Francaise Des Jeux 161 Jimmy Engoulevent (Fra) 171 Jimmy Casper (Fra) 162 Sébastien Joly (Fra) 172 Baden Cooke (Aus) 163 Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) 173 Jacky Durand (Fra) 164 Frédéric Mainguenaud (Fra) 174 Fréderic Guesdon (Fra) 165 Damien Nazon (Fra) 175 Christophe Mengin (Fra) 166 Franck Renier (Fra) 176 Jean Patrick Nazon (Fra) 167 Fabrice Salanson (Fra) 177 Franck Perque (Fra) 168 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) 178 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Gerolsteiner Bankgiroloterij-Batavus 181 René Haselbacker (Ger) 191 Bert Hiemstra (Ned) 182 Nicolaj Bo Larsen (Den) 192 Gerben Löwik (Ned) 183 Olaf Pollack (Ger) 193 Rik Reinerink (Ned) 184 Michael Rich (Ger) 194 Bram Schmitz (Ned) 185 Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) 195 Corey Sweet (Aus) 186 Torsten Schmidt (Ger) 196 Jan Van Velzen (Ned) 187 Steffen Weigold (Ger) 197 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) 188 Peter Wrolich (Ger) 198 Bart Voskamp (Ned) Palmans-Collstrop VlaanderenT Interim 201 Hans De Meester (Bel) 211 Yoeri Beyens (Bel) 202 Roger Hammond (GBr) 212 Geoffrey Demeyere (Bel) 203 Geert Omloop (Bel) 213 Kris Gerits (Bel) 204 Bert Roesems (Bel) 214 Jurgen Guns (Bel) 205 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) 215 Jehadi Schoonacker (Bel) 206 Erwin Thijs (Bel) 216 Jurgen Vandewalle (Bel) 207 Kristof Trouve (Bel) 217 Jan Verstraeten (Bel) 208 Hendrik Van Dyck (Bel) 218 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago Ville De Charleroi 221 Rolf Sorensen (Den) 231 Andy Cappelle (Bel) 222 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) 232 Marc Chanoine (Bel) 223 Steven Van Malderghem (Bel) 233 Johan Dekkers (Bel) 224 Michel Vanhaecke (Bel) 234 Steven De Neef (Bel) 225 Jurgen Vermeersch (Bel) 235 Tom Desmet (Bel) 226 Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) 236 Laurenzo Lapage (Bel) 227 Jeff Louder (USA) 237 Kris Mattys (Bel) 228 Kurt Vanlandeghem (Bel) 238 Christophe Stevens (Bel) RDM - Flandres 241 Marco Engels (Ned) 242 John Ibbotson (GBr) 243 Jurgen Landrie (Bel) 244 Gordon McCauley (NZl) 245 Christoph Roodhooft (Bel) 246 Bert Scheirlinckx (Bel) 247 Chris Tonge (Bel) 248 Van Straelen (Bel)
2001 Michele Bartoli (Ita) 200 km in 4.52.00 (41.096 km/h) 2000 Johan Museeuw (Bel) 204 km in 5.01.00 (40.664 km/h) 1999 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) 202 km in 5.12.00 (38.846 km/h) 1998 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) 202 km in 5.08.00 1997 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) 1996 Tom Steels (Bel) 1995 Franco Ballerini (Ita) 1994 Wilfried Nelissen (Bel) 1993 Wilfried Nelissen (Bel) 1992 Johan Capiot (Bel) 1991 Andreas Kappes (Ger) 1990 Johan Capiot (Bel) 1989 Etienne De Wilde (Bel) 1988 Ronny Van Holen (Bel) 1987 Teun Van Vliet (Ned) 1985 Eddy Planckaert (Bel) 1984 Eddy Planckaert (Bel) 1983 Alfons De Wolf (Bel) 1982 Alfons De Wolf (Bel) 1981 Jan Raas (Ned) 1980 Joseph Bruyere (Bel) 1979 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) 1978 Freddy Maertens (Bel) 1977 Freddy Maertens (Bel) 1976 Willem Peeters (Bel) 1975 Joseph Bruyere (Bel) 1974 Joseph Bruyere (Bel) 1973 Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1972 Frans Verbeeck (Bel) 1971 Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1970 Frans Verbeeck (Bel) 1969 Roger DeVlaeminck (Bel) 1968 Herman Vanspringel (Bel) 1967 Willy Vekemans (Bel) 1966 Jo De Roo (Ned) 1965 Noél De Pauw (Bel) 1964 Frans Melckenbeek (Bel) 1963 René Van Meenen (Bel) 1962 Robert DeMiddeleir (Bel) 1961 Arthur De Cabooter (Bel) 1959 Seamus Elliott (Ire) 1958 Joseph Planckaert (Bel) 1957 Norbert Kerckhove (Bel) 1956 Ernest Sterckx (Bel) 1955 Lode Anthonis (Bel) 1954 Karel De Baere (Bel) 1953 Ernest Sterckx (Bel) 1952 Ernest Sterckx (Bel) 1951 Jean Bogaerts (Bel) 1950 André Declerck (Bel) 1949 André Declerck (Bel) 1948 Sylvain Grysolle (Bel) 1947 Albert Sercu (Bel) 1946 André Pieters (Bel) 1945 Jean Bogaerts (Bel) Past Winners by Mario Stiehl, Berlin