1. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-GB 4.30.49 (44,754 km/h) 2. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-GB + 0.02 3. Eric Vanderaerden (Bel) San Marco Group 4. Jan Svorada (Cze) Panaria-Vinavil 5. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom 6. Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Polti 7. Mauro Bettin (Ita) Refin-Mobilvetta 8. Johan Verstrepen (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 9. Wilfried Peeters (Bel) Mapei-GB 10. Mario de Clercq (Bel) Palmans 11. J. Museeuw (Bel) 12. B. Hamburger (Den) 13. A. Vanderpoel (Hol) 14. R. Altag (Ger) 15. S. Zanini (Ita) all s.t.
In the finale there was first an attack of Baffi (Mapei-GB), then from Museeuw.
With 15 km to go VDB attacked from the front-position. It was just where the wind was blowing heavy on the left side. Riding in 53X12 he took meter after meter from the second and third rider. Very impressive. VDB never had more than 50 to 100 meters. But he did win the race, thanks to the wind and his teammates. For 15 km long, he said after the race, his heartrate was about 200 a minute. It was terrible he said, because at times they were only at 50 meters distance.
Since his victories in the Med Tour, Laiguaglia and 4th places in Paris-Nice and the Criterium International, VDB did not race in the Tour the Flandres and Paris-Roubaix (too many candidate-winners in the Mapei team) and he had a flu at the time of Liege Bastogne Liege. He fell at the foot of the Cipressa in Milan San Remo, but managed to come back in the lead group.
Apperently the youngest rider (21) in the peleton is back just in time for the Amstel Gold Race (WorldCup) en Henniger Turm, also a Class 1 Race. With Paris-Brussels (end95), this is already the 2nd Classic he wins and his 15 th professional success. He is about to take a position into the top 20 in the UCI listing. For a 21 year old, this would be the first time!
He will not participate in any big Tour before 1998.
For your information also: VDB had 7 national titles with the junior-races in Belgium. Stayed only 6 months with the amateurs, where he won his first 2 classics he rode (i.e. Aachen-Seraing-Aachen) at the age of 18. His fist appearance in a professional race, the Middet Tour in 94, resulted in a victory on the last day in Marseille.
He hardly rode from Apr to Jun 95, due to a knee operation. Since then however he was again impressive. He only rode 5 Class 1 races (won two, one second place) and rode 3 World Class races (20 th Leeds Classic 8th San Sebastian and 20th Milan San Remo).
The Amstel Gold Race will only be his fourth participation in that sort of race. Belgium waited 20 years to have a racer who can climb, take good time-trials AND win classical races... Now Mapei wants to hold him.
He will sign his two year contract with GB Mapei on Saturday together with Steels.
Here is what they saidin summary (with quotes acknowledged): Racing Licence
Name: FVDB Who is he?: Belgium's biggest star Isn't that Museeuw?: No Star and best rider?: Two different things. "Johan gets on with winning Classics and then might say a few words later if you are lucky. Frank talks a lot before and after anbd quite probably during much smaller races. Frank loves talking and loves himself too. Frank's favourite topic of conversation is himself." An ego problem?: "You could say that. Frank wanted to turn pro but his uncle Jean-Luc of Lotto said he was too young. Frank went into a huff and decided to join Novemail, a Dutch team who welcomed him with open arms. When the Lotto bosses heard this they went ballistic, the prospect of the best young Belgian riding for a Dutch team was too much. Jean-Luc had to beg Frank to join Lotto or, it is said, uncle Jean-Luc would have lost his job. What Frank wants, he gets." So why is he riding for Mapei now?: B/c Frank want to ride for Mapei, despite having signed a two-year contract with Lotto. "I'd rather quit the sport for a year than ride for Lotto", quoth Bimbo. Surprise, surpriose, Lotto caved in and Frank got his way. Bimbo?" His nickname. Is he any good though?: "Yes, he is actually, which is the reason he merits his racing licence, he's very good indeed." But is he good enough to lead Mapei in Paris-Nice?: "Ah, there's the rub. Could you tell Museeuw, Bortalami and world champion Abraham Olano that they have to sacrifice themselves for a preening egomaniac of a 21 year old? No? Neither could manager Patrick Lefevere. Maybe Frank will quit Mapei." From May CYCLE SPORT