GP Rik Van Steenbergen, Cat 1.3

An Interview with Rik Van Steenbergen

The ex-World Champion (Van Steenbergen) is really happy. He gives this race his name and wants to ensure the field is credible. The peloton attracts thousands of spectators each year to Aarselaar. But I still have to get some great names contracted. So we have worked to get the World Champion, the Tour winner and the winner of the green jersey at the Tour on the Starting list.

The cash box is empty.

The contract with Ullrich was a promotional tool. Since the Tour Van Steenbergen had him on contract. But how much was the contract?

I am not sure how much the contract was, but I am sure that the cash box in now empty. But we are well funded, and everyone must try to get the Tour winner to their race. On Wednesday I can do that and get him on the podium at the start." But he is honest enough to know that Ullrich will not stand on the podium at the end of the day. "In Aartselaar, it will be fast. The younger riders come here to get some big kms in. Ullrich must balance the criteriums he is contracted against this longer race. He will not win."

Zabel and Blijlevens?

But perhaps he can ride a good race. For example, working for Zabel. This is the chap that I wanted on my starting list. He is one great sprinter. A sort of Rik Van Looy. He can sprint from the front, but he can also go straight past in a bunch. Completely different to Blijlevens, who also can win races. Jeroen is also fast, perhaps not as fast as Zabel. But he cannot get himself in half as good a positions and has no initiative."

Such as Steels in the recently completed Tour?

"Indeed. I do not always understand how Tom sprinted there. Neither here nor there. He is young though and he must learn from Zabel how to lead.

But also Steels is not going to be racing in Aartselaar today?

"Regretfully, but there is no drama. He has already won this one. Blijlevens and Zabel have not. Thus, I hope that they will give it there all."

Museeuw en Nelissen

Any other wishes?

Two, The first that Johan Museeuw brings his jersey here and inevitably rides in my race. I have often motivated him, but he thinks more of the World Cup race on Saturday in San Sebastian. He should use Aartselaar for the kilometers, but I also think it would be good for all the Antwerpers to see the World Champion.

My second wish concerns Wilfried Nelissen. This will be his first race over 200 kms. I have a great admiration for the way he has come back in such a short time. He has already won his battle with himself. With great help from the team? Yes, but he must do more. Still if Wilfried can do well on Wednesday in the city of his sponsor it will be great.

Report

The many thousands of people in Aartselaar had clearly wanted a certain result. They had cheered noisily for Johan Museeuw on each lap of the circuit. In each attack, from the first to the last, Museeuw was there. The average speed for the race was a very fast 42 km/h. No attack went without him. Then on the pave (cobbles) from Brussegem Museeuw decided to really force the peloton.

This attack was fatal for many riders. Blijlevens, who could not meet the challenge. Wilfried Nelissen soon found out that there is a big differene between the shorter kermesses and this sort of race (over 200 kms). And Erik Zabel did not have enough to follow [Bill notes: Zabel turned up for the Ritterronde in Maastricht later that day and took out the prize. Perhaps it was a matter of cash that let him drop out of the Rik Van Steenbergen!]

Ullrich was not a factor. Museeuw saw to that when at 80 kms he attacked and Ullrich was not able to stay in the top group.

Den Bakker, Hans De Clercq, Hans De Meester, Van Daele, Tchmil, Peers, Van Heeswijk and Van Slycke followed the World Champion. But it was Johan who gave the people the thrills. Then the top group in the final stages were unable to decide when to go. Tchmil was not so. He won with a 47 seconds gap following his attack. Museeuw did not win but was not shamed. "After the Tour I need some time to recover. But there was a criterium almost every day to race, and only a small amount of time to train. I only rode today because of my respect for Rik Van Steenbergen and what his race does for bike racing in general. But also because I wanted a good test before the classics that are coming. Once I gave up in the Tour, I had said that my new year begins with this race. But today, I did not expect to win. My condition can be better, but it is not that bad. All afternoon, I attacked with everyone else following." said Museeuw.

Race distance - 205 kms:

 1. Andrei Tchmil (Ukr) Lotto		     4.46.45
 2. Hans De Meester (Bel) Palmans         	0.47
 3. Robbie Vandaele (Bel) Ipso               	s.t.
 4. Maarten den Bakker (Ned) TVM          	0.50
 5. Hans De Clercq (Bel) Palmans          	1.36
 6. Rik Van Slycke (Bel) RDM               	1.39
 7. Scott McGrory (Aus) Die Continentale   	1.44
 8. Ralf Grabsch (Ger) PSV Cologne
 9. Max van Heeswijk (Ned) Rabobank
10. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank
11. Johan Museeuw
12. Chris Peers
13. Steven Van Malderghem 			7.01
14. Fabian De Waele
15. Oleg Pankov (Oek) 				7.06
16. Ludo Dierckxsens
17. Jo Planckaert
18. Jason Philips (Australia)
19. Michael Van der Wolf (Ned)
20. Geert Omloop 				7.28
21. Wilfried Peeters
22. Jan Poppe
23. Koen Beeckman
24. Johan Verstrepen
25. Andreas Klier (Ger)
26. Jens Heppner (Ger)
27. Rolf Aldag (Ger)
28. Hagen Bernutz (Ger)
29. Thomas Fleischer (Ger)

99 Starters, Belgian unless noted