Tour of the Netherlands 1997 FactsRonde van Nederland (Tour of the Netherlands) is 901 km this year. August 26: Tilburg-Alkmaar 215 km August 27: Alkmaar-Haarlem 162 km August 28: Hoogeveen-Denekamp 80 km August 28: Nordhorn (Germany)-Denekamp - ITT 24 km August 29: Almelo-Venray 180 km August 30: Venray-Landgraaf 240 km (the hardest stage in the Limburg hills) Winner of last year was Rolf Sorensen. Tour of the Netherlands became a 2.1 race (last year 2.2); because the riders can get now more UCI-points the organization expect a strong field. The winner get 140 points. Lloret de Mar. Challenge International Social CompetitionI don't know what this event is but my mate Hans sends me the results so I put them up just in case one of these characters is a brother, father, boyfriend or whatever! Stage 2: 1. Pill (Den) 115 km in 2.45.37 2. Dirks (Bel) 3. Matees (Bel) GC after Stage 2 1. Pill 95 points 2. Paul van Schalen (Ned) 73 3. Dierckxsens (Bel) 68 7. Theus 55 10. Roel van Schalen (Ned) 48 Stage 3: 1. Martin (Fra) 6.2 km in 15.09 2. Cabestany (Spa) 3. Esmeralda (Spa) 4. Flasse (Bel) 5. Riera (Spa) 6. Mercedal (Spa) GC 1. Pill (Den) 95 points 2. Martin 75 3. De Haan (Ned) 73 =4. Van Schalen (Ned) =4. Flasse 72 6. Van Drommen (Bel) 69 Paris-Bourges - not in 1997The semi-classic Paris-Bourges has been cancelled because of financial problems. The Municipality of Bourges wants to provide a lower subsidy to the race.Paris-Bourges was planned for Oct 2. The 46th (and last?) race was won by TVM rider Tristan Hoffman last year. |