ReportWith 41 riders starting, some teams in the 36st GP Frans Melckenbeeck were unhappy. Ipso team leader, Paul De Baeremaeker said that "it is not fair that the team directors of the professional teams start. For our national competititions we have over 80 Belgian riders. All our teams with the best riders should have been at the Franco-Belge because there is not enough start money here. I can understand that the younger professionals should ride here. But I don't find it nice that the older professionals take the amateurs prize money."In the race, Andy De Smet, finally took his first victory. "I had a collar bone break early in the season and this was a hard thing to come back from. Today we had 6 riders away at the half-way mark and I had team mate Harry Lodge (UK). That was ideal. Over the last kms, Danny Daelman sat constantly on my wheel, they I couldn't get away. But in the sprint Lodge helped me take it." Smet was followed by Michael Van Der Wolf, Daelman, Tom Stremersch, Koen Van Hullebusch and Marc Streel. Race distance - 168 kms:1. Andy De Smet (Herzele) 4.02.00 2. Michakl van der Wolf (Ned) 3. Danny Daelman 4. Tom Stremersch 5. Koen Van Hullebusch 0.01 6. Marc Streel 7. Harry Lodge (G-B) 0.04 8. Jan Poppe 1.27 9. Davy Dubbeldam (Ned) 1.34 10. Casper van der Meer (Ned) 1.38 11. Karl Pauwels 1.40 12. Michel Cornelisse (Ned) 13. Robbie Vandaele 14. Marat Ganeev (Rus) 15. Christ Hendryckx 16. Louis de Koning (Ned) 17. Koen Beeckman 18. Grigory Schoelens 19. Pedro Rubrecht 20. Masahiko Mifune (Jap) 21. Peter Spaenhoven 22. Vital Timmermans (Ned) 23. Danny De Bie 24. Johan Verstrepen 25. Michel Cerneus (Ned) 42 starters, Belgian unless noted. |