Ninove Kermesse, NE

Belgium, July 24 1997

Race Report

This was the first professional win for Johan De Geyter. So in Ninove is was a big day for the rider from Herzeelse. At the end of the very fast race Johan De Geyter, who has been a professional for two years, took his first victory. The Palmans team helped him win. Together with teammates, Hans De Meester, Christ Hendryckx and Hans De Clercq he was in the top group of 12. At the same time, the Ipso team has only 3 men in the break.

"And we knew that Michel Van Haecke was not having a good day" said his teammate Andy De Smet, who was on the podium for coming second. He is also from Herzel.

De Geyter was not going to have the race taken from him. He was initially in a top group of 18 when the first attacks occured. The leaders were Steffen Kjargaard, Mark Janssens, Danny Baeyens (also from Herzel), Jan Poppe, Marc Streel and Phil Jacob. But then the strong Geyter broke this bunch and only 12 remained. De Meester attacked on the second last lap, then De Geyter. This was not countered by Ipso. The second place going to Andy De Smet who was the faster in the sprint than Australian Matthew Gilmore.

Race distance - 165 kms:

 1. Johan de Geyter (Herzele, Belgium) Palmans     3.50.00
 2. Andy De Smet Ipso 						3.05 
 3. Matthew Gilmore (Australia) RDM
 4. John van den Akker (Ned)  Foreldorado-Golff
 5. Christ Hendryckx Palmans
 6. Tim Lenaers Cos
 7. Hans De Meester Palmans	
 8. Grégory Schoelens Tonnisteiner
 9. Robbie Vandaele Ipso
10. Godert de Leeuw (Ned) Foreldorado-Golff 		3.20
11. Eric De Clercq Cos
12. Hans De Clercq Palmans
13. Gino Verheyden Palmans
14. Jean-Pierre Heynderickx Cedico
15. Michel Vanhaecke Ipso
16. Peter Spaenhoven Palmans
17. Steffen Kjargaard (Nor) TVM
18. Tom Desmet Cos.
19. Raymond Meijs (Ned) Foreldorado-Golff 
20. Brian Dalgaard (Den) Ec
21. Karl Pauwels Palmans
22. Oleg Pankov (Oek) RDM 					4.00
23. Tom Stremersch Vlaanderen-2000
24. Christian Selin (Fin) RDM
25. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Palmans
26. Franky Van Haesebroucke Ipso
27. Danny De Bie Rollini
28. Patrick De Wael Ec.
29. Bert Roesems Vlaanderen-2000
30. Harry Lodge (GB) Ipso

81 Starters
Belgian unless noted.