Vlaanderen-Europa Classic, Cat 1.7

Belgium, July 11 1997

Race Report

No Fleming, and even no European won the Vlaanderen-Europa Classic which was raced on July 11. Instead, it was the Australian Mathew Hayman who escaped in the last kilometers to capture the victory. The Belgians did not even figure in the finale with several other European riders taking the top places behind Hayman. In the final leading group, there were nearly 30 riders. There was also a following group of 16 riders.

Over the last section of cobbles, almost at the end of the last large lap, the groups came together, and the battle for the finale began. A group of 4 attacked with Wim Heselmans driving the tempo for the Dutchman Daniel Van Elven (Rabobank) and the Swede Mickael Wranqvist. These two riders took over the race in the last 5 kms and were joined by Hayman. Hayman, who turned 19 in April, was clearly not an easy rider to beat. Last year he came second in the World ITT Championships for Juniors and joined the Dutch team Rabobank with compatriot Robbie McEwen.

Tim De Peuter was in the first Belgian in fifth place. The rider from Deurne began racing again in June after a knee operations.

Olen-Geel, 176 kms:

 1. Mathew Hayman (Australia)        3.44.00
 2. Daniel van Elven (Ned) 		0.22 
 3. Mickael Wranquist (Swe) 		0.40 
 4. Fabrice Paumier (Fra) 		3.01 
 5. Tim De Peuter (Bel)			3.04 
 6. Johan Van Nueten 			3.11 
 7. Jurgen Van Roosbroeck 		3.16 
 8. Sammy Quinn (GB)			3.32 
 9. Ludovic Capelle
10. Nico De Keyser
11. Thierry De Groote
12. Wim Heselmans 
13. Bart Dhaene 			6.08 
14. Kristof Meeus 			6.12 
15. Tim Meeusen 			6.14 
16. Kevin Hulsmans 
17. Jimmy Geerts 
18. Yoeri Beyens 
19. Jehudi Schoonacker 
20. Hielke Boersma (Ned) 
21. Kurt Habraeken
22. Dieter Verleyen 			7.03 
23. Jan Verstraeten 
24. Kristof Debboudt 
25. Kristof Trouvi 
26. Geert Van Crombruggen 
27. Steven Thys 
28. Julien Smink (Ned) 
29. Jurgen Vandewalle			7.10 
30. Wilfried Cretskens 			7.42 
32. Emmanuel Bastin 
33. David Vanhove 
34. Chris Pollin 
35. Paul Wilkens (GB) 
36. Steve Higgins (GB) 
37. Patrick Deweerd 
38. Jonas Hudalla (Ger) 
39. Thomas Fulberth (Ger)
40. Jeroen Claesen 
41. Steven Tack 
42. Steve De Maeseneer
43. Christof Marikn 
44. Jurgen Vermeersch 
45. Kenneth Mercken 
46. Justin Clarke (GB) 
47. Cliff Everaerts 
48. Jurgen Guns 
49. Jean-Michel Remacle 
50. Jurgen Landrie

162 starters
Belgian unless noted