GP Frankfurt

Rund um den Henninger Turm

Preview of Main Race

Although not part of the World Cup series this year the Category 1.1 Grand Prix of Frankfurt, run today (May 1) over 255km of undulating roads in the Taunus hills, has attracted a strong field.

The principal riders are:

GEWISS: Frattini, Zanini, Colombo
TELEKOM: Ludwig, Riis, Zabel
MAPEI: Musseuw, Ballerini, Bortolami, Vandenbroucke
CARRERA: Chiappucci
LOTTO: Tchmil
MG: Richard, Bartoli, Fontanelli
MOTOROLA: Sciandri, Peron, Thibout
POLTI: Gianetti, Lombardi
RABOBANK: Sorensen, Ekimov, Breukink
ROSLOTTO: Fondriest, Lino
SAECO: Cipollini, Furlan
SAN MARCO: Vanderaerden
TVM: Poulnikov, Hamburger, Roux
COLLSTROP: Mulders
FORELDORADO: Bouwmans
VLAANDEREN 2002: Roosen
US POSTAL: Teutenberg
TONISSTEINER: Dalmans
NURNBERG: Zemke

35th GP Frankfurt, Rund um den Henninger Turm, 255km:

 1. Beat Zberg (Sch) Carrera                   6.31.25 (39,09 km/h)
 2. Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom                    s.t.
 3. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                  s.t.
 4. Bjarne Ris (Den) Telekom                      s.t.
 5. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Gewiss               + 0.09
 6. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom                    + 0.14
 7. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Roslotto-ZG
 8. Olaf Ludwig (Ger) Telekom
 9. Fabrizio Bontempi (Ita) Brescialat
10. Wilfried Peeters (Bel) Mapei-GB
11. Rolf Aldag (Ger) Telekom
12. Michele Bartoli (Ita) MG-Technogym
13. Maarten den Bakker (Ned) TVM
14. Enrico Zaina (Ita) Carrera
15. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) Rabobank          all s.t.

 - 160 starters, 52 classified -

Espoirs (Under-23), 189 km:

 1. Renco van den Ven (Ned)     4.48.12
 2. Martin Muller (Ger)            s.t.
 3. Frederik Berthelsen (Den)      s.t.
 4. Gerome Delbove (Fra)           s.t.
 5. Franck Pencole (Fra)         + 0.25
 6. Anthony Langella (Fra)       + 0.28

Women - Elite, 50 km:

 1. Barbara Heeb (Sch)  1.08.09 (44,020 km/h)
 2. Vouets (Sch)           s.t.
 3. Teutenberg (Ger)     + 0.27

Race Report

Last year the GP Frankfurt was a World Cup event. This year it was classifed as 1.1. Those who can follow the U.C.I, please raise their hands.

The question is if this race is really a potential WC race. Every year its the same. 60 riders or so manage to struggle through the difficult terrain near Frankfurt but then the last 50 km are flat and everything is being decided at the 3 local tours (like a criterium) with the German team of Telekom trying to win the race at one way or another.

Still very big names this year at the finish and Zberg was surely the best.

First he was in a group which countered an attack by Barbero and Bolts. Together with Fondriest, Sorenson Bartoli, Riis, Vandenbroucke, Colombo and a couple of others. They were caught with still 40 km to go. A group of 52 riders was formed.

Then he had the initiative in a group with Sorenson, Tafi, Zberg, Den Bakker, Ludwig, Ekimov, Riis, Heppner, Fratini and Ballerini. In the local tours, 4 jumped away at 20 km from the finish: they would take the first four places.

Despite their advantage as being members of one (German!) team Telekom, Riis and Heppner couldn't finish it. Sorenson and Zberg were just too strong.

The coverage of the German TV was BAAAAD! They don't know anything of race coverage.

Still, with 5 km to go, it could be seen that the two Danish riders were talking...

Despite this conversation, Zberg responded with his legs! Riis began the sprint, with Sorenson second, Zberg came from behind and won 5 metres ahead of the others. Just in time to have a nice 25th birthday party!!