Race Distance - 167 kms:1. Peter Spaenhoven (Hoboken-Champion of Antwerp) 3.47.00 2. Rik Van Slijcke (Bel) 3. Hans De Meester (Bel) 0.41 4. Hans De Clercq (Bel) 5. Pavel Khamidouline (Rus) 6. Wim Omloop (Bel) 7. Johan Verstrepen (Bel) 8. Jonathan Vaughters (USA) 9. Trent Klasna (USA) 6.00 10. Tom Stremersch (Bel) 11. Jarno Vanfrachem (Bel) 12. Robbie McEwen (Australia) 13. Stanislav Nefedov (Rus) 14. Matthew Allan (Australia) 15. Pedro Rubrecht (Bel) 16. Niels van der Steen (Ned) 17. Nicolay Koudriavtsjev (Rus) 18. Jakob Piil Storm (Den) 9.00 19. John Pieters (USA) 20. Hendrik Van Dijck (Bel) 21. Alexander Rotar (Oek) 22. Karl Pauwels (Bel) 23. Vital Timmermans (Ned) 24. Magnus B&aauml;ckstedt (Swe) 25. Andy Missotten (Bel) 26. Ronny Assez (Bel) 27. Joerie Soerkov (Rus) 28. Johan De Geyter (Bel) 29. Christ Hendrickx (Bel) 30. Anatoly Varuaroux (Oek) all s.t. Peter Spaenhoven pleases his sponsorYesterday afternoon, Charel Palmans sat in his seat drinking a trappiste in place of a simple pint of beer. The Aartselaarse sponsor (Artselaar is a town near Antwerp) of the Walter Planckaert led team, had more than enough evidence to establish that his young riders can in the coming weeks and months radiate his firm name in the public eye even more.Half of the 8 riders in the final decisive attack of, out of an earlier more extensive attack of 19 riders, had yellow and red Palmans jerseys - Wim Omloop, Hans De Clercq, Hans De Meester and naturally the final winner Peter Spaenhoven. The Russian Pavel Khamidouline, Johan Verstrepen, and American Jonathan Vaughters and Belgian Rik Van Slycke realised the difficulty they would have in the "final harvest". Spaenhoven attacked sharply on the last lap. The rest remained sitting, perhaps with the knowledge that reacting would waste their power. In the sprint, the East-Flemish Rich was no match for the blond Peter who grew up in this town and rode as a nieuwelingen (juvenile), a junior abd an amateur, and now in the most important category. The victory also meant he took the Provincial Title. "It was not so difficult today", said the obviously content winner, "To win in front of your own public (he is from the area) is not as easy as people might think. When I attacked with Van Slycke, I could afford to play "bluff poker". If we were caught then another rider in our team could have attacked. Van Slycke realised that. I still had to sprint to win. An it is a nice beginning to a very important period for us." |