GP Desselgem/GP Briek Schotte, National (No UCI Points)

Belgium, September 16, 1997

Wim Feys halts John Talen in the final kilometres

Yesterday (Tuesday), Wim Feys added his name to the winner's list of the GP Briek Schotte. The rider from West Flanders overcame the Dutchman from the Foreldorado in the final kilometres to take his first win of the season.

Ludo Dierckxsens had made a solo attack after 15 kilometers. He held a maximun gap of 30 seconds but then had the Lotto riders on his back and the tempo was very high. At the 50 kms mark, the Saxon rider had just under 30s. Soon after he was joined by Verstrepen, Mario De Clercq, Christ Heyndrickx, Tom Desmet, Feys, Peers, Fleischer, Talen, Backstedt and Streel.

With 5 kms to go Feys, Talen, Streel, Verstrepen and De Clercq took a small lead. Dierckxsens was at the front of the chasers. Talen attacked but was overtaken by Feys. Dierckxsens was in third place about 10 metres in front of De Clercq.

Race distance - 155 kms

 1. Wim Feys (Bel)		      3.37.00 (avs 44,119 km/h)
 2. John Talen (Ned) Foreldorad-Golff
 3. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Saxon
 4. Mario De Clercq
 5. Chris Peers
 6. Magnus Backstedt (Swe)
 7. Tom Desmet
 8. Christ Hendryckx
 9. Marc Streel
10. Johan Verstrepen
11. Thomas Fleischer (Ger) 		2.45
12. Gino Verheyden 			6.55
13. Hans De Meester 
14. Chris Pollin
15. Dany Baeyens
16. Ludovic Capelle
17. Miquel van Kessel (Ned)
18. Andreas Beikirch (Ger)
19. Sören Petersen (Den)
20. Fabien De Waele
21. Dimitri Bral
22. Dirk D'Haemers
23. Christophe Detilloux
24. Franky Van Haesebroucke
25. Bart Everaert
26. Grégory Schoelens
27. Stive Vermaut
28. Eddy Vancraeynest
29. Wim Heselmans
30. Sébastien Demarbaix

Belgian unless noted