G.P. Des Nations, Cat 1.2

France, September 20, 1997

1996 Results 

  • Professional Men

  • Espoirs and Women

    • Preview

    The 61st edition of the prestigious Grand Prix des Nations individual time trial takes place at Lac de Madine, France, on Saturday, September 20, over 72km. Those down to ride include Richard Virenque (Festina) -- for the first time -- Johan Museeuw (Mapei); Erwan Mentheour (despite a fractured scaphoid sustained in the Tour de l'Avenir), Andrea Peron and Eddy Seigneur (La Francaise des Jeux); Henk Vogels and Anthony Langella (GAN), Chriistophe Bassons, Christophe Moreau and Bruno Boscardin (Festina), Rolf Aldag (Telekom), David Millar (first in the Tour de l'Avenir prologue and second in its time trial stage) and Bobby Julich (Cofidis), and Uwe Peschel (Cantina Tollo). Chris Boardman (GAN), last year's winner, will be defending his title assuming that permission for him to ride is granted by the Vuelta a Espana organisers, a formality necessitated by his having abandoned that race. For the first time, this year the Grand Prix will be preceded by a mass ride covering one lap of the circuit in the morning for which 450 riders have signed up.

    Historical note: Jacques Anquetil won the GP des Nations a record nine times between 1953 and 1966, including six consecutive wins from 1953 to 1958. The nearest rival is Bernard Hinault, with five victories.

    Previous Winners

    1987  Charly Mottet (Fra)
1988  Charly Mottet (Fra)
1989  Laurent Fignon (Fra)
1990  Thomas Wegmueller (Swi)
1991  Tony Rominger (Swi)
1992  Johan Bruyneel (Bel)
1993  Armand De las Cuevas (Fra)
1994  Tony Rominger (Swi)
1995  -
1996  Chris Boardman (GB)
1997  ???

    Race distance - 72 kms:

     1. Uwe Peschel (Ger) Schauff                1.30.52
 2. Marc Streel (Bel) Casino               	0.24
 3. Chris Boardman (GB) GAN                	0.44
 4. Eddy Seigneur (Fra) Francaise des Jeux 	0.53
 5. Erik Breukink (Ned) Rabobank           	1.11
 6. Johan Museeuw (Bel) Mapei-GB        	1.12
 7. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina-Lotus  	1.54
 8. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina-Lotus    	1.55
 9. Gilles Maignan (Fra) Mutuelle          	1.59
10. Pascal Lance (Fra) Big MatAuber        	2.30
11. Rolf Aldag (Ger) Telekom			2.34
12. Henk Vogels (Aus) GAN			2.35
13. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank			2.40
14. Christophe Bassons (Fra) Festina-Lotus	3.20
15. David Millar (GB) Cofidis			3.23
16. Roland Meier (Swi) Post Swiss		3.31
17. Bruno Boscardin (Swi) Festina-Lotus		3.32
18. Paul Manning (GB) Elite			4.08
19. Bobby Julich (USA) Cofidis			4.28
20. Marek Lesniewski (Pol) BigMat Auber		4.32
21. Andrea Peron (Ita) Francaise des Jeux 	6.00
22. Anthony Langella (Fra) GAN 			6.08

22 Starters

    Race Report

    German Uwe Peschel, who had trouble finding a team this season, surprised even himself when he won the Grand Prix des Nations time trial on Saturday.

    Briton Chris Boardman, world hour record holder and last year's winner in the 72-km time trial around Lake Madine in eastern France, was third behind Belgian Marc Streel.

    Boardman may have been weakened by hypoglycemia but the East Berlin-born Reschel has a time trial background.

    Peschel won a bronze medal in the 1995 world championships in Colombia behind Spaniards Miguel Indurain and Abraham Olano.

    But the German struggled to find a team at the start of the season, finally ending up with the modest Slovenian-based Italian outfit Cantina Tollo.

    ``It's hard to motivate yourself when you're not paid,'' said Peschel who resigned from Cantino Tollo in August and now rides for the semi-professional German team Schauff.

    ``It was a dream to win the Nations. Now I'm going to dedicate myself to the world championships in San Sebastian (Spain next month). My morale is high.''

    Boardman, who faded badly over the final kilometres, said: ``It's not the first time that's happened to me. But it's a pity because in a time trial if Boardman wins it's normal, if he loses everyone says it's a failure.''

    GP des Nations Time Trial, Espoirs and Women, 36 kms:

    Australia had Marcel Gono and Peter Klasa selected to ride the Espoir (under 23) event and Kathy Watt in the Womens. The Espoir and Womens event was held over 1 lap of a 36km course while the pros did 2 laps.

    Espiors 

     1. Guillaume Auger (France)           45.59
 2. Laszio Bodrogi (Netherlands)	0.10
 3. Stephane Delimauges (France)     	0.37
 4. Marcel Gono (Australia)		0.45
 5. Stephane Berges (France)          	1.33
..
13. Peter Klasa (Czech Rep)		2.53

Women

 1. Jeannie Longo (France)             49.57
 2. Zultia Zabirova (Russia)		0.46
 3. Alessandro Cappelotto (Italy)	0.51
 4. Yvonne McGregor (GB)		2.07
 5. Cathy Marsal (France)          	2.10
 6. Kathy Watt (Australia)              2.26
 7. Gabriela Pregnolato (Ita) 		3.14
 8. Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) 		3.16
 9. Jolanta Polikeviciute (Lit) 	3.32
10. Diana Rast (Swi) 			3.35