GP Izegem, National Event (No UCI points)

Belgium, September 9, 1997

Race Report

Ludo Dierckxens was the fastest of his 3 fellow breakaway riders, Vandaele, Backstedt and Van Der Wolf in the sprint. At the halfway mark there was a top group of 13 riders. Backstedt and Talen , Museeuw, Marichal, Dierckxsens, Van Der Wolf, Vandaele, Hennebert, Hans De Clercq, Van Bondt, Peers, Planckaert and the German Chyla had a break of more than two minutes from the rest. With almost 20 kms to go there was a break in the top group. Vandaele, Dierckxens, Backstedt and Van Der Wolf left the rest of the attackers. With 5 kms to go, the gap was 10 seconds. Soon the pursuing group was at only 40 metres. Vandaele attacked, then the fast Van Der Wolf came back at him. Dierckxens was on his wheel and in the sprint was the fastest of the four. It was the 5th win for the Tönissteiner rider.

Race distance - 162 kms:

 1. Ludo Dierckxens (Bel) Tönissteiner	    3.12.00
 2. Robbie Vandaele
 3. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Palmans
 4. Michael van der Wolf (Ned)
 5. Jo Planckaert 				0.15 
 6. John Talen (Ned) Foreldorado-Golff
 7. Hans De Clercq
 8. Stéphane Hennebert
 9. Johan Museeuw (Bel) Mapei-GB
10. Geert Van Bondt
11. Chris Peers
12. Thierry Marichal
13. Rafael Chyla (Ger)
14. Dany Baeyens
15. Steven Van Malderghem 			1.09 
16. Oleg Pankov (Ukr)
17. Lars Teutenberg (Ger)
18. Eric De Clercq
19. Jan Poppe
20. Jurgen Vermeersch				1.10 
21. Gert Vanderaerden 				1.50 
22. Nico Mattan
23. Raimundas Rumsas (Lit)
24. Michel Cornelisse (Ned)
25. Gunther Kindermann
26. Pavel Khamidoulin (Rus)
27. Mario De Clercq
28. Wouter Van Wettere
29. Johan Capiot
30. Carlo Bomans (Bel) Mapei-GB

140 starters
Belgian unless noted