Vlaams Pijl/Fleche Namuroise, Cat 1.5

Bioul, Belgium, September 22, 1997

1996 Results

Race Report

Johan Bruyneel won this race after a solo attack with 40 kms still left to ride. He said that "I have been a rider long enough not to let opportunities to win slip away. Three weeks ago I was not in good form. But after this win I am feeling good. I am clearly in form now but there is not much of the season left. Perhaps I can win some more races. I am heading for Italy where I have 7 races to ride with the Ronde van Puglia and three other bigger races before the Worlds.

The victory of the Rabobank rider came with his strength in the hills. The peloton were left without anyone to match the pace, although some of the Espoirs like Jurgen Vandewalle, Kristof Trouvé, Bjorn Leukemans, Mike Guiliams and Karel Vereecke rode well.

Bruyneel held of a chasing group of 12 although it was left to three young Lotto riders to put the big turns in - though Christophe Detilloux and Fabien De Waele were not up to the efforts of Marc Wauters who did most of the work. He attacked with 10 kms to go from this group and ended up in second place. That was just over 30 second from the winner. Martin Van Steen was another attacker to take 3rd.

Race distance - 186 kms:

  1. Johan Bruyneel (Bel) Rabobank	      4.25.00 (42,113 km/h)
  2. Marc Wauters (Bel) Lotto                    1.19
  3. Martin Van Steen (Ned) Continentale (s)     1.30
  4. Matthe Pronk (Ned) elite
  5. Fabien De Waele (Bel) Lotto
  6. Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto
  7. Gregoire Balland (Fra) elite
  8. Casper Van der Meer (Ned) Foreldorado
  9. Olivier Penny (Swi) elite
 10. Mike Guillaums (Bel) elite                  1.36
 11. Karel Vereecke (Bel) elite                  1.59
 12. Kristof Trouve (Bel) elite                  2.04
 13. Marc Lotz (Ned) Rabobank (s)
 14. Jurgen Vandewalle (Bel) elite               3.38
 15. Danny In 't Ven (Bel) elite                 3.59
 16. Bert De Waele (Bel) elite                   4.11
 17. Steven Van Aken (Bel) elite                 4.17
 18. Bart Everaert (Bel) elite                   4.29
 19. Michael De Rijcke (Bel) elite               4.31
 20. Dirk D'Haemers (Bel) elite