Omloop van de Rozenstreek, National Event (No UCI points)

Belgium, September 8, 1997

Race Report

Bart Heirewegh (from Zele, Belgium) was the fastest of three breakaway riders and took his first victory in the Omloop van de Rozenstreek. He has broken away with Peter Spaenhoven and the Dane, Soren Petersen. With this win, Heirewegh will be able to extend his contract with the Ipso team.

The race started slowly. Then a group of 14 with Geert Omloop, Franky De Buyst, Andy De Smet, Bart Heirewegh, Lorenzo Lapage, Peter Spaenhoven, Danny Van Looy, the Spaniard Barrencha, Etienne De Wilde, the Dane Soren Petersen, the Russuan Marat Ganeev, the Pole Pawel Ryckelicki, the Australian Matthew Gilmore and Patrick De Wael took over. The reset of the 56 starters were never in the race.

With 30 kms to go, De Buyst and Omloop tried to counter the attack of Spaenhoven. They did not succeed. The Antwerp rider (Spaenhoven) then was joined by Heirewegh and Petersen. Heirewegh took the first prize.

Race distance - 169 kms:

 1. Bart Heirewegh (Zele)   4.00.00
 2. Sören Petersen (Den) 
 3. Peter Spaenhoven 
 4. Andy De Smet 		0.31
 5. Etienne De Wilde
 6. Marat Ganeev (Rus)
 7. Patrick De Wael
 8. Glenn Ryckelynck
 9. Geert Omloop 
10. Franky De Buyst 
11. Danny Van Looy 
12. Matthew Gilmore (Australia) 
13. Laurenzo Lapage 
14. Inaki Barrenetxea (Spa) 	1.02 
15. Brian Dalgaard (Den) 	3.57 
16. Robbie Vandaele 
17. Michel Cornelisse (Ned)  
18. Pascal Elaut 
19. Koen Beeckman 
20. Hans Redant 
21. Michel Nottebart 
22. Bernard Bocian (Pol) 
23. Guy Van Broekhoven 
24. Hans De Meester 
25. Christophe Bracke 
26. Peter Schoonjans 
27. Tony Bracke 
28. Jim Van De Laer 
29. Paul Herygers 
30. Michael Derycke