News for September 18, 1997

Merelbeke Belgium - 170 km - Open

 1. M. Vanhaecke (Bel)
 2. M. Van Kessel (Ned)
 3. R. Vandaele (Bel)
 4. F. De Buyst (Bel)
 5. D. Van Looy (Bel) 	0.10

115 Starters

Belgian Team for Worlds

The Belgium selection for the World Championship road race was finalised by the BWB coach Marc Sergeant and his advisor Eddy Merckx yesterday. They selected 4 new riders for the road in San Sebastian: Peter Farazijn, Marc Wauters, Kurt Van De Wouwer and Ludo Dierckxsens.

Already selected were Museeuw, Peeters, Steels, Vandenbroucke, Mattan, Planckaert, Aerts, Merckx and Van Petegem

Nico Mattan and Marc Streel in the ITT. Other selections are: 

Espoirs: 

Road: Stive Vermaut, Davy Daniels, Bert De Waele, Karel Vereecke,
Ludovic Capelle. 

ITT: Marc Chanoine and Bart De Ceuster

Juniors: 

Road: Stijn Devolder, Staf Scheirlinckx, Andy Standaert, Andy Cappelle, Kim Van Bouwel, Gert Steegmans.

ITT: Tom Boonen and Jan Kuyckx

Elite Women: 

Road: Heidi Van de Vijver, Cindy Pieters.

ITT: Heidi Van de Vijver

Juniores dames: Marie-Claire Vogts and Liesbeth Deceuninck.

Vuelta 1998

On the rest day in the Vualta the schedule was published for 1998. The Tour will start on September 5 in Cordoba. The final finish will be in Madrid on September 27. In 1998, the Pyrenees are back in the Tour. The whole peloton will go to the Isle of Mallorca for a time trial of 40 km.

The complete race is 3,762 kilometers. Nine flat stages and eleven in the mountains, two individual time trials of 80 km in all. Thirteen first category climbs and nine of second category has to be conquered. 

  5 September, Stage 1: Córdoba - Córdoba, 162 km.
  6 September, Stage 2: Córdoba - Cádiz, 235 km.
  7 September, Stage 3: Cádiz - Estepona:160, km.
  8 September, Stage 4: Marbella - Granada, 185 km.
  9 September, Stage 5: Olula del rio - Murcia, 176 km.
 10 September, Stage 6: Murcia - Alicante, 169 km.
 11 September, Stage 7: Alicante - Valencia, 190 km.
 12 September, Stage 8: Palma de Mallorca - Palma de Mallorca, 188 km.
 13 September, Stage 9: Alcudia - Alcudia (ITT) 40 km.
 14 September. Rest day and transfer
 15 September, Stage 10: Vic - Andorra, 222 km.
 16 September, Stage 11: Andorra - Ampriu, 195 km.
 17 September, Stage 12: Benasque - Jaca, 163 km.
 18 September, Stage 13: Sabiñánigo - Sabiñánigo, 196 Km.
 19 September, Stage 14: Biescas - Zaragoza, 152 Km.
 20 September, Stage 15: Zaragoza - Soria, 174 Km.
 21 September, Stage 16, Soria - Laguna Negra de Neila, 148 km.
 22 September, Stage 17, Burgos - León, 191 km.
 23 September, Stage 18: León - Salamanca, 208 km.
 24 September, Stage 19: Salamanca - Segovia, 220 km.
 25 September, Stage 20: Segovia - Alto de Navacerrada, 192 km.
 26 September, Stage 21: Fuenlabrada - Fuenlabrada. (ITT) 40 km.
 27 September, Stage 22: Madrid - Madrid, 158 km.