Tour of Belgium - 2.3

Belgium, May 21-25, 2003

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Stage 3 - May 23: Knokke-Heist-Haacht, 246 km

Boonen wins six man sprint

Tom Boonen
Photo: © AFP

By Jeff Jones

Rising Belgian star Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon) has finally won a race in his own country this year, taking the third stage of the Tour of Belgium in a six man sprint. On a narrow finishing straight in the town of Haacht (near Brussels), Boonen powered home to win in front of Jimmy Engoulvent (Brioches la Boulangère) and Karsten Kroon (Rabobank). Four minutes later, the peloton was led home by a strong Johan Museeuw, who heard that Boonen won over the radio and instructed his boys to give him a good leadout, which they did to perfection.

As none of the six riders in front were any threat to the lead of Axel Merckx, the Lotto-Domo rider kept the leader's jersey going into tomorrow's time trial in Mechelen.

Today's third stage was a monster: 246 km between Knokke-Heist and Haacht, passing over several climbs including the, Berendries, Muur Van Geraardsbergen, Bosberg, Bruine Put and Alsemberg. Fortunately the prevailing wind was behind and across the riders, although it did rain off and on all day.

After only seven kilometres, six riders attacked, and that turned out to be the winning move: Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon), Jimmy Engoulvent (Brioches la Boulangère), Karsten Kroon (Rabobank), Ludo Dierckxsens (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago), Erwin Thijs (Palmans-Collstrop), and Hayden Roulston (Cofidis) were the fugitives, and they built up a lead of 12 minutes by the 75 km mark, meaning that Roulston was the virtual leader of the race.

Boonen was the strongest on the climbs, winning all of them as he helped drive the break along towards Haacht. After 110 km, the gap was still 13 minutes, and it was up to the Lotto-Domo team to try and bring it down, which they did. However there was no great urge to catch the break, as the gap was still 8 minutes with 30 km to go, ensuring that one of the leading six would win.

A late attack by Erwin Thijs on the final lap was unsuccessful, after Dierckxsens personally chased him down. Thijs tried again with 500m to go, but was quickly marked and faded to finish 6th. Kroon hit the front with 250m to go, but Boonen came around on his right and easily won the stage, and he was very happy with his result.

"I knew beforehand that this long stage suited me," he said. "Before the start of the Tour of Belgium I was going to go for a good classement, a win in the third stage was my second goal."

His team manager Patrick Lefevere added, "I'm very pleased with this win. Since San Remo, although we've always been amongst the protagonists, we haven't really had any great moments. For teams like ours it is very important for us to be able to win single stages in stage races. This is a good win that pays both the team and our sponsors for all of their hard work."

"This win also means a lot to Tom who is one of the best young Belgian and International riders around at the moment. Today’s win will also help him grow and gain further experience."

Photography

Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon) wins the third stage of the Tour of Belgium in Haacht
Axel Merckx (Lotto-Domo) is applauded by his father Eddy as he retained the leader's jersey after stage 3 of the Tour of Belgium

Results

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                     6.03.00 (40.74 km/h)
2 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere
3 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank
4 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
5 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
6 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                          0.01
7 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                     3.49
8 Michael Rogers (Aus) Quick Step-Davitamon
9 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto-Domo
10 Axel Merckx (Bel) Lotto-Domo
11 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank
12 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
13 Yuri Mitlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
14 Nicola Loda (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
15 Bert Hiemstra (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
16 Roy Sentjens (Ned) Rabobank
17 Bjorn Cornelissen (Ned) Flanders-Iteamnova
18 Robert Bartko (Ger) Rabobank
19 Nico Mattan (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
20 Servais Knaven (Ned) Quick Step-Davitamon
21 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon
22 Marc Streel (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
23 Rik Reinerink (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
24 Jean-Michel Tessier (Fra) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
25 Robert Hayles (GBr) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
26 Stefan Van Dijck (Ned) Lotto-Domo
27 Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
28 Michel Van Haecke (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
29 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
30 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank
31 Bart Voskamp (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
32 Tom Steels (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
33 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
34 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor
35 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Jean Delatour
36 Bert Roesems (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
37 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon
38 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
39 Roger Hammond (GBr) Palmans-Collstrop
40 Bram Schmitz (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
41 Andy Cappelle (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
42 Mauro Facci (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
43 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
44 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Quick Step-Davitamon
45 Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
46 Dave Bruylandts (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
47 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
48 Wesley Van Speybroeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
49 Chris Peers (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
50 Tom Flammang (Lux) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
51 Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
52 Jan Van Velzen (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
53 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
54 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) Rabobank
55 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Team Telekom
56 Matthew White (Aus) US Postal-Berry Floor
57 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Jean Delatour
58 Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
59 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Rabobank
60 Dimitri Konyshev (Rus) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
61 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Fassa Bortolo
62 Juan De Los Angeles Segui (Spa) Fassa Bortolo
63 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
64 Wouter Van Mechelen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
65 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Fassa Bortolo
66 Fabian De Waele (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
67 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) US Postal-Berry Floor
68 Jans Koerts (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
69 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo
70 Geert Omloop (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
71 Jehudi Schoonacker (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
72 Jurgen Landrie (Bel) Flanders-Iteamnova
73 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) US Postal-Berry Floor
74 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon
75 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Fassa Bortolo
76 Thierry De Groote (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
77 Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor
78 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Jean Delatour
79 Geoffrey Demeyere (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
80 Thierry Masschelein (Bel) Flanders-Iteamnova
81 Manuel Toldo (Ita) Flanders-Iteamnova
82 Bruno Thibout (Fra) Jean Delatour                           4.15
83 Matthew Gilmore (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                  4.16
84 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
85 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Team Telekom
86 Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere
87 Leif Hoste (Bel) Lotto-Domo
88 Jo Planckaert (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
89 Ludovic Martin (Fra) Jean Delatour
90 Mario Aerts (Bel) Team Telekom
91 Eddy Seigneur (Fra) Jean Delatour
92 David Lefevre (Fra) Jean Delatour
93 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Lotto-Domo
94 Glenn D'hollander (Bel) Lotto-Domo
95 Serge Baguet (Bel) Lotto-Domo
96 Johan Dekkers (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
97 Damien Nazon (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                   4.26
98 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Lotto-Domo                               4.30
99 Scott Guyton (NZl) Flanders-Iteamnova                       4.34
100 Claudio Lucchini (Ita) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago             7.06
101 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere
 
Sprints
 
Lierde - km 86
 
1 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone          8 pts
2 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                  5
3 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank                                    3
 
Huldenberg - km 153
 
1 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone          8 pts
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                           5
3 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                  3
 
Haacht - km 190
 
1 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone          8 pts
2 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                  5
3 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                   3
 
Climbs
 
Berendries
 
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                          10 pts
2 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                             7
3 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone          4
4 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                   2
5 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                  1
 
Muur Van Geraardsbergen
 
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                          10 pts
2 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                             7
3 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                   4
4 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                  2
5 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone          1
 
Bosberg
 
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                          10 pts
2 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                             7
3 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                  4
4 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                   2
5 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone          1
 
Bruine Put
 
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                          10 pts
2 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone          7
3 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                             4
4 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                   2
5 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                  1
 
Alsemberg
 
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                          10 pts
2 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                             7
3 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                  4
4 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                   2
5 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone          1
 
General classification after stage 3
 
1 Axel Merckx (Bel) Lotto-Domo                             14.34.23
2 Tom Steels (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                     0.08
3 Rik Reinerink (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team             0.12
4 Stefan Van Dijck (Ned) Lotto-Domo                            0.14
5 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) US Postal-Berry Floor
6 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Quick Step-Davitamon                    0.15
7 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                     0.17
8 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Jean Delatour
9 Servais Knaven (Ned) Quick Step-Davitamon
10 Andy Cappelle (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
11 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon              0.18
12 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto-Domo                              0.19
13 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Fassa Bortolo
14 Bart Voskamp (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
15 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Rabobank
16 Nicola Loda (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                             0.20
17 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
18 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank
19 Robert Bartko (Ger) Rabobank
20 Nico Mattan (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
21 Bert Hiemstra (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
22 Michel Van Haecke (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
23 Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
24 Bert Roesems (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
25 Marc Streel (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
26 Michael Rogers (Aus) Quick Step-Davitamon
27 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon
28 Tom Flammang (Lux) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
29 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank
30 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor
31 Bram Schmitz (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
32 Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
33 Dimitri Konyshev (Rus) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
34 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Fassa Bortolo
35 Chris Peers (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
36 Matthew White (Aus) US Postal-Berry Floor
37 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
38 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Team Telekom
39 Dave Bruylandts (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
40 Geert Omloop (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
41 Jan Van Velzen (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
42 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Fassa Bortolo
43 Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor
44 Geoffrey Demeyere (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
45 Matthew Gilmore (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                  0.45
46 Leif Hoste (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                 0.47
47 Johan Dekkers (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
48 Bjorn Cornelissen (Ned) Flanders-Iteamnova                  1.24
49 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone      6.12
50 Wesley Van Speybroeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago        10.10
51 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) US Postal-Berry Floor
52 Manuel Toldo (Ita) Flanders-Iteamnova                      13.09
53 Bruno Thibout (Fra) Jean Delatour                          13.35
54 Eddy Seigneur (Fra) Jean Delatour                          14.48
55 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                      21.24
56 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo                      24.50
57 Jans Koerts (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team             25.01
58 Roy Sentjens (Ned) Rabobank                                25.25
59 Yuri Mitlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
60 Roger Hammond (GBr) Palmans-Collstrop
61 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
62 Jean-Michel Tessier (Fra) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
63 Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
64 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) Rabobank
65 Wouter Van Mechelen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
66 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
67 Robert Hayles (GBr) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
68 Mauro Facci (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
69 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
70 Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
71 Juan De Los Angeles Segui (Spa) Fassa Bortolo
72 Fabian De Waele (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
73 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
74 Jehudi Schoonacker (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
75 Thierry De Groote (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
76 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon
77 Jo Planckaert (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone       25.52
78 Serge Baguet (Bel) Lotto-Domo
79 Mario Aerts (Bel) Team Telekom
80 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Team Telekom
81 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Lotto-Domo                              26.22
82 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere              31.19
83 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago             31.21
84 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank
85 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                        31.27
86 Glenn D'hollander (Bel) Lotto-Domo                         35.07
87 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                35.15
88 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Jean Delatour
89 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
90 Thierry Masschelein (Bel) Flanders-Iteamnova
91 Jurgen Landrie (Bel) Flanders-Iteamnova
92 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                  35.42
93 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Lotto-Domo
94 Damien Nazon (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                  35.52
95 Scott Guyton (NZl) Flanders-Iteamnova                      36.00
96 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere            38.32
97 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Jean Delatour                     39.23
98 Ludovic Martin (Fra) Jean Delatour                         39.50
99 Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere              39.53
100 David Lefevre (Fra) Jean Delatour
101 Claudio Lucchini (Ita) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago            42.43
 
Sprints classification
 
1 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone         24 pts
2 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) US Postal-Berry Floor                   16
3 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                 13
4 Rik Reinerink (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team               10
5 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Lotto-Domo                                  10
6 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                        8
7 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Jean Delatour                             8
8 Servais Knaven (Ned) Quick Step-Davitamon                       8
9 Andy Cappelle (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                       8
10 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                 6
11 Tom Steels (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                       5
12 Matthew Gilmore (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                     5
13 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                          5
14 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                 3
15 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Fassa Bortolo                             3
16 Bart Voskamp (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team                3
17 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Rabobank                                  3
18 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                  3
19 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank                                   3
 
Climbs classification
 
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                          50 pts
2 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                            32
3 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone         14
4 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                 12
5 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                  12
 
Teams classification
 
1 Quick.Step-Davitamon                                     43.40.19
2 Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                                      0.01
3 Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
4 Rabobank
5 Palmans-Collstrop                                            0.02
6 Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team                                 3.36
7 Lotto-Domo
8 US Postal  Berry Floor                                       3.50
9 Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
10 Vlaanderen-T Interim
11 Fassa Bortolo
12 Jean Delatour                                              26.29
13 Flanders-Iteamnova                                         52.38
14 Team Telekom                                               54.54
15 Brioches La Boulangere                                     45.50