Tour of Belgium - 2.3

Belgium, May 21-25, 2003

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Stage 4 - May 24: Mechelen ITT, 20.6 km

Rogers takes lead with strong time trial

By Jeff Jones

Merckx not finished yet
Photo: © Luc Claessen

Australian Michael Rogers (Quick.Step-Davitamon) has taken the leader's jersey in the Tour of Belgium with one stage to go, after finishing second in today's 21 km time trial in Mechelen. Rogers was 10 seconds slower than Swiss Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo), who clocked a time of 24'50, an average speed of 49.771 km/h. However Cancellara lost 25 minutes in the first stage, so was never in the picture for the General Classification.

Quick.Step-Davitamon has strength in numbers after today's stage, placing five men in the top 10 on the classification. Laszlo Bodrogi (4th), Servais Knaven (5th), Johan Museeuw (9th) and Frank Vandenbroucke (10th) are all in a position to assume control if their teammate Rogers falters in tomorrow's tough "Liege-Bastogne-Liege" stage which finishes in Ans.

Museeuw still in top 10
Photo: © Hans Deveuster

However race leader Axel Merckx (Lotto-Domo) is still in contention, after finishing 24th in the time trial and moving down to 8th on the classification at 29 seconds. Merckx rode well today to finish 24th, and he was clearly giving it everything to limit the damage to Rogers.

Other good performances today came from Rabobank's Robert Bartko, who finished in 25'03, just 3 seconds slower than Rogers. Also Driedaagse van De Panne winner Raivis Belohvosciks (Marlux) didn't concede too much time and is now in third overall, 7 seconds off Rogers.

Photos

Images by Luc Claessen/www.actiefotos.be

Gorazd Stangelj's (Fassa Bortolo) Elvis-style sideburns worked a treat in today's 20.6km ITT around Mechelen.
Hey, this Fassa Bortolo rider could act as a body double for...
... George Hincapie (US Postal-Berry Floor), who's coming back strong after a sustained period of illness.
Curiouser and curiouser - the plot appears to be getting a little too thick for Leon Van Bon (Lotto-Domo).
Axel Merckx (Lotto-Domo) was clearly giving it everything to limit the damage to new leader Michael Rogers (Quick Step-Davitamon).
High profile directeur sportif of Lotto-Domo, Hendrik Redant, lends his thoughts to the press.
Serge Baguet (Lotto-Domo) is still finding his legs this season, which his facial expression appears to convey.
Stage one winner Tom Steels (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) is much more at home sprinting in the final 200 metres of a race than riding the race of truth.
Tom Flammang (Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) deep in thought as he makes his way to the start village of Mechelen.

Images by Hans Deveuster/www.sportfotos.be

Overnight leader Axel Merckx (Lotto-Domo) is still in contention, after finishing 24th in the time trial and moving down to 8th on the classification at 29 seconds.
Swiss Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo) clocked a time of 24'50 at an average speed of 49.771 km/h, which was good enough to take the stage.
Frank Vandenbroucke (Quick Step-Davitamon) finished 15th in the time trial, and is just 37 seconds off his teammate Michael Rogers.
The Lion of Flanders, Johan Museeuw (Quick Step-Davitamon) finished four seconds faster than Frank VDB, and in a Quick-Step-looking leaderboard, Museeuw lies ninth at 33 seconds.
Tom Steels (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) finished 1.28 off the fastest time set by Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo).

Results

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo                       24.50 (49.771 km/h)
2 Michael Rogers (Aus) Quick Step-Davitamon                    0.10
3 Robert Bartko (Ger) Rabobank                                 0.13
4 Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf              0.17
5 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Quick Step-Davitamon                    0.22
6 Eddy Seigneur (Fra) Jean Delatour                            0.24
7 Servais Knaven (Ned) Quick Step-Davitamon                    0.29
8 Bart Voskamp (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team              0.34
9 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Jean Delatour
10 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor                 0.35
11 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                 0.43
12 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                   0.44
13 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                    0.46
14 Marc Streel (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                   0.49
15 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon
16 Robert Hayles (GBr) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone        0.50
17 Matthew White (Aus) US Postal-Berry Floor                   0.51
18 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Team Telekom                          0.53
19 Dave Bruylandts (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                 0.54
20 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) US Postal-Berry Floor                   0.55
21 Jan Van Velzen (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team           0.57
22 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                           0.58
23 Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
24 Axel Merckx (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                0.59
25 Andy Cappelle (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                   1.00
26 Nico Mattan (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone          1.01
27 Bert Hiemstra (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
28 Jans Koerts (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team              1.02
29 Bram Schmitz (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
30 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                1.03
31 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon               1.10
32 Leif Hoste (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                 1.12
33 Bert Roesems (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
34 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) Rabobank                              1.14
35 Scott Guyton (NZl) Flanders-Iteamnova                       1.19
36 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
37 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Fassa Bortolo                     1.21
38 Matthew Gilmore (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                  1.23
39 Wouter Van Mechelen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
40 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Rabobank                               1.27
41 Tom Steels (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                    1.28
42 Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere
43 Chris Peers (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone          1.29
44 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Fassa Bortolo                          1.34
45 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team             1.36
46 Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor                    1.37
47 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto-Domo                              1.40
48 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) US Postal-Berry Floor
49 Roy Sentjens (Ned) Rabobank
50 Mauro Facci (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                             1.41
51 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                       1.42
52 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere
53 Geoffrey Demeyere (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                1.44
54 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Fassa Bortolo                         1.47
55 Geert Omloop (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                        1.49
56 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank
57 Nicola Loda (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                             1.53
58 Glenn D'hollander (Bel) Lotto-Domo                          1.54
59 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                  1.55
60 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Jean Delatour                         1.57
61 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Lotto-Domo                               1.58
62 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Team Telekom                         2.00
63 Mario Aerts (Bel) Team Telekom
64 Yuri Mitlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
65 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Jean Delatour                      2.03
66 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Lotto-Domo                          2.04
67 Tom Flammang (Lux) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
68 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                         2.08
69 Rik Reinerink (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team            2.10
70 Thierry De Groote (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                   2.20
71 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                     2.21
72 Bruno Thibout (Fra) Jean Delatour                           2.25
73 Wesley Van Speybroeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago         2.26
74 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team             2.30
75 David Lefevre (Fra) Jean Delatour                           2.31
76 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
77 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim              2.38
78 Claudio Lucchini (Ita) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
79 Serge Baguet (Bel) Lotto-Domo                               2.40
80 Jehudi Schoonacker (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim               2.42
81 Jo Planckaert (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone        2.45
82 Fabian De Waele (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                     2.48
83 Jurgen Landrie (Bel) Flanders-Iteamnova                     2.49
84 Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone       2.51
85 Stefan Van Dijck (Ned) Lotto-Domo                           2.52
86 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                 2.56
87 Bjorn Cornelissen (Ned) Flanders-Iteamnova                  2.57
88 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere             3.02
89 Damien Nazon (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                   3.04
90 Ludovic Martin (Fra) Jean Delatour                          3.05
91 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank                                3.06
92 Dimitri Konyshev (Rus) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                3.09
93 Juan De Los Angeles Segui (Spa) Fassa Bortolo               3.24
94 Jean-Michel Tessier (Fra) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf             3.33
95 Michel Van Haecke (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
96 Roger Hammond (GBr) Palmans-Collstrop                       3.43
97 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                       3.45
98 Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                  3.56
99 Manuel Toldo (Ita) Flanders-Iteamnova                       4.17
100 Thierry Masschelein (Bel) Flanders-Iteamnova               5.37

General classification after stage 4

1 Michael Rogers (Aus) Quick Step-Davitamon                14.59.43
2 Robert Bartko (Ger) Rabobank                                 0.03
3 Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf              0.07
4 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Quick Step-Davitamon
5 Servais Knaven (Ned) Quick Step-Davitamon                    0.16
6 Bart Voskamp (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team              0.23
7 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor                  0.25
8 Axel Merckx (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                 0.29
9 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                     0.33
10 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon              0.37
11 Marc Streel (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                   0.39
12 Matthew White (Aus) US Postal-Berry Floor                   0.41
13 Dave Bruylandts (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                 0.44
14 Andy Cappelle (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                   0.47
15 Jan Van Velzen (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
16 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                           0.48
17 Nico Mattan (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone          0.51
18 Bert Hiemstra (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team
19 Bram Schmitz (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team             0.52
20 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon               1.00
21 Bert Roesems (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                        1.02
22 Tom Steels (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                    1.06
23 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Fassa Bortolo                     1.11
24 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Rabobank                               1.16
25 Chris Peers (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone          1.19
26 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Fassa Bortolo                          1.23
27 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) US Postal-Berry Floor                1.24
28 Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor                    1.27
29 Leif Hoste (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                 1.29
30 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto-Domo
31 Geoffrey Demeyere (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                1.34
32 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Fassa Bortolo                         1.37
33 Matthew Gilmore (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                  1.38
34 Geert Omloop (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                        1.39
35 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank
36 Nicola Loda (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                             1.43
37 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Jean Delatour                         1.44
38 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                  1.45
39 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Team Telekom                         1.50
40 Rik Reinerink (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team            1.52
41 Tom Flammang (Lux) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone         1.54
42 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim              2.28
43 Stefan Van Dijck (Ned) Lotto-Domo                           2.36
44 Dimitri Konyshev (Rus) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                2.59
45 Michel Van Haecke (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                   3.23
46 Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                  3.46
47 Bjorn Cornelissen (Ned) Flanders-Iteamnova                  3.51
48 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone      7.01
49 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) US Postal-Berry Floor                  10.35
50 Wesley Van Speybroeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago        12.06
51 Eddy Seigneur (Fra) Jean Delatour                          14.42
52 Bruno Thibout (Fra) Jean Delatour                          15.30
53 Manuel Toldo (Ita) Flanders-Iteamnova                      16.56
54 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                      22.36
55 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo                      24.20
56 Jans Koerts (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team             25.33
57 Robert Hayles (GBr) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone       25.45
58 Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                      25.53
59 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon               25.58
60 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) Rabobank                             26.09
61 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Team Telekom                         26.15
62 Wouter Van Mechelen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim             26.18
63 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team            26.31
64 Roy Sentjens (Ned) Rabobank                                26.35
65 Mauro Facci (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                            26.36
66 Yuri Mitlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago             26.55
67 Thierry De Groote (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                  27.15
68 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                    27.16
69 Mario Aerts (Bel) Team Telekom                             27.22
70 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team            27.25
71 Jehudi Schoonacker (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim              27.37
72 Fabian De Waele (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                    27.43
73 Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone      27.46
74 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Lotto-Domo                              27.50
75 Serge Baguet (Bel) Lotto-Domo                              28.02
76 Jo Planckaert (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone       28.07
77 Juan De Los Angeles Segui (Spa) Fassa Bortolo              28.19
78 Jean-Michel Tessier (Fra) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf            28.28
79 Roger Hammond (GBr) Palmans-Collstrop                      28.38
80 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                      28.40
81 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere              32.31
82 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                        33.05
83 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago             33.22
84 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank                               33.57
85 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Jean Delatour                         35.19
86 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                35.28
87 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                  35.56
88 Glenn D'hollander (Bel) Lotto-Domo                         36.31
89 Scott Guyton (NZl) Flanders-Iteamnova                      36.49
90 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Lotto-Domo                         37.16
91 Jurgen Landrie (Bel) Flanders-Iteamnova                    37.34
92 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                37.41
93 Damien Nazon (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                  38.26
94 Thierry Masschelein (Bel) Flanders-Iteamnova               40.22
95 Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere              40.51
96 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Jean Delatour                     40.56
97 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere            41.04
98 David Lefevre (Fra) Jean Delatour                          41.54
99 Ludovic Martin (Fra) Jean Delatour                         42.25
100 Claudio Lucchini (Ita) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago            44.51
 
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