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92nd Kampioenschap Van Vlaanderen - 1.1
Koolskamp, Belgium, September 21, 2007
2006 Results Results Past winners
Cooke cooks Cappelle
By Bjorn Haake
Aussie Baden Cooke (Unibet.com) won the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen using his sprinting prowess to decisively beat Belgian Andy Cappelle (Landbouwkrediet-Tonissteiner), whom the local crowd wanted to win so badly. Denis Flahaut (Jartazi-Promo Fashion) led in the peloton 21 seconds later.
For Unibet it was another victory in a relatively successful year, had it not been caught in the middle of the standoff between the UCI and the Grand Tour organisers, who did not allow Unibet to start at any of their three-week races. The good results, however, are rumoured to have secured another sponsor, according to Wallonian newspaper l'Avenir.
The course was very flat, with a small section of pavé and of course the inevitable Belgian wind thrown in for good measure. Fifteen laps of 12 kilometres each added up to the race distance of 180 kilometres. Unibet was strong all day and present in many of the breakaways. With five laps to go they had three men in a front group, but Jimmy Casper dropped back, which still left Jeremy Hunt and Baden Cooke in the six-man break.
With one lap to go, right after the start-finish line, the peloton regrouped, but immediately counterattacks followed, with Andy Cappelle being the most active. On the back side of the course, helped by some tailwind, the break gained a maximum of 48 seconds. The peloton only managed to only reduce it to 21 seconds by the finish and Cooke had no problem flying past Cappelle in the final metres.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Stijn Vercaemer
- Geert Omloop (Jartazi-Promo fashion) before the start.
- The presentation of the Lamonta team before the start
- Ramunas Navardauskas of the Klaipeda team
- Two team bikes of the Astana team
- Niko Eeckhout (Chocolade Jacques) before the start of the race
- Jurgen Van De Walle (Quick-Step) riding at home race in West Flanders
- Wouter Weylandt (Quick-Step) before the race
- Kevin Seeldraeyers and Maarten Wynandts just waiting before the start
- Many people came to see the Championship of Flanders start in Koolskamp
- The riders waiting to sign the race documents
- He's always in a good mood: Mathe Pronk of the Unibet.com cycling team
- Two Predictor-Lotto riders wait patiently to sign on
- Nico Mattan (DFL-cyclingnews) is very popular in these parts
- Gorik Gardeyn (Unibet.com) was in a good mood before the race
- The largest rider in the peloton, Stijn Vandenbergh (Unibet.com) recently won the Tour of Ireland
- Gorik Gardeyn (Unibet.com) pleases some fans with an autograph
- Rambo Niko Eeckhout (Chocolade Jacques)
- Stijn Vandenbergh (Unibet.com) and others make use of a cycle path
- Wouter Weylandt (Quick-Step) abandoned the race after a crash
- A Team Lamonta rider fights to close a gap
- Iljo Keisse (Chocolade Jacques) used this race to prepare for his track season
- Wim Vansevenant and Leif Hoste (Predictor-Lotto)
- A Quick-Step helper gives a water bottle to Cédric Vasseur
- An Astana rider heads for an early shower
- Many riders found the going too tough and headed home
- Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick-Step) rode a great first half of the race
- Leif Hoste (Predictor-Loto) took it easy today
- A Quick-Step has food for his riders
- Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick-Step) and his girlfriend after the race
- Dirk Nachtergaele is one of the most famous soigneurs in Belgium
- It's thirsty work for this Unibet rider
- Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com) grabs some food
- Riders got a breather through the feed zone
- Spectators line the finishing straight before the race arrives
- The final metres leading to the finish
- Here comes Baden Cooke...
- Baden Cooke (Unibet.com) is pumped with the victory
- Cooke has had several strong performances in recent weeks
- Denis Flahaut (Jartazi) wins the bunch sprint for third
- The sprint for fourth place
- Two riders from West Flanders Wim Vansevenant (Predictor-Lotto) and Jurgen Van De Walle (Quick-Step)
- These prizes are all for the winner
- Denis Flahaut celebrated his third place with a glass of Belgian beer
- Baden Cooke greets the Belgian fans
- Andy Cappelle finished with a well-deserved second place
- Baden Cooke is the new Flemish champion
- Denis Flahaut (Jartazi) on the podium
- Andy Cappelle (Landbouwkrediet-Tonnisteiner) and Baden Cooke
- The podium at the Kampioenschap Van Vlaanderen
Images by Bjorn Haake/Cyclingnews.com
- The Cédric Vasseur Fan Club camper is parked on the edge of the corn field.
- Jean-Claude and Régine fly the French flag high as they go from race to race.
- Jean-Claude and Régine have plenty of good stories from the races.
- Three Unibets were in the front group halfway through the race. Jimmy Casper dropped back next lap, as Jeremy Hunt and Baden Cooke continued on the front.
- Chocolade Jacques chased hard.
- The front group with Jurgen Van de Walle (Quick.Step - Innergetic - #18)
- Same team at the front as Jacques promised extra Chocolate if they'd catch the front group.
- Leonardo Scarselli (Quick.Step - Innergetic -#13) and Maarten Tjallingii (Skil-Shimano - #84)
- Troels Ronning Vinther (Unibet.com) out of the saddle in the Belgian countryside.
- Chinese rider Fang Xu (Skil-Shimano) has the drafting down pretty well.
- 15 laps to go - and it never changed...
- Igor Abakoumov (Astana) leads the break.
- Wide roads like this and the nice, 23 degrees weather, are very rare in the Belgian races.
- The peloton splits as the divider and the subsequent roundabout are faced.
- The end of the feed zone was with one kilometre to go. And nobody took a feed in the last lap.
- The championships of Flanders since 1908.
- No lack of souvenirs.
- The riders came by plenty of spectators.
- Wim Vansevenant (Predictor-Lotto) visibly spent after the race.
- Cédric Vasseur with his suit case, ready to go home.
- He likes riding for Quick.Step-Innergetic.
- Cédric Vasseur (Quick.Step - Innergetic)
- The bikes are packed and everybody is eager to get home.
Results - 180 km
1 Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com 4.13.00 (42.69 km/h) 2 Andy Cappelle (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tonissteiner 0.05 3 Denis Flahaut (Fra) Jartazi - Promo Fashion 0.21 4 Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Unibet.com 5 Frederic Amorison (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tonissteiner 6 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Chocolade Jacques - Topsport Vlaanderen 7 Kristof Goddaert (Bel) Davitamon - Win For Life - .Long Vlaanderen 8 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Predictor - Lotto 9 Sjef De Wilde (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tonissteiner 10 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Unibet.com 11 Thomas Ongena (Bel) Yaw Adoo - Abm - Tv Vlaanderen 12 Michael Schar (Swi) Astana 13 Jacob Fiedler (Ger) Continental Team Milram 14 Roberto Traficante (Ita) Team L.P.R. 15 Detlef Moerman (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 16 Tom Steels (Bel) Predictor - Lotto 17 Jens Renders (Bel) Palmans Collstrop 18 Mark Cassidy (Irl) Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M Donnelly-Sean Kelly 19 Jonas Ljungblad (Swe) Unibet.com 20 Evert Verbist (Bel) Chocolade Jacques - Topsport Vlaanderen 21 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tonissteiner 22 Geert Steurs (Bel) Predictor - Lotto 23 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Skil - Shimano 24 Pieter Muys (Bel) Babes Only - Villapark Lingemeer - Flanders 25 Matthe Pronk (Ned) Unibet.com 26 Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 27 Vytautas Kaupas (Ltu) Jartazi - Promo Fashion 28 Eduard Bogaert (Bel) Yaw Adoo - Abm - Tv Vlaanderen 29 Andrew Vancoillie (Bel) Profel Ziegler Continental Team 30 Grischa Janorschke (Ger) Continental Team Milram 31 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 32 Joost Van Leijen (Ned) Van Vliet - Ebh - Advocaten 33 Maxim Gourov (Kaz) Astana 34 Jo Maes (Bel) Jartazi - Promo Fashion 35 Gert Vanderaerden (Bel) DFL - Cycling News - Litespeed 36 Robby Meul (Bel) DFL - Cycling News - Litespeed 37 Frederik Penne (Bel) Palmans Collstrop 38 Borut Bozic (Slo) Team L.P.R. 39 Alexey Kolessov (Kaz) Astana 40 Matthias Friedemann (Ger) Team 3C Gruppe - Lamonta 41 Ingmar Dassler (Ger) Team 3C Gruppe - Lajvlonta 42 Jean-Paul Simon (Bel) Babes Only - Villapark Lingemeer - Flanders 43 Ramuntxo Garmendia (Fra) Babes Only - Villapark Lingemeer - Flanders 44 Maarten Neyens (Bel) Davitamon - Win For Life - .Long Vlaanderen 45 Peter Ronsse (Bel) Babes Only - Villapark Lingemeer - Flanders 46 Tom Cleeren (Bel) Klaipeda - Splendid Cycling Team 47 Philip Schulz (Ger) Yaw Adoo - Abm - Tv Vlaanderen 48 Jan Bluekens (Bel) Profel Ziegler Continental Team 49 Matthew Wilson (Aus) Unibet.com 50 Sven Wielandt (Bel) Profel Ziegler Continental Team 51 Wouter Van Mechelen (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tonissteiner 52 Nico Mattan (Bel) DFL-CyclingNews-Litespeed 53 Jose Enrique Gutierrez Cataluna (Spa) Team L.P.R. 54 Francois Jurgen (Bel) Jartazi-Promo Fashion 55 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 56 Mario Ickx (Bel) Jartazi-Promo Fashion 57 Michael Weicht (Ger) Continental Team Milram 58 Steven De Neef (Bel) Davitamon-Win For Life-.Long Vlaanderen 59 Sven De Weerdt (Bel) DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed 60 Leonardo Scarselli (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 61 Cedric Vasseur (Fra) Quick Step-Innergetic 62 Holger Burkhardt (Ger) Continental Team Milram 63 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Team L.P.R. 64 Christian Kux (Ger) Continental Team Milram 65 Rhys Pollock (Aus) DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed 66 Leif Hoste (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 67 Igor Abakoumov (Bel) Astana 68 Maurizio Bellin (Ita) Team L.P.R. 69 Daniele Callegarin (Ita) Team L.P.R. 70 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 71 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 72 Geert Omloop (Bel) Jartazi-Promo Fashion 73 Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 0.47 74 Ignacio Gutierrez Cataluna (Spa) Team L.P.R. 1.06 75 Jarno Van Mingeroet (Bel) Jartazi-Promo Fashion 1.08 76 Iijo Keisse (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 1.33 77 Jef Michels (Bel) Pictoflex-Thompson-Hyundai 1.50 DNF Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Davitoman-Win For Life-Jong Vlaaneren DNF Jurgen Lindhoud (Ned) Ubbink-Syntec Cycling Team DNF Dirk Finders (Ger) Pictoflex-Thompson-Hyundai DNF Zakaria El Darabna (Bel) Pic Toflex-Thompson-Hyundai DNF Kenneth De Loor (Bel) Picto Flex-Thompson-Hyundai DNF Yves Peellan (Bel) Yawadoo-Abm-Tv Vlaanderen
Past winners
1st 2nd 3rd 2006 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Steven De Jongh (Ned) Danilo Hondo (Ger) 2005 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Andy De Smet (Bel) Assan Bazayev (Kaz) 2004 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Nico Mattan (Bel) Ludovic Capelle (Bel) 2003 Baden Cooke (Aus) Jans Koerts (Ned) Robert Sassone (Fra) 2002 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Marc Streel Andy Cappelle 2001 Paul Van Hyfte Björnar Vestöl (Nor) Jean-Michel Tessier (Fra) 2000 Nico Eeckhout John Talen (Ned) Chris Peers 1999 Michel Vanhaecke Arvis Piziks (Lat) Steven De Jongh (Ned) 1998 Nico Eeckhout Hans De Clercq Davy Delmé 1997 Peter Van Petegem Tom Steels Michael van der Wolf (Ned) 1996 Nico Eeckhout Johan Verstrepen Peter Verbeken 1995 Johan Museeuw Hans De Clercq Wilfried Peeters 1994 Jelle Nijdam (Ned) Hendrik Redant Danny Nelissen (Ned) 1993 Sammie Moreels Andrei Tsjmile (Mol) Johan Museeuw 1992 Rik Van Slijcke Michel Vanhaecke Hendrik Redant 1991 Johan Museeuw Peter Huyghe Wiebren Veenstra (Ned) 1990 Hendrik Redant Wilfried Peeters Dirk Demol 1989 Etienne Dewilde Luc Van De Vel Herman Frison 1988 Marnix Lameire Edwin Bafcop Dirk Heirweg 1987 Dirk Heirweg Dirk Demol Geert Decorte 1986 Frank Van De Vijver Herman Frison Alan Peiper (Aus) 1985 Eddy Vanhaerens Claude Criquielion Pol Verscheure 1984 Rudy Matthijs Dirk Heirweg Frank Hoste 1983 Patrick Devos Adri Vander Poel (Ned) Luc Meersman 1982 Gerry Verlinden Hendrik Caethoven Jean-François Chaurin (Fr) 1981 Patrick Versluys Frank Hoste Ronny Van Marcke 1980 Theo De Rooy (Ned) Luc Collijn Guido Van Sweevelt 1979 Fons Van Katwijk (Ned) Marc Renier Lieven Malfait 1978 Daniel Wilems Gerry Verlinden Alain Desaever 1977 Frans Verhaegen Gerry Verlinden Willy In 't Ven 1976 Freddy Maertens Willy Planckaert Serge Vandale 1975 Jos Huysmans Hennie Kuiper José Vanackere 1974 Freddy Maertens Frans Verbeeck Herman Vrijders 1973 Herman Vrijders José Vanackere Jos Spruyt 1972 Patrick Sercu Eddy Merckx Walter Godefroot 1971 Erik Leman Rik Van Linden Willy Planckaert 1970 Noël Van Clooster Jean-Pierre Monseré Herman Vrijders 1969 Erik De Vlaminck Ronald De Witte Jean-Pierre Monseré 1968 Jos Huysmans Eric Leman rik Van Looy 1967 Gerard Viaenen (Ned) Eddy Van Audenaerde Gustaaf Desmet 1966 Eddy Merckx Daniel Van Ryckegem Gustaaf Desmet 1965 Palle Lykke (Den) Arthur Decabooter Gustaaf Desmet 1964 Gustaaf Desmet Rik Van Looy Gilbert Maes 1963 Staf Van Vaerenberghe Jean-Baptist Claes Frans Melckebeeck 1962 André Messelis Romain Vanwynsberghe Oswald Declercq 1961 Frans Demulder Karel Clerckx Gustaaf Desmedt 1960 Gilbert Desmet Jos Mariën Michel Van Aerde 1959 Rik Van Looy André Noyelle Oswald Declercq 1958 Leon Van Daele Roger De Corte René Mertens 1957 Leon Van Daele Leon Delathouwer Firmin Bral 1956 Leon Van Daele André Rosseel Wim Van Est (Ned) 1955 Leon Delathouwer André Noyelle René Mertens 1954 Briek Schotte André Rosseel Karel De Baere 1953 Leon Delathouwer Maurits Mollin Arthur Mommerency 1952 Arsène Ryckaert Arthur Mommerency Julien Plovie 1951 Roger De Cock Gerard Buyl André Maelbrancke 1950 Maurice Blomme Arsène Ryckaert André Pieters 1949 Emiel Van Der Veken Roger De Cock Flander Janssens 1948 Emmanuel Thoma Roger Decorte Louis Brusselmans 1947 Albert Paepe Albert Anutchin Maurice Meersman 1946 Achiel Debacker Albert Sercu Alois Van Overloop 1945 Sylvain Grysolle André Pieters Omer Huwel 1943 Rik Van Steenbergen Robert Van Eenaeme Roger Knockaert 1942 Robert Van Eenaeme Roger Knockaert Albert Paepe 1941 Briek Schotte Frans Bonduel Albert Sercu 1938 Sylvain Grysolle Odiel Van den Meerschaut Albert Beirnaert 1937 Marcel Claeys Gaston Denijs Jan Deman 1936 Julien Heirnaert Emiel Vandepitte Frans Bonduel 1935 Marcel Kint Flander Horemans Albert Billiet 1934 Jef Moerenhout Albert Billiet Jules Lowie 1933 Gerard Desmet Michel Van Vlockhoven André Mortier 1932 Gerard Desmet Sylveer Maes André Mortier 1931 Aimé Dossche Frans Bonduel Félicien Vervaecke 1930 Fred Hamerlinck Leander Ghyssels Constant Dyzers 1929 Maurice Raes Aimé Dossche Maurice Dewaele 1928 Aimé Dossche Lucien Buysse Hector Martin 1927 Paul Matton Fred Hamerlinck Jan Meeuwis 1926 Hector Dejaegher Gustaaf Van Slembrouck Georges Ronsse 1925 Aimé Dossche Maurice Dewaele Remi Cant 1924 Leon Devos Jules Matton Maurice Dewaele 1923 Julien Volbrecht Pierre Vandevelde Theo Van Eetvelde 1922 Alfons Van Hecke Robert Vandenberghe Julien Volbrecht 1921 Pierre Vandevelde Marcel Buysse Karel Govaert 1920 Jules Van Hevel Henri Vanlerberghe Robert Vandenberghe 1919 Jules Van Hevel Leon Devos Alfons Van Hecke 1913 René Anno Arthur Maertens Achiel Depauw 1912 Abel Devogelaere Leon Buysse Aloïs Persyn 1911 Leon Buysse Aloïs Persyn Fons Brutin 1910 Odiel Defraeye Leon Buysse Henri Vanlerberghe 1909 Robert Wancour Odiel Defraeye Marcel Buysse 1908 Robert Wancour Firmin Lambot Louis Colsaet Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com
