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100th Paris-Roubaix - CDM
France, April 14, 2002
Paris - Roubaix News - April 15, 2002
Post race quotes
Johan Museeuw (Domo, 1st)
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A calm and relaxed Museeuw answered the questions of the press after his win in the 100th Paris-Roubaix, where he attributed his success to a "flash" of inspiration on a sector of pavé. "I don't know why I attacked at that moment. I felt good. I did not think about it. I simply accelerated and rode hard for the next 10 kilometres. And, when my advantage reached 1'10, I told myself that it was possible to win. Nevertheless, if I had not known the disillusionment of last Sunday, I would not be here to comment on my victory."
Museeuw was of course a heavily marked man last week, and threatened to retire after finishing second in Flanders. "Yes, I had to cry. Everyone knows me as a solid rider, but I am only a man, with my emotions. Fortunately I had a meal with my family and drank a good Italian wine with Patrick (Lefevere) and it passed."
Regarding Mapei, "I do not want to say that I was on top of them. All that I can say is that this is a race that you don't win just through the power of your legs. There is equally a small luck factor involved."
"When you are afraid, you lose ten percent of your power. A 36 year old racer is therefore airtight. I was certainly vigilant, because the road was very slippery, and I finished very tired."
What inspired you to this 10th World Cup victory? "I have often said in the past that I am not obsessed by numbers and statistics. I have not changed my opinion. The day when I change my mind, I will stop."
To the next, rather obvious question: "I have fixed myself on the World Championships in Zolder as a limit. Between now and then, we will see. I have been at the top for ten years, I have not undergone too much pressure, and that won't start now. I was very surprised to learn of the eventual finish of my career. But when I stop, it is because I will have lost the motivation."
Steffen Wesemann (Telekom, 2nd)
German Steffen Wesemann finally had things go his way today and he recorded his best ever finish in Paris-Roubaix. However, things are never in your favour all day in Paris-Roubaix:
"I am hyper happy. Still I thought that bad luck was going to hit me like last year, because I again fell before the first sector. I came back two or three times to the leading group. But, I had to change shoes and my bike. Finally, I don't think I would have been able to mark the attack from Museeuw: he was already three minutes in the lead. It was over."
Tom Boonen (US Postal, 3rd)
A remarkable ride by this 21 year old up and coming star from Belgium. Tom Boonen already has good experience in the U23 version of this race, but today was another big step up for him.
"Third in Paris-Roubaix...Again I can't believe what has happened. Has a neo-pro ever realised a similar performance? And what fantastic riders rode in the hell around me!"
"It was unbelievable that I felt so strong. It was bad that George Hincapie did not feel similarly strong. I rode in the lead for 230 km. Again I don't know my limits. Even when George fell, I continued to believe in my chances."
"This is the height of my season. Now, I will take three weeks of rest and I will resume in the Four Days of Dunkerque."
Lars Michaelsen (Team Coast, 5th) :
"I was surprised by spectators after a bend. I fell. Next I was handicapped because I could not use my derailleur normally. I suffered too from my wrist. Museeuw possesses a solid team, this is what makes the difference".
Thierry Gouvenou (Big Mat, 7th)
"That was really hard. Fortunately, I know Paris-Roubaix really well because it was my 12th. I wanted to hang on until the end. Today, I did not think of the Tour de France; Paris-Roubaix is sufficient to motivate yourself."
"My fall was bad. I was one of the better guys in the group. I had the motivation to be present and this is important. Museeuw was stronger but he did not crush us either. He went at the right time. Still, he is the conqueror necessary for the 100th edition."
Nico Mattan (Cofidis, 9th)
"I was not really good on the pave. When Museeuw attacked, I was on his wheel. But, I did not feel confident enough. I saw a patch of oil and I was afraid of these cobbles. Without that, I maybe could have stayed with Museeuw because I felt really good".
Andrea Tafi (Mapei, 17th)
"I have had bronchial problems this week after the Tour of Flanders; I have not been able to train normally, I had to look after myself due to the antibiotics. On such terrain, Museeuw was logically the favourites. I don't have any regrets. I finished as a point of honour on my part."
Christophe Mengin (FdJ, outside time limit)
"Paris-Roubaix is never easy. But, with the conditions today, that does not help; I did not want to take too many risks in Arenberg. I was behind. The attack went: it was too late. This is the one of the worst Paris-Roubaix I have known. This is a crazy race".
Patrick Lefevere (Domo manager)
"We adopted tactics that have suited us for years. For me today, this is the most beautiful that Johan has won. I know all the sacrifices that he has made to finish here. You have only to look at his face and you don't have to add anything more. The expression is the same as the one that I have seen in Roubaix in 2000."
"This is a great champion. At the classics level, there is Eddy Merckx and Johan Museeuw, then...A champion like that, I need again in the team; it is not necessary for him to stop."
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Johan Museeuw bio
Born: October 13, 1965
Place of birth: Varsenare, Belgium
Height: 1.84 m
Weight: 71 kg
Teams: ADR (1988-1989), Lotto (1990-1992), GB-MG (1993-1994), Mapei (1995-2000),
Domo (2001-)
Wins (in brief)
1990
2 stages Tour de France
Stage Driedaagse van De Panne
Stage Quatre Jours de Dunkerque
1991
2 stages Vuelta a Andalucia/Ruta del Sol
Stage Quatre Jours de Dunkerque
1992
Stage Vuelta a Andalucia/Ruta del Sol
2 stages Vuelta a la Comunidad Valenciana
G.P. E3 Harelbeke
Belgian road championship
1993
Stage Paris-Nice
Dwars door Belgie
Ronde van Vlaanderen
Stage Tour de Suisse
Paris-Tours
1994
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
Amstel Gold Race
Stage Tour de Suisse
1995
Trofeo Laigueglia
Ronde van Vlaanderen
Quatre Jours de Dunkerque + stage
Meisterschaft von Zurich
1996
Brabantse Pijl
Paris-Roubaix
Belgian Road Championship
World Road Championship
1997
3 stages Vuelta a Andalucia/Ruta del Sol
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
Stage Tirreno-Adriatico
Driedaagse van De Panne
Quatre Jours de Dunkerque + stage
1998
G.P. E3 Harelbeke
Brabantse Pijl
Ronde van Vlaanderen
1999
Dwars door Belgie
2000
Omloop Het Volk
Brabantse Pijl
Paris-Roubaix
2002
Paris-Roubaix
Museeuw leads World Cup
Johan Museeuw has grabbed the lead of the World Cup by the throat after his impressive win in Paris-Roubaix. He holds a 50 point lead over Mario Cipollini, who will more than likely not contest the overall, and a 61 point lead over Andrea Tafi. Further down is George Hincapie on 82 points, nearly 90 points behind the Lion of Flanders.
Now the question is can Museeuw take his third overall World Cup win, which would constitute a record?
World Cup rankings after round 3
1 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites 170 pts 2 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone Cantina 120 3 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 109 4 George Hincapie (USA) Us Postal Service 82 5 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Domo-Farm Frites 79 6 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Team Telekom 70 7 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 61 8 Jo Planckaert (Bel) Cofidis 55 9 Tom Boonen (Bel) Us Postal Service 52 10 Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank 51
No doping controls at Roubaix
There were no anti-doping controls practiced in Roubaix after the finish today, due to the lack of a doctor according to official information. Jean-Marie Leblanc said that "We will send a letter of protest to the Ministry of Youth and Sports with a copy to the UCI and the French Cycling Federation.
The organizers announced after the race that Johan Museeuw, winner of the 100th edition, did not have to undergo the normal controls.
