70th GP Fourmies - 1.1

France, September 15, 2002

2001 Results Photography Results Past winners

Bortolami outsprints Jalabert in fall French classic

By Chris Henry

Bortolami was faster
© AFP

Coming on the heels of Paris-Bruxelles, the Grand Prix de Fourmies often sees many of the same riders take to the roads of northern France in search of late season glory. Indeed, today's field included a number of big names, including Johan Museeuw, Michele Bartoli, and Laurent Jalabert, to name but a few. Today's edition didn't disappoint, as a strong group of five squared off for the victory, with Italian Gianluca Bortolami (Tacconi Sport) proving the strongest.

"After the Tour I found great condition, and I've achieved some good places," Bortolami commented after his win. The Italian victor was pleased with his victory, and had plenty of words of praise for second place Jalabert. "To win ahead of Jalabert... I think he's the real winner today, because what he did was incredible. I made a big effort to get across with Scinto, and I was fresher than he was. But for him to still be there to contest the sprint, it's always difficult to beat him because he's a great champion."

Jalabert, in the midst of his fantastic farewell tour, was present in all the major moves of the day. On the attack from the 45km mark, Jaja remained vigilant throughout the race, until the definitive break was formed. The first move of the day, sparked by Jalabert, brought Denis Lunghi, Frédéric Gabriel, and Irish national champion Mark Scanlon for company, forging a maximum advantage of over four minutes. As the race approached the first of two 11km finishing circuits around Fourmies, Scanlon and Gabriel were replaced by Cédric Vasseur, Gabriele Missaglia, and Laszlo Bodrogi.

The new quintet pressed on with an advantage that never topped one minute, allowing Bodrogi's Mapei teammate Luca Scinto and Bortolami to bridge the gap. At about the same point, Missaglia and Lunghi fell off the pace of the leaders, and the final five were away for good. Luca Scinto worked tirelessly at the front, including a brief attack, to both keep the break clear of a newly formed chase group, as well as protect the chances of fellow Mapei man Bodrogi.

The chase behind was at this point led by a number of potential race winners, including former Fourmies winner Bartoli, Lars Michaelsen, Ludovic Capelle. Mapei's Daniele Nardello was present, but clearly not assisting in the chase with two teammates in the lead group. Ultimately, the chase group was too big for its own good, and the 25 odd riders did not have the cooperation necessary to close the gap.

Bortolami
© AFP

The leading five completed the first lap of the finishing circuit with 35" over the chasing group, and despite repeated attacking from behind, maintained their advantage for the remainder of the race. With 2km to ride, Scinto again took to the front and pushed the pace, mouth open and a picture of pain, in the hopes that Bodrogi would seal the deal on the line. Bodrogi did have a go, but jumped too early, just prior to the final corner before the finish. Straight away Bortolami was on his wheel, as Jalabert showed he still had a kick of his own, despite his long day in the breakaways.

In the end it was all Bortolami, winning several bike lengths clear of Jalabert, who nipped fellow Frenchman Vasseur for second place. Bodrogi followed in fourth, with Scinto drifting in behind. The first chase group, whittled down to five riders in the last few kilometers, arrived 25 seconds later, with Saulis Ruskis (Gerolsteiner) taking the sprint of honor ahead of Marcus Ljungquist (EDS-fakta) and Michele Bartoli.

Vasseur for his part with pleased with his performance, though clearly had considered himself a contender for the victory. "It was difficult in the break, because had I tried something in the final kilometers, Scinto would have worked to chase for his teammate Bodrogi," he explained. "I preferred to wait to the sprint, but unfortunately I lacked a little something at the end. Remember, Bortolami is a specialist who's riding very well at the moment, and Laurent Jalabert... need I say more? So to finish third behind those two is not so bad."

Photography

Images by Francois Lo Presti, AFP

The select group hit the line with Gianluca Bortolami using his speed.
Gianluca Bortolami winds down after the sprint.
The podium featured an Italian flanked by two Frenchmen as Cedric and Laurent make up the smiling trio.
In France, he's the man Laurent Jalabert accepts the applause of the French public.
Flowers for the winner Bortolami gets his turn.

Images thanks to Daniel Schamps/dsch@noos.fr

JaJa and Denis Lunghi race the camera bike
Gianluca Bortolami crosses the line for the win
The chase group cross the line.
Gianluca Bortolami holds his flowers high

Results

1 Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Emmegi    4.28.05
2 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) CSC-Tiscali
3 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Cofidis
4 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Mapei-Quick Step
5 Luca Scinto (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  0.06
6 Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Gerolsteiner                   0.25
7 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) EDS-fakta
8 Michele Bartoli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
9 Frédéric Amorison (Bel) Lotto-Adecco
10 Paolo Valoti (Ita) Index-Alexia                    0.26
11 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Domo-Farm Frites
12 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) Ag2r-Prevoyance
13 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step            0.31
14 Vincent Cali (Fra) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago         0.32
15 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Lampre-Daikin             0.35
16 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Rabobank                      0.39
17 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) EDS-fakta
18 Charles Guilbert (Fra) Bonjour
19 Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Ag2r-Prevoyance              0.40
20 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team Coast
21 Michael Skelde (Den) EDS-fakta
22 Nico Mattan (Bel) Cofidis
23 Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
24 Marco Serpellini (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
25 Vladimir Smirnov (Ltu) Team Colpack-Astro
26 Biagio Conte (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport             0.41
27 Stéphane Auge (Fra) Jean-Delatour
28 Eric De Clercq (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop             1.07
29 Jørgen Bo Petersen (Den) EDS-fakta                 1.08
30 Lénaïc Olivier (Fra) Jean Delatour                 1.10
31 Beat Zberg (Swi) Rabobank
32 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole
33 Olivier Perraudeau (Fra) Bonjour
34 David Kopp (Ger) Team Telekom
35 Marc Streel (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
36 Sébastien Mattozza (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
37 Christophe Mengin (Fra) FDJeux.com
38 Christophe Rinero (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos
39 Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Saint-Quentin Oktos       1.11
40 Chris Peers (Bel) Cofidis
41 Mauro Facci (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
42 Vincent Templier (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos
43 Cédric Herve (Fra) Credit Agricole                 1.13
44 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank                       1.15
45 Bo Hamburger (Den) Index-Alexia                    1.22
46 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
47 Stefan Adamsson (Swe) Team Coast                   1.23
48 Jo Planckaert (Bel) Cofidis
49 Jacky Durand (Fra) FDJeux.com
50 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
51 Alexandre Chouffe (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos
52 Lilian Jegou (Fra) Credit Agricole
53 Andy Flickinger (Fra) Ag2r-Prevoyance
54 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step              1.24
55 Roberto Petito (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
56 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Rabobank
57 Karl Pauwels (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
58 Laurent d'Olivier (Fra) Jean Delatour
59 Allan Johansen (Den) EDS-fakta
60 Cédric Vanoverschelde
61 David Breard (Fra) BigMat Auber 93
62 Jimmi Madsen (Den) CSC-Tiscali
63 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank
64 Renzo Mazzoleni (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro
65 Manu L'Hoir (Bel) EDS-fakta
66 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Team Colpack Astro
67 Niels Brouzes (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93               1.25
68 Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco-Longoni Sport
69 Frédéric Gabriel (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos
70 Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) Bonjour
71 Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Ag2r-Prevoyance
72 Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJeux.com
73 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank
74 Steven Caethoven (Bel) Lotto-Adecco
75 René Jørgensen (Den) EDS-fakta
76 Mark Roland (Aus) Palmans-Collstrop                1.26
77 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Fassa Bortolo
78 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Telekom
79 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
80 Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Adecco
81 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Jean-Delatour
82 Kristof Trouvé (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
83 Kurt Van Lancker (Bel) Lotto-Adecco                1.27
84 Ivan Basso (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
85 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Bonjour
86 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Jean-Delatour
87 Marco Gili (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Emmegi              1.28
88 Mauro Gerosa (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Emmegi            1.29
89 Marc Lotz (Ned) Rabobank
90 Steffen Radochla (Ger) Team Coast                  1.30
91 Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis
92 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Fassa Bortolo                    1.31
93 Denis Lunghi (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro
94 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Team Telekom
95 Sergio Barbero (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
96 Rolf Huser (Swi) Team Coast
97 Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos          1.32
98 Frank Høj (Den) Team Coast
99 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Credit Agricole
100 Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
101 Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) FDJeux.com
102 Matteo Gigli (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro             1.33
103 Marius Sabaliauskas (Ltu) Saeco-Longoni Sport
104 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
105 Nicki Sørensen (Den) CSC-Tiscali
106 Ellis Rastelli (Ita) Gerolsteiner                 1.34
107 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
108 Christophe Capelle (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
109 Tristan Valentin (Fra) BigMat-Auber 93
110 Lylian Lebreton (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93            1.35
111 Andrea Giupponi (Ita) Team Colpack Astro
112 Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis
113 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner
114 Leonardo Giordani (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro        1.36

Past winners

2001 Scott Sunderland (Aus) EDS-fakta
2000 Andrej Hauptman (Slo) Vini Caldirola
1999 Dimitry Konyshev (Rus)
1998 Luca Mazzanti (Ita)
1997 Andrea Tafi (Ita)
1996 Michele Bartoli (Ita)
1995 Maximilian Sciandri (GB)
1994 Andrea Tafi (Ita)
1993 Maximilian Sciandri (Ita)
1992 Olaf Ludwig (Ger)
1991 Vincent Lacressoniere (Fra)
1990 Frans Maassen (Ned)
1989 Martial Gayant (Fra)
1988 Edwin Bafcop (Bel)
1987 Adri Van der Poel (Ned)
1986 Josef Lieckens (Bel)
1985 Jean Habets (Ned)
1984 Ferdi Van den Haute (Bel)
1983 Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (Fra)
1982 Rudy Mathijs (Bel)
1981 Josef Lieckens (Bel)
1980 Jacques Bossis (Fra)
1979 Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke (Bel)
1978 Yves Hezard (Fra)
1977 Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke (Bel)
1976 Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke (Bel)
1975 Dietrich Thurau (Ger)
1974 Willy Teirlinck (Bel)
1973 Eddy Merckx (Bel)
1972 René Pijnen (Ned)
1971 Barry Hoban (GB)
1970 Noél Vantyghem (Bel)
1969 Ronald De Witte (Bel)
1968 Gerben Karstens (Ned)
1967 Willy Van Neste (Bel)
1965 Georges Van Coningsloo (Bel)
1964 Frans Melckenbeeck (Bel)
1963 Benoni Beheyt (Fra)
1962 Guy Ignolin (Fra)
1961 Joseph Wasko (Fra)
1960 Michel Vermeulin (Fra)
1959 André Noyelle (Fra)
1958 Pierre Machiels (Bel)
1957 Jean Stablinski (Fra)
1956 Elio Cerussi (Fra)
1955 Pierre Pardoen (Fra)
1954 Orphee Meneghetti (Fra)
1953 Gilbert Petry (Fra)
1952 Michel Muylsteke (Bel)
1951 Francis Delepierre (Fra)
1950 Edmond Klabinski (Fra)
1949 Eugene Dubois (Fra)
1948 Georges Hubatz (Fra)
1947 Fernard Patte (Fra)
1946 René Lafosse (Fra)
1943 Camille Blanckaert (Fra)
1941 Maurice Demuer (Fra)
1939 E. Laplanche (Bel)
1938 Gaby Dubois (Fra)
1937 Gaby Dubois (Fra)
1936 Leon Lebon (Bel)
1935 Eloi Meulenberg (Bel)
1934 Maurice Leleu (Fra)
1933 F. Mintkiewicz (Fra)
1932 Georges Christians (Bel)
1931 André Vanderdonckt (Fra)
1930 Albert Barthelemy (Fra)
1929 Albert Barthelemy (Fra)
1928 Albert Barthelemy (Fra)

Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com