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Introduction to Track Racing - What's a Wheelrace? - Introduction to Six Day racing - UCI codes
68th Zesdaagse Vlaanderen - 6D1
Gent, Belgium, November 18-23, 2008
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Keisse and Bartko take dominating victory
By Bjorn Haake in Gent, Belgium
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Iljo Keisse and Robert Bartko won the Zesdaagse van Vlaanderen Gent in dominating fashion. Although the pair had an unassailable lead on points, they sealed the deal by stealing a lap in the waning moments of the final event – a Madison race. This left them one lap ahead of three teams: Erik Zabel and Leif Lampater (348 points), Danny de Ketele and Andreas Beikirch (271) and the Swiss pair of Bruno Risi and Alexander Aeschbach (242).
Keisse/Bartko finished the event with 436 points. Although the margin of victory was large, the win didn't come easy for Keisse. "This has been a very tough Six Days, especially the first two days. Bartko is a super rider and he really pulled me through those moments."
Keisse spoke while the cheering for him went on very loudly. It was fitting he would acknowledge that. "I have been everywhere, but the spectators here are the best."
The UIV Cup of the U23 riders also went to hometown boys, Gent university students Tosh van der Sande and Stijn Steels. They were two laps ahead of the American combination of Guy East and Austin Carroll. The US boys capped an exciting month-long trip. Carroll was grateful for the opportunity. "We have seen so many places it is really great."
Snow outside, good atmosphere inside
It was finally a Six Day, as the events didn't start in the middle of the night. But everybody was glad to be inside as heavy snow covered Belgium. The unfortunate cyclo-cross racers at the nearby Superprestige spent their race getting cold and wet, while the atmosphere in 't Kuipke was quite the opposite.
The Six Day racers instead kicked it off with a wild points race that Luke Roberts took. The Australian was once again reduced to a one-man team and could only do the non-team events. Winning the opening event was a bit of a consolation.
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Roberts couldn't participate in the team elimination (or one could argue he already did) and it was Dutch pair Danny Stam and Peter Schep who took the race.
The 500m time trial once again went to Keisse/Bartko, with a 28.15. It was a close battle, though, with three other teams under 29 seconds. This put Keisse/Bartko in the lead again, as they crossed the 400-point barrier and received a bonus lap.
The first derny race went to Stam, who beat Jørgensen. The single elimination race went to Dimitri de Fauw, who beat Angelo Ciccone. Ciccone led out the sprint, but De Fauw came past him in the last few metres.
The second Derny race was about as close as it could get. The big men Zabel, Keisse and Risi stormed shoulder to shoulder around the final laps. Zabel prevailed by a tyre's width, beating Keisse who closed in but left it too late. Risi ended in third, ahead of De Ketele, Mertens and Van Bon.
There was a break in the programme and after that Erik Zabel was honoured for all his years in cycling. He got his own special bonus lap, riding around the track under the cheers of the fans.
The Supersprint pitted the non-favourites against each other as the final six teams battled for 10 laps. De Fauw and De Neef took another victory, ahead of Van Bon and Ligthart. Mertens/Müller finished third.
Clean time trial victory
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By taking the one-lap time trial Keisse/Bartko kept a clean vest. They beat nine seconds (8.78) and took every time trial in the course of the week. Among the people who cheered loudly was Christopher Peeters, of the city of Gent. He heads the department for finances, facilities and sport and is a driving force behind getting sports events in the city, like last year's Tour de France stage.
After that it was once again "We will rock you" theme and the riders pedalling around while doing La Ola.
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The final event of the afternoon was a 60-minute Madison that was followed by 50 laps with a sprint every ten laps. For anybody to win the race against Keisse/Bartko, they would have to take out laps, as the leaders had already over 400 points.
It was very tough for the competitors, though. Every time someone had gained a lap, Keisse/Bartko would come right back. Or they would take the initiative, which was always accompanied by an intense noise level.
After 60 minutes, Keisse/Bartko, Zabel/Lampater, Risi?Aeschbach and De Ketele/Beikirch were equal on laps. After easing into the final laps with a sprint every ten laps, it was Keisse again, who took the initiative. The noise level went up to unhealthy levels as they lapped the field and took the final intermediate sprint.
The Belgian-German pair started celebrating in the final laps. This left it open to Erik Zabel to take the last sprint, ahead of Danny Stam and Bruno Risi.
Steels and Van der Sande take the UIV Cup in style
The last day of the UIV Cup concluded with a 200-lap points race. The Belgians pair Stijn Steels and Tosh Van der Sande were in control, with having a two-lap lead. But the Americans stayed on the ball and rode aggressively throughout the race.
The first sprint was taken by Spengers/Verhamme, while the green-clad Czech duo Dostal/Bares took number two and three. In the fourth sprint, Carroll and East had it well worked out and took the sprint.
But the final went again to the Czechs, followed by Van der Sande and Steels, who secured their overall victory at home.
Carroll and East answered the challenges by Van Immerseel and Vlasselaar. The Americans managed to gain a lap on the Belgians to secure second place. The Belgians finished in third. Dostal/Bares were fourth, but took the green points jersey.
Day 6 - November 23:
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Cyclingnews.com
- The exciting Derny final with Risi (r) pitted against Zabel.
- Zabel with Joop Zijlaard as pacemaker took the win.
- Keisse finished strong but had to be contend with second place.
- Michael Vaarten led Keisse to second place in the grand derny final.
- Kenny De Ketele finished just outside the podium with Luc van Uytfange.
- An American donated two miniature bells
- Eric Zabel during his lap of honour in his last Gent Six Days.
- Keisse wins the final time trial and kept a clean record throughout the six days.
- The overall winners Stijn Steels(r) and Tosh van der Sande.
- Van der Sande happy to have won the Gent Six Days.
- The winners of the green jersey from the Czech Republic were Jan Dostal (l) and Jiri Bares.
- Third place overall went to Belgians Gert Jan van Immerseel and Maarten Vlasselaer.
- Austin Carroll (l) and Guy East finished second and had a satisfying trip to Europe.
- The Belgian yellow jerseys took the lead on the second night and never surrendered it.
- Van der Sande and Steels will have a bit of time to celebrate, but need to prepare for exams at the university of Gent in January.
- An American guest donated some miniature bells to the event's organisers
- Iljo Keisse leads Leif Lampater on the final night in Gent
- A delighted Iljo Keisse celebrates his overall win on home turf
- A salute for the appreciative home crowd from Iljo Keisse, overall winner of the Gent Six
- Iljo Keisse and Robert Bartko speak to the crowd after their win
- Experienced campaigner Robert Bartko salutes the fans in Gent
- The final podium in Gent (l-r): Leif Lampater, Erik Zabel, Iljo Keisse, Robert Bartko, Kenny De Ketele and Andreas Beikirch
- Overall winners Iljo Keisse and Robert Bartko with the American guest who donated those impressive bells
Images by Bjorn Haake/Cyclingnews.com
- Jackie Simes found a last minute partner to enjoy racing in the Six Days in Gent.
- Simes is racing for the Time team on the road.
- Peter Williams of Great Britain partnered with Jackie Simes in Gent.
- Organiser Rob Discart (l) and race director Patrick Sercu drew a positive summary of the Gent Six Days.
- People stood up for the winning duo of Iljo Keisse and Robert Bartko.
- The infield was packed with people while the racers ended the Six Days soft-pedaling around the track.
- Track racing makes you thirsty and Keisse is no exception. After the win, he deserved the drink.
- Open Sesame – the Gent track is quite versatile.
Results
UIV Cup Madison 1 Stijn Steels / Tosh Van der Sande (Bel) 9 pts 2 Guy East / Austin Carroll (USA) 9 One lap behind 3 Gert Jan van Immerseel / Maarten Vlasselaer (Bel) 5 Two laps behind 4 Jackie Simes / Peter Williams (USA/GBr) 4 Three laps behind 5 Jan Dostal / Jiri Bares (Cze) 18 6 Thomas Sprengers / Simon Verhamme (Bel) 7 7 Christian Kos / Jesper Asselman (Ned) 2 8 Andrew Fenn / Luke Rowe (GBr) 1 9 Michael Schweizer / Michael Riedle (Ger) 10 Damien Corthesey / Pierre Kaeslin (Swi) Five laps behind 11 Randy Costermans / Gerrit Broeders (Bel) Professional races Points race 1 Luke Roberts (Aus) / Nicky Cocquyt (Bel) 7 pts 2 Bruno Risi (Swi) / Alexander Aeschbach (Swi) Mercator 5 3 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Topsport Vlaanderen 5 4 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) / Steven Deneef (Bel) Camoso 5 5 Erik Zabel (Ger) / Leif Lampater (Ger) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf Deschacht 3 6 Kenny De Ketele (Bel) / Andreas Beikirch (Ger) Capri-Sonne 2 7 Danny Stam (Ned) / Peter Schep (Ned) VDK Spaarbank 1 8 Casper Jörgensen (Den) / Jens-Erik Madsen (Den) Jartazi 9 Leon Van Bon (Ned) / Pim Ligthart (Ned) Fischer 10 Tim Mertens (Bel) / Andreas Muller (Ger) JDK 11 Angelo Ciccone (Ita) / Fabio Masotti (Ita) Geka Kaas Nicky Cocquyt (Bel) / Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) AVS Team elimination 1 Danny Stam (Ned) / Peter Schep (Ned) VDK Spaarbank 20 pts 2 Kenny De Ketele (Bel) / Andreas Beikirch (Ger) Capri-Sonne 12 3 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) / Steven Deneef (Bel) Camoso 10 4 Angelo Ciccone (Ita) / Fabio Masotti (Ita) Geka Kaas 8 5 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Topsport Vlaanderen 6 6 Leon Van Bon (Ned) / Pim Ligthart (Ned) Fischer 7 Erik Zabel (Ger) / Leif Lampater (Ger) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf Deschacht 8 Bruno Risi (Swi) / Alexander Aeschbach (Swi) Mercator 9 Tim Mertens (Bel) / Andreas Muller (Ger) JDK 10 Casper Jörgensen (Den) / Jens-Erik Madsen (Den) Jartazi Nicky Cocquyt (Bel) / Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) AVS 500m TTT 1 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Topsport Vlaanderen 0.28.15 2 Leon Van Bon (Ned) / Pim Ligthart (Ned) Fischer 0.28.69 3 Angelo Ciccone (Ita) / Fabio Masotti (Ita) Geka Kaas 0.28.95 4 Casper Jörgensen (Den) / Jens-Erik Madsen (Den) Jartazi 0.29.21 5 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) / Steven Deneef (Bel) Camoso 0.29.26 6 Tim Mertens (Bel) / Andreas Muller (Ger) JDK 0.29.50 7 Erik Zabel (Ger) / Leif Lampater (Ger) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf Deschacht 0.29.53 8 Kenny De Ketele (Bel) / Andreas Beikirch (Ger) Capri-Sonne 0.29.56 9 Danny Stam (Ned) / Peter Schep (Ned) VDK Spaarbank 0.30.65 10 Bruno Risi (Swi) / Alexander Aeschbach (Swi) Mercator 0.30.89 Nicky Cocquyt (Bel) / Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) AVS Derny race 1 1 Danny Stam (Ned) / Vaarten 5 pts 2 Casper Jörgensen (Den) / Walrave 4 3 Luke Roberts (Aus) / Zijlaard 3 4 Steven Deneef (Bel) / Van Uytfanghe 2 5 Fabio Masotti (Ita) / Huybrechts Nicky Cocquyt (Bel) / Schoefs Elimination 1 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) Camoso 10 pts 2 Angelo Ciccone (Ita) Geka Kaas 6 3 Robert Bartko (Ger) Topsport Vlaanderen 4 4 Leif Lampater (Ger) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf Deschacht 3 5 Peter Schep (Ned) VDK Spaarbank 2 6 Andreas Muller (Ger) JDK 7 Jens-Erik Madsen (Den) Jartazi 8 Andreas Beikirch (Ger) Capri-Sonne 9 Pim Ligthart (Ned) Fischer 10 Alexander Aeschbach (Swi) Mercator Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) AVS Derny race 2 1 Erik Zabel (Ger) / Zijlaard 5 pts 2 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Vaarten 4 3 Bruno Risi (Swi) / Walrave 3 4 Kenny De Ketele (Bel) / Van Uytfanghe 2 5 Tim Mertens (Bel) / Schoefs 1 6 Leon Van Bon (Ned) / Huybrechts Supersprint 1 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) / Steven Deneef (Bel) Camoso 20 pts 2 Leon Van Bon (Ned) / Pim Ligthart (Ned) Fischer 12 3 Tim Mertens (Bel) / Andreas Muller (Ger) JDK 10 4 Casper Jörgensen (Den) / Jens-Erik Madsen (Den) Jartazi 8 5 Angelo Ciccone (Ita) / Fabio Masotti (Ita) Geka Kaas 6 6 Danny Stam (Ned) / Peter Schep (Ned) VDK Spaarbank 7 Erik Zabel (Ger) / Leif Lampater (Ger) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf Deschacht 8 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Topsport Vlaanderen 9 Kenny De Ketele (Bel) / Andreas Beikirch (Ger) Capri-Sonne 10 Bruno Risi (Swi) / Alexander Aeschbach (Swi) Mercator Nicky Cocquyt (Bel) / Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) AVS Flying lap 1 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Topsport Vlaanderen 0.08.78 2 Leon Van Bon (Ned) / Pim Ligthart (Ned) Fischer 0.09.01 3 Tim Mertens (Bel) / Andreas Muller (Ger) JDK 4 Angelo Ciccone (Ita) / Fabio Masotti (Ita) Geka Kaas 0.09.08 5 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) / Steven Deneef (Bel) Camoso 0.09.21 6 Erik Zabel (Ger) / Leif Lampater (Ger) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf Deschacht 0.09.31 7 Casper Jörgensen (Den) / Jens-Erik Madsen (Den) Jartazi 0.09.35 8 Kenny De Ketele (Bel) / Andreas Beikirch (Ger) Capri-Sonne 0.09.43 9 Danny Stam (Ned) / Peter Schep (Ned) VDK Spaarbank 0.09.60 10 Bruno Risi (Swi) / Alexander Aeschbach (Swi) Mercator 0.09.74 Nicky Cocquyt (Bel) / Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) AVS Scratch race 1 Tim Mertens (Bel) / Andreas Muller (Ger) JDK 10 pts 2 Leon Van Bon (Ned) / Pim Ligthart (Ned) Fischer 6 3 Angelo Ciccone (Ita) / Fabio Masotti (Ita) Geka Kaas 5 4 Erik Zabel (Ger) / Leif Lampater (Ger) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf Deschacht 4 5 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) / Steven Deneef (Bel) Camoso 3 6 Danny Stam (Ned) / Peter Schep (Ned) VDK Spaarbank 2 7 Luke Roberts (Aus) / Nicky Cocquyt (Bel) 8 Casper Jörgensen (Den) / Jens-Erik Madsen (Den) Jartazi 9 Bruno Risi (Swi) / Alexander Aeschbach (Swi) Mercator 10 Kenny De Ketele (Bel) / Andreas Beikirch (Ger) Capri-Sonne 11 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Topsport Vlaanderen Nicky Cocquyt (Bel) / Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) AVS Final General classification 1 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Topsport Vlaanderen 436 pts One lap behind 2 Erik Zabel (Ger) / Leif Lampater (Ger) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf Deschacht 348 pts 3 Kenny De Ketele (Bel) / Andreas Beikirch (Ger) Capri-Sonne 271 4 Bruno Risi (Swi) / Alexander Aeschbach (Swi) Mercator 242 Seven laps behind 5 Danny Stam (Ned) / Peter Schep (Ned) VDK Spaarbank 205 pts Fifteen laps behind 6 Tim Mertens (Bel) / Andreas Muller (Ger) JDK 276 pts Seventeen laps behind 7 Casper Jörgensen (Den) / Jens-Erik Madsen (Den) Jartazi 228 pts 22 laps behind 8 Leon Van Bon (Ned) / Pim Ligthart (Ned) Fischer 302 pts 28 laps behind 9 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) / Steven Deneef (Bel) Camoso 251 pts 10 Luke Roberts (Aus) / Nicky Cocquyt (Bel) 162 31 laps behind 11 Angelo Ciccone (Ita) / Fabio Masotti (Ita) Geka Kaas 182 pts UIV Final general classification 1 Stijn Steels / Tosh Van der Sande (Bel) 111 pts Two laps behind 2 Guy East / Austin Carroll (USA) 75 Three laps behind 3 Gert Jan van Immerseel / Maarten Vlasselaer (Bel) 32 Eight laps behind 4 Jan Dostal / Jiri Bares (Cze) 88 5 Thomas Sprengers / Simon Verhamme (Bel) 36 6 Andrew Fenn / Luke Rowe (GBr) 36 Nine laps behind 7 Michael Schweizer / Michael Riedle (Ger) 21 Eleven laps behind 8 Christian Kos / Jesper Asselman (Ned) 13 9 Jackie Simes / Peter Williams (USA/GBr) 10 10 Damien Corthesey / Pierre Kaeslin (Swi) 4 Twenty-four laps behind 11 Gert Jan van Immerseel / Maarten Vlasselaer (Bel) 5
