61st Gent-Wevelgem, Cat HC

Belgium, April 7, 1999

1998 Results     Past Winners     Route    

Preview

Gent-Wevelgem is classified these days under UCI rankings as a semi-classic. But for anyone with a sense of quality and tradition this race is one of the great classics, far superior in tenor to races later in the season that count for the World Cup (sorry Germany!). Gent-Wevelgem, Het Volk, Waalse Pijl - what a trio of races no longer considered important enough to be called a classic! Well, they will always be classics for me. These are the races that I dream't about when I wanted to race hard in early days.

Gent-Wevelgem which is contested mid-week by tradition is the preparation for the "Enfer du Nord" - Paris-Roubaix, the third round of the World Cup to be raced on Sunday.

Gent-Wevelgem is raced over a 208 kms flat parcours until the last 50 kms which then take the riders over some tough climbs - Monteberg and Kemmelberg with each being done twice.

The race is often decided in a mass sprint because the selection is not tough enough and the riders who have recently won this bear testimony to the claim: Abdu in 1991, Mario Cipollini (Saeco), winner in 1992 and 1992, and Belgian Tom Steels (Mapei), winner in 1996. Other favourites for today's race include TVM's sprinter Dutchman Jeroen Blijlevens and the German Erik Zabel (Telekom).

But they have to contend with the in-form riders at present - the four Belgians Peter Van Petegem (TVM), Andrei Tchmil (Lotto), Jo Planckaert (Lotto) and Frank Vandenbroucke (Cofidis). Any of these four would love to win.

Number 1 rider Italian Michele Bartoli returned to Italy after the Ronde van Vlaanderen and is the notable absentee. He is also believed to be missing Paris-Roubaix. Evidently, Johan Museeuw made it very clear last weekend that Bartoli was to work for him in the Ronde which Museeuw considers his "beautiful Vlaanderen". He will be starting today in Gent. This race becomes important to him now because he may not race at Paris-Roubaix next weekend if there is a hint of rain. He said after the Ronde that: "I am not enthusiastic about Paris-Roubaix. I have fear now of the cobbles." His director Patrick Lefévère, a will be making a decision about this after Gent-Wevelgem.

Report

After losing out at the Ronde van Vlaanderen last Sunday, the Mapei-Quick Step team gained revenge on the peloton today by dominating Gent-Wevelgem and putting their sprinter Belgian Tom Steels into the box seat to win the sprint from 14 other riders. The race was held in cold temperatures and pouring rain - but then this is Belgium in April, no! The 61st edition of this classic was no less passionate than any of the other editions in its history. The riders had to climb the Kemmelberg twice (at 70 then 45 kms from the finish) and the second pass over the Kemmel proved decisive. A group of 17 riders formed with the Belgian Mapei trio - Johan Museeuw, Wilfried Peeters and Tom Steels. Race favourites Erik Zabel, Mario Cipollini and Jo Planckaert were relegated to the second group and Steels knew he was the quickest rider in the front group for the sprint.

Around 30 kms from Wevelgem, Danish rider Rolf Sorensen (Rabobank) attempted a solo escape. He got a lead of 25 seconds but with Museeuw and Peeters sitting on the front of the chase he was always going to be caught and that effort ended at the 18 kms to go mark. From then on it was Museeuw and Peeters controlling the group setting Steels up. The sprinter did his work well and finished ahead of Pole Zbigniew Spruch (Lampre-Daikin) in second place and Dutchman Tristan Hoffman (TVM-Farm Frites), who was third. Steels began the sprint some 250 metres from the line. It was Steels 5th win for the season and the second time he has won Gent-Wevelgem (also in 1996).

27-year old Steels said afterwards: "Johan and Wilfried were great in the last few kms. They were unsurpassed in their control of the race. For me - all I had to do was to prepare for the final sprint."

He is now looking forward to Paris-Roubaix. "With my good form at the moment I am hoping to have a good Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. Perhaps not as the leader and a protected rider."

The final composition of the Mapei team for Sunday still has not been finalised. After the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Johan Museeuw was doubtful of his own involvement. He said that he would "take my decision after Gent-Wevelgem." But Mapei manager Belgian Patrick Lefévère indicated after the race today that there was no definite decision taken yet about the former world champion's presence on the cobbles in the north of France on Sunday.

Gent-Wevelgem, 208 kms:

  1. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step		      5.15.53 (39.89 km/h)
  2. Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin
  3. Tristan Hoffman (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites
  4. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal
  5. Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Vini Caldirola
  6. Juris Silovs (Lat) Team Home Jack & Jones
  7. Andrei Tchmil  (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
  8. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lampre-Daikin
  9. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Team Telekom
 10. Leon van Bon (Ned) Rabobank
 11. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank
 12. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Polti
 13. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis
 14. Johan Museeuw (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step 
 15. Wilfried Peeters (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step		 s.t.
 16. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole		 2.10
 17. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank			 2.10
 18. Lars Michaelsen (DenLa Française des Jeux		 2.10
 19. Stephane Barthe (Fra) Casino			 3.20
 20. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Casino				 3.20
 21. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			 3.20
 22. Fabian De Waele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar		 3.20
 23. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom				 3.20
 24. Johan Verstrepen (Bel) Lampre-Daikin		 3.20
 25. Frédéric Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole		 3.20
 26. Wim Feys (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			 3.20
 27. Jan Bovan (Ned) Rabobank				 3.20
 28. Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites		 3.20
 29. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step		 3.20
 30. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole			 3.20
 31. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank			 3.20
 32. Enrico Cassani (Ita) Team Polti 			 3.20
 33. Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar		 3.20
 34. Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step		 3.20
 35. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale 		 3.20
 36. Franco Ballerini (Ita) Lampre-Daikin		 3.20
 37. Nicola Minali (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia		 3.20
 38. Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Palmans-Ideal			 7.13
 39. Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			 7.13
 40. Paul Van Schalen (Ned) Batavus			 7.13
 41. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			 7.13
 42. Gianpaolo Mondini (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia       14.00
 43. Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi	14.00
 44. Jurgen De Buysschere (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi	14.00
 45. Peter Wrolich (Aut) Team Gerolsteiner		14.00
 46. Patrick D'Hont (Bel) La Française des Jeux		14.00
 47. Ronny Assez (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi		14.00
 48. Danny Daelman (Bel) Collstrop			14.00
 49. Franky Van Haesebroucke (Bel) Collstrop		14.00
 50. René Haselbacher (Aut) Team Gerolsteiner		14.00
 51. Gert Vanderaerden (Bel) Palmans-Ideal		14.00
 52. Denis Zanette (Ita) Team Polti			14.00
 53. Bert Hiemstra (Ned) Rabobank			14.00
 54. Barry Hoedemakers (Ned) Spar-RDM			14.00
 55. Stéphane Hennebert (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi	14.00
 56. Rik Reinerink (Ned) Batavus			14.00
 57. Vladimiras Smirnovas (Lit)				14.00
 58. Andy Flickinger (Fra) Casino			14.00
 59. Frank Corvers (Bel) Spar-RDM			14.00
 60. Leonardo Guidi (Ita) Team Polti			14.00
 61. Michael Rich (Ger) Team Gerolsteiner		14.00
 62. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino			14.00
 63. Olivier Pereaudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole		14.00
 64. Bart Everaert (Bel) Collstrop			14.00
 65. Pascal Derame (Fra) US Postal Service		14.00
 66. David Lefevre (Fra) Casino				14.00
 67. Laurent Pillon (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi		14.00
 68. Jimmy Casper (Fra) La Française des Jeux		14.00
 69. Cees Jeurissen (Ned) Batavus			14.00
 70. Bert Roesems (Bel) Tönissteiner-Colnago		14.00
 71. Andreas Walzer (Ger) Team Gerolsteiner		14.00
 72. Karel Vereecke (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002		14.00
 73. Edouard Gritsoun (Rus) Team Gerolsteiner		14.00
 74. Jérôme Neuville (Fra) Crédit Agricole		14.00
 75. Eric De Clercq (Bel) Collstrop			14.00
 76. Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step			14.00
 77. Federico Colonna (Ita) Team Home-Jack & Jones	14.00
 78. Matteo Frutti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin			14.00
 79. Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Française des Jeux	14.00
 80. Philip Vereecke (Bel) Ipso-Euroclean		14.00
 81. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Collstrop			14.00
 82. Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank			14.00
 83. Renger Ypenburg (Ned) Batavus			14.00
 84. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar		14.00
 85. Geert Omloop (Bel) Spar-RDM			14.00
 86. Anton Chantyr (Rus) Team Gerolsteiner		14.00
 87. Kristof Trouvé (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002		14.00
 88. Christian Henn (Ger) Telekom			14.00
 89. Michael Sandstod (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones	14.00
 90. Marco Antonio Di Renzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia	14.00
 91. Simone Bertoletti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin		14.00
 92. Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service			14.00
 93. Danilo Hondo (Ger) Telekom				14.00
 94. Rolf Aldag (Ger) Telekom				14.00
 95. Jan Poppe (Bel) Ipso-Euroclean			14.00
 96. Jan Schaffrath (Ger) Telekom			14.00
 97. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis			14.00
 98. Jan Van Velzen (Ned) Batavus			14.00
 99. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service		14.00
100. Stijn De Schoenmaecker (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002	14.00
101. Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) Vini Caldirola		14.00
102. Andy Vidts (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002			14.00
103. Wesley Huvaere (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002		14.00
104. Andrea Brognara (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia		14.00
105. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole			14.00
106. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino				14.00
107. Peter Meinert-Nielsen (Den) US Postal Service	14.00
108. Christophe Mengin (Fra) La Française des Jeux	14.00
109. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis			14.00
110. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis			14.00
111. Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step		14.00
112. Kai Hundertmark (Ger) Telekom			14.00
113. Roméo Hernandez (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi	14.00
114. Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia		14.00
115. Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service		14.00
116. Uwe Peschel (Ger) Team Gerolsteiner		14.00
117. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia	14.00
118. Mario Scirea (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale		14.00
119. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step			14.00
120. Jesper Skibby (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones 	14.00
121. Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites		14.00
122. Julian Dean (NZ) US Postal Service			14.00
123. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Crédit Agricole		14.00
124. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale		14.00

Classified: 124

Route:

                                         kms    kms      Time
                                         gone   left

Gent - Parade in the Citadelpark                         11.45
Gent - Start in Drongen
                                          0     208      11.55
Nevele
Merendree                                 6     202      12.03

Zomergem:
Knesselare				 11     197      12.10
Ursel                                    16     192      12.17
Knesselare                               22     186      12.26

Beernem:
Oedelem                                  28     180      12.35

Brugge:
Assebroek                                36     172      12.46
Brugge                                   39     169      12.50

Zuienkerke:
Meetkerke                                47     161      13.02
Houthave                                 50     158      13.06

De Haan:
Vlissegem                                54     154      13.12
Klemskerke                               56     152      13.15
Bredene                                  62     146      13.24
Oostende                                 65     143      13.28
Middelkerke                              74     134      13.41
Westende                                 77     131      13.45
Lombardsijde                             79     129      13.48
Nieuwpoort                               80     128      13.50

Koksijde:
Oostduinkerke                            85     123      13.58
Wulpen                                   87     121      14.00

Veurne                                   90     118      14.05

Feed Station

Veurne:
Bulskamp                                 96     112      14.14
Wulveringem-Vinkem                      100     108      14.19

Alveringem:
Izenberge                               103     105      14.24
Beveren
Stavele                                 110      98      14.34

Poperinge:
Krombeke                                113      95      14.38
Proven                                  118      90      14.45
Poperinge                               124      84      14.53

Heuvelland:
Westouter                               131      77      15.03
Loker                                   136      72      15.10
Dranouter                               138      70      15.13

First Climb - Monteberg                 139      69      15.15
Second Climb - Kemmelberg               141      67      15.17

Kemmel                                  144      64      15.21
De Klijte                               148      60      15.26

Poperinge:
Reningelst                              151      57      15.30
Heuvelland
Westouter                               154      54      15.35
Loker                                   158      50      15.40
Dranouter                               160      48      15.43
Third Climb - Monteberg                 161      47      15.45
Fourth Climb - Kemmelberg               164      44      15.48
Kemmel                                  167      41      15.51
Nieuwkerke                              171      37      15.56
Wulvergem                               174      34      16.00
Mesen                                   179      29      16.07
Wijtschate                              181      27      16.10

Komen-Waasten Houtem                    183      25      16.13

Ieper:
Hollebeke                               186      22      16.17

Zonnebeke:
Zandvoorde                              190      18      16.22
Geluveld                                194      14      16.27

Wervik:
Geluwe                                  198      10      16.32
Menen                                   203       5      16.41
Wevelgem                                207       1      16.46
Finish - Vanackerestraat                208       0      16.48

Past Winners

1934    Gustave Van Belle (Bel)
1935    Albert Debreitere (Bel)
1936    Robert Van Eenaeme (Bel)
1937    Robert Van Eenaeme (Bel)
1938    Hubert Godart (Bel)
1939    André Declerck (Bel)
1945    Robert Van Eenaeme (Bel)
1946    Ernest Sterckx (Bel)
1947    Maurice Desempelaere (Bel)
1948    Valeré Ollivier (Bel)
1949    Marcel Kint (Bel)
1950    Alberic Schotte (Bel)
1951    André Rossel (Bel)
1952    Raymond Impanis (Bel)
1953    Raymond Impanis (Bel)
1954    Rolf Graf (Swi)
1955    Alberic Schotte (Bel)
1956    Rik Van Looy (Bel)
1957    Rik Van Looy (Bel)
1958    Noél Fore (Bel)
1959    Leon Van Daele (Bel)
1960    Frans Aerenhouts (Bel)
1961    Frans Aerenhouts (Bel)
1962    Rik Van Looy (Bel)
1963    Benoni Beheyt (Bel)
1964    Jacques Anquetil (Fra)
1965    Noél De Pauw (Bel)
1966    Herman Vanspringel (Bel)
1967    Eddy Merckx (Bel)
1968    Walter Godefroot (Bel)
1969    Willy Vekenmans (Bel)
1970    Eddy Merckx (Bel)
1971    Georges Pintens (Bel)
1972    Roger Swerts (Bel)
1973    Eddy Merckx (Bel)
1974    Barry Hoban (GB)
1975    Freddy Maertens (Bel)
1976    Freddy Maertens (Bel)
1977    Bernard Hinault (Fra)
1978    Ferdinand Van den Haute (Bel)
1979    Francesco Moser (Ita)
1980    Henk Lubberding (Ned)
1981    Jan Raas (Ned)
1982    Frank Hoste (Bel)
1983    Teun Van Vliet (Ned)
1984    Guido Bontempi (Ita)
1985    Eric Vanderaerden (Bel)
1986    Guido Bontempi (Ita)
1987    Teun Van Vliet (Ned)
1988    Sean Kelly (Ire)
1989    Gerrit Solleveld (Ned)
1990    Herman Frison (Bel)
1991    Djamolidine Abduschaparov (Usb)
1992    Mario Cipollini (Ita)
1993    Mario Cipollini (Ita)
1994    Wilfried Peeters (Bel)
1995    Lars Michaelsen (Den)
1996    Tom Steels (Bel)
1997    Philippe Gaumont (Fra)
1998    Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 208 kms in 5.21.21
Past winners from Mario Stiehl in Berlin