1. Frederic Guesdon (France) Francaise des Jeux 6.38.10
2. Jo Planckaert (Belgium) Lotto
3. Johan Museeuw (Belgium) Mapei
4. Andrei Chmil (Ukraine) Lotto
5. Davide Casarotto (Italy) Scrigno
6. Rolf Sorensen (Denmark) Rabobank
7. Marc Wauters (Belgium) Lotto
8. Frederic Moncassin (France) GAN all s.t.
9. Rolf Aldag (Germany) Telekom 0.14
10. Henk Vogels (Australia) GAN 0.25
11. Stefano Zanini (Italy) Mapei
12. Christophe Capelle (France) Cofidis
13. Johan Capiot (Belgium) TVM
14. Jann Kirsipuu (Estonia) Casino
15. Fabio Baldato (Italy) MG
16. Stuart O'Grady (Australia) GAN
17. Christophe Mengin (France) FDJ
18. Aart Vierhouten (Netherlands) Rabobank
19. Andrea Tafi (Italy) Mapei
20. Jacky Durand (France) Casino
21. Philippe Gaumont (Fra, Cofidis)
22. Laurent Desbiens (Fra, Cofidis)
23. Francis Moreau (Fra, Cofidis)
24. Franco Ballerini (Ita, Mapei-GB)
25. Peter Farazijn (Bel, Lotto-Mobistar-Isoglass)
26. Ludwig Willems (Bel, Lotto-Mobistar-Isoglass)
27. Wim Feys (Bel, Lotto) all s.t.
28. Peter Van Petegem (Bel, TVM) + 2.15
29. Leon Van Bon (Neth, Rabobank) + 5.28
30. Servais Knaven (Neth, TVM)
31. Hendrik Van Dyck (Bel, TVM)
32. Max Sciandri (GB, La Francaise des Jeux) all s.t.
33. Bart Leysen (Bel, Mapei-GB) + 7.41
34. Denis Zanette (Ita, Aki-Safi) + 7.54
35. Arvis Piziks (Lith, Rabobank)
36. Francois Lemarchand (Fra, GAN)
37. Bert Dietz (Ger, Team Deutsche Telekom)
38. Max Van Heeswijk (Neth, Rabobank)
39. Jan Koerts (Neth, Rabobank)
40. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra, Festina-Lotus)
41. Erik Zabel (Ger, Team Deutsche Telekom)
42. Marco Milesi (Ita, Brescialat)
43. Frankie Andreu (USA, Cofidis)
44. Fabio Roscioli (Ita, Asics)
45. Erik Dekker (Neth, Rabobank)
46. Bruno Thibout (Fra, Cofidis)
47. Mario Scirea (Ita, Saeco)
48. Dario Nicoletti (Ita, Maglificio MG-Technogym) all s.t.
49. Nicola Loda (Ita, Maglificio MG-Technogym) +12.55
50. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus, US Postal System)
51. Zbigniew Spruch (Pol, Mapei-GB)
52. Brian Holm (Den, Team Deutsche Telekom)
53. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra, BigMat Auber93) all s.t.
54. Eros Poli (Ita, GAN) +15.38
55. Jurgen Werner (Ger, Ceramiche Refin-Mobilvetta Design) s.t.
56. Stephane Barth (Fra, Casino-C'est votre equipe) +17.35
57. Sebastian Medan (Fra, Festina-Lotus)
58. Michele Zamboni (Ita, Brescialat)
59. George Hincapie (USA, US Postal Service)
60. Viatcheslav Djavanian (Rus, Roslotto-ZG Mobili)
61. Laurent Pillon (Fra, La Mutuelle de Seine-et-Marne)
62. Nico Eeckhout (Bel, Lotto-Mobistar-Isoglass)
63. Louis De Koning (Neth, TVM)
64. Michael Lafis (Swe, Team Deutsche Telekom)
65. Pavel Padrnos (Cze, Roslotto-ZG Mobili)
66. Tom Steels (Bel, Mapei-GB)
67. Dario Pieri (Ita, Scrigno-Gaerne) all s.t.
68. Steven De Jongh (Neth, TVM) +30.11
69. Marek Lesniewski (Pol, BigMat Auber 93)
70. Mario Kummer (Ger, Team Deutsche Telekom)
71. Ruben Galvan (Spa, Kelme-Costa Blanca-Eurosport)
72. Matteo Tossato (Ita, Maglificio MG-Technogym)
73. Kai Hundertmark (Ger, Team Deutsche Telekom)
74. Francesco Arazzi (Ita, Brescialat)
75. Claude Lamour (Fra, La Mutuelle de Seine-et-Marne) all s.t.
(finished outside time limit: McEwen, Lupeikis)
(177 starters, 75 finishers)
[dns: Fontanelli (MG), Millar (Cofidis), Buschor, Mori (Saeco),
Pontier (Casino), Colage, Aggiano (Refin), Henry (BigMat)]
Frederic Guesdon: Palmares
Born: October 14, 1971, Saint-Meen-le-Grand (Ille-et-Vilaine)
1.85m, 72kg
Amateur: 1st Criterium des As 1991; 1st Route Bretonne 1992; 1st
Circuit des Deux Provinces, 1992, 1993; 1st Boucles Guegonnaises 1992;
1st GP Gilber-Bousquet 1994; 2nd Paris--Roubaix 1994
Pro: 1995 Le Groupement, then individual; 1996 Team Polti; 1997 La
Francaise des Jeux
1st Paris--Roubaix 1997; 1st Classic Haribo 1997
3rd French Championships 1996; 6th A Trvers le Morbihan 1996, 6th GP
la Marseillaise 1996; 7th GP Cholet-Pays de Loire 1996; 12th Fleche
Brabanconne 1996 (15th in 1997); 12th GP Pino Cerami 1996; 14th
Paris--Roubaix 1996; 16th GP de l'Escaut 1996; 26th Omloop Het Volk
1997; 108th Tour de France 1996
World Cup Standings after 3 races
1. Rolf Sorensen (Den) 156 pts
2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 100
3. Frederic Guesdon (Fra) 100
4. Jo Planckaert (Bel) 94
5. Frederic Moncasn (Fra) 94
6. Davide Casarotto (Ita) 87
7. Andrei Tchmil (Ukr) 80
8. Alberto Elli (Ita) 70
9. Michele Bartoli (Ita) 64
10. Johan Museeuw (Bel) 63
11. Franco Ballerini (Ita) 52
12. Biagio Conte (Ita) 50
13. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) 50
14. Mirko Celestino (Ita) 32
15. Claudio Chiappucci (Ita) 32
16. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) 32
17. Marc Wauters (Bel) 28
18. Serguei Outschakov (Ukr) 28
19. Rolf Aldag (Ger) 28
20. Henk Vogels (Aus) 27
Another Report
From Andrew Powers
We join the race with around 70 kms to go. The weather
is warm, around 16 degrees centigrade, and sunny, but
with a northerly wind, giving the riders a headwind
for most of the race. As we join it 5 riders are
clear, the remnants of an eleven man break that went
away just before the Arenberg forest. In the group are
Andrea Tafi (Mapei), Stuart O'Grady (Gan), Servais
Knaven (TVM), Jacky Durand (Casino) and Wim Feys
(Lotto). The lead is around 45 seconds of the main
field containing most of the race favourites. Cofidis
seem to be leading the chase.
** Aucky - Zone 10 **
Tafi is on the front looking very strong with Feys
seemingly struggling at the back. Meanwhile at the
back of the main field Bart Leysen (Mapei) has
punctured but a Mavic service bike is there and he
quickly has a new wheel and is away. At the front of
the main field Rolf Sorensen has injected some pace
and is marked by Museeuw. Sorensen waves back to his
Rabobank teammates and they move to the front and
begin to work to bring back the break. The gap is soon
down to 46 seconds.
** Bersee - Zone 9 **
Tafi is powering the break and both Knaven and Durand
are fighting to stay with the others. This is a really
tough section and the riders are taking a pounding.
Damn, we're off on an ad break. We're back. Going
through the second feed with 61 kms to go. Zanini
(Mapei) has punctured and is charging back up to the
main field. Rabobank are still driving, they have
seven riders at the front of the bunch. They are
probably around 40-50 riders in this group. We cut to
the back. Moncassin has punctured. Poli has stopped
and gives him his wheel. Lemarchand has dropped back
to help and they are chasing. Up front the gap is down
to 24 seconds.
** Phalempin - Zone 8 **
Moncassin is back with the main field. The gap is
right down now, maybe 10-15 seconds. Rabobank have
done a good job. We've just gone under the 50 kms to
go banner. Magnien (Festina) has punctured but again
the Mavic guys are quick with a wheel. Up front it is
all together. Lotto move to the front and start to
drive. Museeuw is close by, shadowed by Moncassin.
** Martinsart - Zone 7 **
The impetus has gone from the main field. Sorensen
goes hard down the right hand side with Ballerini
quickly on his wheel. There is still around 40 riders
in the main group. But Mapei want to make a selection
as they've moved forward to the front and Tafi and
Leysen are driving hard.
** Ennetieres - Zone 6 **
This is a long section, 3 kms. Mapei are still driving
it. Someone has attacked, looks like a Gan rider. The
cars and bikes are throwing up a huge dust storm and
we can't see who is doing what. The helicopter moves
in, Moncassin is clear with Zanini and Museeuw coming
up to him. Another Gan rider is across the gap, it
looks like Henk Vogels. And a Lotto guy comes across,
it could be Planckaert. Moncassin is driving hard as
we approach the end of this zone. Onto the tarmac and
4 riders are chasing behind - Sorensen, Sciandri,
Tchmil and Wauters (Lotto). They're only 30 metres
back and get across easily. That gives us nine up
front. They're working well together but behind a big
group is chasing, can't see who's leading the chase,
it must be Cofidis again.
** Pont-Thibaut - Zone 5 **
Lotto are driving the front group. There's 38 kms to
go. No idea how big the gap is. Zanini doesn't look
good and is yo-yo-ing off the back. We cut to the
helicopter and the gap looks to be around 25 seconds.
Museeuw has punctured. The Mavic bike is there but
this will change things. He's back on his bike and
away but the second group are up to him. It looks like
Mapei will have to chase now, with only Zanini up
front and he looks ropey. More ads. God, they go on
and on. Get back to the race. Finally, we're back.
Zanini is sat at the back of the front group whilst
behind his team-mates are chasing. The gap is 23
seconds. 33 kms to go. Vogels has a problem with his
rear brake but he chases back and gets on the last
wheel. We cut back to the Mapei-led main group. There
is still around 30 riders here. The gap is coming
down, it's 17 seconds now.
Back up front and Vogels has attacked. Zanini goes
after him but Moncassin is sat, limpet-like, on his
back wheel. His conviction goes. The group has been
split into two by Vogels' attack. Sorensen takes up
the chase but Moncassin is still sat there. There is a
Lotto rider chasing Vogels alone, it's Wauters.
Meanwhile Sciandri has attacked too, and he is chasing
alone. Behind the team-cars are being pulled out of
the gap, looks like Mapei are about to bridge the gap.
Up front Vogels, Wauters and Sciandri are spread out
over around 200 metres. Wauters makes it up to Vogels
but Sciandri is still well back.
** Cysoing - Zone 4 **
Vogels and Wauters are 7 seconds ahead of Sciandri
with the Sorensen group another 8 seconds back. We cut
back to the main field as they absorb Sorensen,
Moncassin, Tchmil et al. Another time gap. Sciandri is
at 5 seconds with the main group a further 9 seconds
back. Damn. Another bloody ad break. These things drag
on and on. We're back. Wauters and Vogels are still
out front but the main field has just caught Sciandri.
There must be 40 riders still up here. This is a lot
at this stage of the race.
** Camphin - Zone 3 **
Mapei still lead the chase. Tafi and Ballerini seem to
be doing the work. The gap has gone up to 18 seconds.
An attack, it's Museeuw and Moncassin and Tchmil have
gone after him. Good team job from these two. Just as
we get to the end of the section they catch the two in
front. This gives us 2 Gans, 2 Lottos and Museeuw
out front. Moncassin attacks and Wauters is out the
back whilst Vogels fights to stay on Tchmil's wheel.
** Carrefour d'Arbre - Zone 2 **
This is a long zone, 3.2 kms and a brute. Madiot
attacked here in 85 and 91 to win. At the back of a
chase group we can see Sciandri fighting hard to stay
in contention. Back to the front and Moncassin is
driving hard and only Tchmil and Museeuw can stay with
him. These 3 must be moving clear as they all look
strong. They're all on rigid bikes too. 15 kms to go.
The chase group is around 10 seconds back but we can't
see who is in it. Moncassin attacks and Museeuw fights
to get up to him. Tchmil is struggling but manages to
get Museeuw's wheel. Still they rattle over the
cobbles.
Museeuw's had to avoid a spectator on the left and
he's hit a hole. His back tyre has gone and he's had
to stop. The Mavic service bike is there in a flash
but Moncassin and Tchmil have flown. What cruel luck
for Museeuw. But he's back on his bike and chasing
hard. He gets up to a small group. Up front Tchmil and
Moncassin are working well. Oh no, more bastard ads !
After an eternity we're back. Tchmil and Moncassin
have 15 seconds over a group that includes Sorensen,
Museeuw, Casarotto (Scrigno), Guesdon (Les Francais
des Jeux) and two Lotto's - looks like Planckeart and
Wauters.
** Zone 1 **
I missed the name. Still Moncassin and Tchmil forge
ahead. The gap seems to be stabilising at around 15
seconds. Behind it is Museeuw, Sorensen and Casarotto
doing most of the work. We're off the final section
and the gap is down, it's now 11 seconds. Hold on. Now
it's back up to 14 seconds. It's going to be close.
We've around 7 kms to the finish. Tchmil has attacked
Moncassin and has a gap of 10 metres. The Gan rider
is fighting desperately to close it but if anything it
is gradually expanding. They're both on the rivet,
it's gladiatorial stuff. Moncassin is beginning to
close the gap...8 metres...7 metres...and he finds a
little bit extra and get's onto Tchmil's back wheel.
Behind Museeuw is leading the chase, but we've no idea
what the gap is. There can't be much more than 2 kms
to go. Moncassin has just had a little dig but Tchmil
reacts quickly and gets back up. Moncassin pulls to
one side. They're beginning to play cat and mouse. We
cut back, the gap can be no more than 5 seconds.
** 1 km to go **
We're into Roubaix and nearly onto the velodrome. Just
as they enter the approach to the track, Museeuw leads
up the group. It looks like a sprint between these 8.
Moncassin leads them around the track and past the
finish line as the bell is rung. He begins to wind it
up with Tchmil and Museeuw right behind. As we come
into the final bend Guesdon goes for it over the top
and he sweeps past everyone and gets a gap. Tchmil and
Museeuw are charging after him but he's into the
straight and has a gap of 5 metres. He's going to win.
He holds on, with enough time to sit up and salute
the crowd. Tchmil, Museeuw and Planckaert are
sprinting in and it is close, looks like Museeuw and
Planckaert dead-heated for second with Tchmil 4th.
The crowd are going mad. A French victory. Guesdon is
elated, understandably. A former winner of the amateur
version of this race, no-one tipped him to win today.
Madiot looks delighted.
Frederic Guesdon has won the 95th
Paris-Roubaix. The Frenchman from the
French team Francaise-
des-Jeux-formatie attacked in the last
lap of the velodrome at Roubaix and was not
caught.
In the last kilometer there was a group of
Guesdon, Tcjmil, and Frederick Moncassin.
15h12 - 5 leaders arrives in zone 11
15h09 - 5 leaders - on 1' Eeckhout, Van Bon and Lafis and peloton on 1'45"
15h08 - still 80 km to finish
15h06 - Zanette back in peloton
15h02 - 5 leaders with Zanette on 1'40 and peloton on 2'20" (with Museeuw, Moncassin, Baldato, Tchmil)
15h00 - 5 leaders: Tafi, O'Grady, Knaven, Durand, Feys
14h58 - leaders with 59" on Zanette and 1'58" on peloton
14h51 - zone 12 (Warlaing 5100 m - 4 stars)
14h50 - 8 leaders (O'Grady, Durand, Lafis, Van Bon, Feys, Eeckhout, Tafi,
Knaven) with Zanette on 32" and peloton Museeuw on 52"
14h48 - Capiot flat tyre - Jacky Durand mechanic problems with his bike
14h47 - Denis Zanette (Aki) in counter-attack - Ballerini back in peloton with Museeuw
14h39 - zone 13 instead of 14 (Hornaing 3700 m - 3 stars) leaders
with 36" on peloton
14h43 - leaders 25" on peloton
14h39 - zone 14 (Hornaing 3700 m - 3 stars) leaders with 36" on peloton
14h37 - big crash for Ludovic Auger - he fell and is groggy = out of the race
14h33 - Casarotto in peloton - Jo Planckaert flat tyre - leaders with
peloton on 50" (with Museeuw, Sorensen, Tchmil)
14h32 - leaders: O'Grady, Durand, Auger, Lafis, Van Bon, Feys, Eeckhout, Tafi,
Knaven
14h30 - zone 14 (1600 m - 4 stars) with 10 leaders - flat tyre for Casarotto
14h28 - still 106 km
14h24 - out of forest
14h24 - Fabrizio Guidi fell in forest
14h22 - 11 riders meets 3 leaders in forest
14h21 - zone 15 cobblestone (forest of Arenberg 2400 m - 5 stars)
14h20 - Wallers Arenberg
14h19 - big peloton on 10" of group of 11
14h15 - a group of 11 riders goes to the leaders (with Durand, cueff,
Casarotto, Feys, Leon Van Bon, Knaven, Tafi, Eeckhout, Lafis, O'Grady)
14h09 - Serven Knaven and Stephan Cueff goes in front of peloton; leaders 37"
on Knaven and Cueff, 47" on peloton
14h07 - leaders 55" on peloton in sunny weather
14h00 - still 127 km
13h57 - leaders 46" on peloton (with all 8 riders of rabobank with the first 20
in peloton)
13h55 - leaders 1'12" on peloton (till now 38,460 km/h)
13h53 - Hendrik van Dijck flat tyre
13h52 - zone 16 cobblestone (Maing 2600 m - 3 stars)
13h50 - leaders 1'20" on peloton
13h47 - zone 17 cobblestone (Verchain 1600 m - 3 stars) - leaders 1'40" on
peleton
13h40 - zone 18 cobblestone (Saulzoir 1200 m - 2 stars) - leaders 2'15" on
peleton
13h35 - leaders 2'31" on first peloton with still 96 riders (where are the
rest?)
13h33 - Sciandri back in peloton
13h31 - zone 19 cobblestone (Haussy 900 m)
13h29 - after 4 zones cobblestones the peloton is split in two parts (Zabel in
second peloton)
13h28 - Museeuw changes his bike and come back in peloton.
13h23 - first feed station in solesmes
13h20 - leaders 3'40" on peloton. dusty.
13h18 - zone 20 cobblestone (Saint Python 1600 m) - still 152 km to finish
13h11 dry weather, no wind. three leaders 4'31" on peloton. Rabobank (with
Sorensen) leads peloton. Sciandri falls for second time.
13h05 - 2nd cobblestone track with 3 leaders: Pretot, Jaermann and Bonetti, at
4 minutes is Steinhauser and the peleton is at 6 minutes
177 riders at the start
France's Frederic Guesdon won the 266km Paris-Roubaix classic cycling race here
on Sunday.
Race favourite and World Cup defending champion Johan Museeuw of Belgium missed
out in the final sprint.
Unheralded Frenchman Frederic Guesdon came from nowhere to shock the favourites
and snatch the first significant victory of his career in the Paris-Roubaix
cycling classic on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Breton surged out of the last turn of the Roubaix velodrome to
outsprint two of the world's fastest riders, world champion Johan Museeuw,
winner last year, and Ukrainian Andrei Chmil, the 1994 winner.
Museeuw, who was very unlucky as he had two punctures in the last 40 kms, even
had to settle for third spot as he was beaten on the line by fellow-Belgian Jo
Planckaert.
``I had nothing to lose so I launched the sprint of my life,'' said Guesdon,
who had only one professionnal victory to his credit, this year's Haribo
Classic.
He had shown he might be a rider to watch this season when he finished 14th
last year in his first professional year, his first attempt at the world's most
demanding one-day race.
``But I did not think I could win it this year,'' he added.
But Guesdon may have been trying to emulate two famous past winners. He was
born in the same village of Brittany as the legendary Louison Bobet, winner of
the ``Queen of classics'' in 1956.
But he is also coached in the new Francaise des Jeux team by Marc Madiot,
winner in the ``Hell of the North'' in 1985 and 1991.
``This was Marc's race and it now is mine. We had been talking about it at
length since I joined his team,'' Guesdon said.
But before he made his move with 50 metres left in the third World Cup event of
the season, not many spectators would have bet any money on him.
Most of the favourites were in the group of a dozen riders who had survived
falls, punctures and dust in the race's 266.5 kms with Museeuw in the thick of
the action.
Despite his two punctures, he led all the chases behind the many breakaways of
a sunny and dry day. But the world champion and World Cup holder, who had
fallen in both in the Milan San-Remo classic and in the Tour of Flanders, the
previous two World Cup races, probably paid for his efforts in the final
sprint.
``It's a very bad time for me. I had two punctures. I don't know Guesdon very
well but he took advantage of the situation. Well done,'' the Belgian said.
Tchmil was another leading favourite and seemed about to repeat his 1994
victory when he broke away with French sprinter Frederic Moncassin in the last
cobbled sector, 13 kms from the finish line.
But Moncassin and Chmil watched another too much before entering the track on
which the finish is held and they were caught with 750 metres left.
World Cup leader Rolf Sorensen of Denmark may also have had regrets. The winner
of last week's Tour of Flanders had not taken part in the Paris-Roubaix since
1991. He found himself in the leading group in the final wrap-up, finished 6th
and retained his overall lead.
Winner's CV
Age: 25
Height: 1.85 metres. Weight: 72 kgs.
Team: La Francaise des Jeux.
Professionnal debut: 1995.
Quick facts: Born in St Meen-le-Grand, the same village of Brittany as
Louison Bobet, the 1956 Paris-Roubaix winner and three times Tour de France
winner. Has changed team every year after joining Le Groupement in 1995 and
Polti in 1996.
Leading victories: Haribo Classic 1997, Paris-Roubaix 1997.
More Reporting
France's Frederic Guesdon was the surprise winner of the 266km Paris-Roubaix
cycling race here on Sunday after pushing Belgium's Jo Planckaert and overall
World Cup champion Johan Museeuw into the minor placings.
The 25-year-old Guesdon, who finished just 14th last season, surged ahead on
the final bend of the velodrome to win this classic event by a length.
France's Frederic Moncassin and Ukrainian Andrei Tchmil, who had led over the
closing 15km, were caught on entering the velodrome and the stage was set for a
sprint finish.
Museeuw, going for his third overall World Cup title this season, did well to
grab third spot after puncturing near the end of this third of 10 1997 World
Cup events.
Museeuw afterwards went through his race problems.
"I was much better in this race than in the Tour of Flanders. I had two
punctures at bad moments and I also had to change my bike. I am very
disappointed. It's the third time in three races that I have had problems."
"This time, I even injured my left hand from a photographer who had come
forward too far on the paving stones, but it's not serious."
Guesdon said afterwards: "I had the sprint of my life and it succeeded. I was
lucky to finish because I started badly after puncturing in the first paved
section."
Guesdon, a professional for two years, joined the Francaise des Jeux team, run
by two-time Paris-Roubaix winner Marc Madiot, in the close season.
As often happens on such unforgiving terrain, two riders were taken to
hospital.
France's Ludovic Auger and Italy's Fabrizio Guidi were taken to Valenciennes
hospital, Auger suffering from concussion and a fractured collarbone and Guidi
also from a fractured collarbone.
Paris--Roubaix
Paris--Roubaix this year seems to have had a rather exciting finish.
This is what I picked up on French radio...
At about 50km to go a group of five are away -- Andrea Tafi, Stuart
O'Grady, Jacky Durand, Wim Feys and Servais Knaven. I think their
maximum lead was about 2 minutes. The chase is being led by Cofidis,
Rabobank and (despite O'Grady) GAN. Prominent in the chase group are
Rolf Sorensen, Frederic Moncassin, Johan Museeuw. At some point in the
chase Moncassin punctures but is brought back by Eros Poli.
By 25km to go the five have been caught and another break is
tentatively away. Henk Vogels and Marc Wauters with 12 secs over Max
Sciandri and 27 secs over a group including Museeuw, Andrei Tchmil,
Moncassin, Sorensen and Jo Planckaert.
By 18km to go this break has collapsed and Moncassin attacks taking
Tchmil with him.
With 12km to go Tchmil and Moncassin are still clear and in the chase
Museeuw has punctured.
With 5km to go, Moncassin and Tchmil have a slender lead of 14 secs
over a group including Wauters, Planckaert, Sorensen, Frederic
Guesdon, Davide Casarotto, Museeuw.
Both Tchmil and Moncassin recognize how precarious their position is
and try attacks. At least the following: 5km Tchmil attacks, Moncassin
counters; 3km Moncassin attacks, Tchmil counters; 2km Moncassin
attacks again, Tchmil counter-attacks. Soon after the 1km banner the
two are swept up by the chase group and on the velodrome.......