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67th Zesdaagse Vlaanderen - Gent - 6D

Gent, Belgium, November 20-25, 2007

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Race 6 - November 13:

'Home team' Keisse and Bartko take Madison and race overall in dramatic finish

Risi and Marvulli conquered in final Madison

By Gregor Brown and Ben Atkins in Gent

Bartko douses Keisse
Photo ©: Luc Claessen
(Click for larger image)

Home team Iljo Keisse and Roberto Bartko won the 67th Gent Six Day by taking one lap on Swiss Bruno Risi and Franco Marvulli in the race's finale - the Madison. Keisse, who hails from Gent and German Bartko trailed by one point before starting the 60 minute + 50 lap Madison, however a powerful move by the duo with 15 laps remaining saw them go on the attack, succeeding in gaining a lap to take the win in Madison and the overall event. The Chocolade Jacques team won the race's overall with 402 points, one lap over the Risi and Marvulli at 407 points. Robert Slippens and Danny Stam finished in third on the same lap as Risi/Marvulli, with 317 points.

"It is a feeling you have in the body, and then you know you must go," was Bartko's reaction to Cyclingnews when asked how the duo knew when to hit the throttle at near 15 laps remaining in the Madison. "I am too slow in the sprint - I am not a sprinter. I can go at high speeds for a long time, but I am not good at the top end [laughs]."

"We wanted to do the sprints, and I had proved earlier on in the other events that I had a good sprint," noted a calm yet delighted Keisse to Cyclingnews after the race. "We had lost out on the Madison sprints and I was in doubt, so I said to Robert 'we go all or nothing'."

The strategy worked as the two claimed the extra lap. Tonight Keisse will travel to his favourite bar in Gent, a bar that is owned by his dad. "It will be unfortunately too small for all the people that I expect will show." He has lived for all his life in Gent, moving when his parents divorced but always remaining in the Flemish town's centre.

How it unfolded

Robert Bartko
Photo ©: Luc Claessen
(Click for larger image)

The final day of the Gent Six Day began with two teams separated by a thin five points in the top two spots. World Champions Bruno Risi and Franco Marvulli led hometown boy Iljo Keisse and his German partner Robert Bartko on the lead lap with the Dutch pair of Robert Slippens and Danny Stam one lap behind and trailing by 56 points. This set up a tense atmosphere where every event would be crucial.

In the early part of the first points race, the two leading pairs of Risi/Marvulli and Keisse/Bartko marked each other, neither willing to see the other get away. The racing opened up before too long though and the leaders exchanged a few points. Slippens and Stam, edged closer to 300 points – where they would be awarded a bonus lap – by taking final sprint and the race. Taking five points to Risi/Marvulli's two, Keisse/Bartko managed in the end to reduce the gap on the overall to just one point - 332 to 331!

Now that the whole six day event is hinging on the matter of a point here or there, the team elimination was keenly contested by all of the major contenders. Slippens/Stam had been avoiding putting too much in to events that would only yield points as they needed to make a lap back on the two pairs of Risi/Marvulli and Keisse/Bartko. However, now that they were so close to the magic 300 points they were keen to do well here to gain back that lap.

Keisse/Bartko could only manage to hang on for fifth place – and 4 points – opening the door for Risi/Marvulli to restore a more comfortable lead - an invitation that they we only too pleased to take. Wiggins and Cavendish – showing the class that they will hope to take on to Beijing next summer – held on for third place, but the win was taken in a close photo finish by Bruno Risi coming around Robert Slippens. Risi/Marvulli's lead was back up to 12 points over Keisse/Bartko – 347 to 335, but Slippens/Stam reached their magic 300 and pulled themselves onto the lead lap, but will surely have to try and take another one as a 46 point deficit was too much to make up with less than a whole session remaining.

The 500-metre time trial saw Roberts/Hester post an early fast time of 28.94 on the 167-metre track. However Czech duo Lazar/Kankovsky went better, and so did the final pair, local favourites, Keisse/Bartko. When German Bartko hand slung partner Iljo Keisse the crowd went ballistic. The rider from Gent shot around the track to close with a time of 28.40, enough to top the leader board and add 15 points to their overall tally. They now sat just three points behind Swiss duo Risi/Marvulli.

Joop Zijlaard and Bradley Wiggins
Photo ©: Luc Claessen
(Click for larger image)

The first derny race saw an exhibition by Bradley Wiggins. After sitting near the back of the six-man group for the first portion of the event, the Brit took off with 15 laps remaining. Hand gestures and head nods told pacer Joop Zijlaard to keep the pace high. Wiggins succeeded with Zijlaard to lap the field, with only Luke Roberts able to follow. The duo and their pacers immediately went for an additional lap. Wiggins continued to lead though final lap to win the first derny of the day.

The elimination came down to Franco Marvulli and Wim Stroetinga. The latter appeared to take the win without much fight from his Swiss competitor, who likely was not worried about the 15 points won by the Dutchman. Stroetinga and partner Pronk were some 240 points back on the leading couple.

The finale of the last derny had De Ketele and Stam leading with Risi charging. Risi kept going to pass and take the lead, leaving only a gasping De Ketele to follow. However, with the help of pacer Huybrechts, De Ketele was able to hold on to the World Madison Champ and pacer Zijlaard. They were side by side in the final lap but it was local favourite Keisse who shocked the front runners, nailing Risi and De Ketele for the 10 points on offer. The two points gain moved Keisse/Bartko to only three points behind Risi/Marvulli in the overall.

The keirin finale was dominated by Czech Alois Kankovsky. The tall blonde took the lead in the final lap to hold off the Hester and De Fauw.

The following 167-metre time trial was a chance for Keisse/Bartko to take additional points on the Swiss leadership before the race finale - a 60 minute + 50 lap Madison. The Belgian/German duo took third with a time of 8.98 to gain 8 points, 2 more than Risi/Marvulli, who finished in fourth. The overall lead was now separated by one point, with the Swiss duo at 377. The timed event was won by Lazar/Kankovsky (8.74), who had won the 500-metre test earlier in the day. Wiggins/Cavendish took second with 8.96.

Both Risi/Marvulli and Keisse/Bartko fought hard early on in the Madison to put each other into difficulties. The Swiss team was often seen working with Dutchmen Slippens/Stam. By the race's mid-way point, all three couples had six laps on the others. Being one point down forced the home team to be offensive. Keisse/Bartko struck for an extra lap at any point they thought that the Swiss leaders were snoozing.

Keisse on the attack
Photo ©: Luc Claessen
(Click for larger image)

The race came down to the final 50 laps, which presented sprints at every 10 laps (with 10, 6, 4 and 2 points on offer). Risi/Marvulli took the first sprint to gain four points on Keisse/Bartko, who took second. The scenario repeated itself with 30 laps to go; the Swiss were now leading by nine points. Sprint three did not get any better for the second place duo when Risi/Marvulli took the maximum points. However, immediately following the sprint, Bartko went on the attack, hunting for an extra lap. The crowd went nuts as he hand slung Keisse into action.

With 11 laps remaining the duo were one lap up on the Swiss and thus took the overall leadership. Risi and Marvulli were stuck, they could not make up the lap, and were forced to resign to second place. Keisse led out the final lap to take the sprint win and the overall victory with German partner Bartko. 

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Luc Claessen/www.ctm-images.com

Images by Stijn Vercaemer

Images by Ben Atkins/Cyclingnews.com

Results

Points race
 
1 Danny Stam / Robert Slippens (Ned) VDK                                     18 pts
2 Luke Roberts / Marc Hester (Aus/Den) RDM - JDK                             12
3 Andreas Beikirch / Erik Mohs (Ger) Callant verzekeringen – Q8              11
4 Wim Stroetinga / Matthé Pronk (Ned) Geka kaas                               7
5 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Chocolade Jacques                   5
6 Kenny De Ketele / Marco Villa (Bel/Ita) Capri-Sonne                         5
7 Steve Schets / Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                  3
8 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) Tartuffe-Labo Van Vooren                 2
9 Dimitri De Fauw / Alexander Aeschbach (Bel/Swi) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf           2
10 Bradley Wiggins / Marc Cavendisch (GBr) Mercator                           1
11 Nicky Cocquyt / Steven Deneef (Bel) AVS                                     
12 Petr Lazar / Alois Kankovsky (Cze) Cécémel                                  
13 Tim Mertens / Andreas Muller (Bel/Ger) Passage Fitness First                
 
Team Elimination
 
1 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) Tartuffe-Labo Van Vooren                15 pts
2 Danny Stam / Robert Slippens (Ned) VDK                                     10
3 Bradley Wiggins / Marc Cavendisch (GBr) Mercator                            8
4 Kenny De Ketele / Marco Villa (Bel/Ita) Capri-Sonne                         6
5 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Chocolade Jacques                   4
6 Andreas Beikirch / Erik Mohs (Ger) Callant verzekeringen – Q8               2
7 Dimitri De Fauw / Alexander Aeschbach (Bel/Swi) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf            
8 Tim Mertens / Andreas Muller (Bel/Ger) Passage Fitness First                 
9 Luke Roberts / Marc Hester (Aus/Den) RDM - JDK                               
10 Nicky Cocquyt / Steven Deneef (Bel) AVS                                     
11 Wim Stroetinga / Matthé Pronk (Ned) Geka kaas                               
12 Petr Lazar / Alois Kankovsky (Cze) Cécémel                                  
13 Steve Schets / Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                  
 
500m Time Trial
 
1 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Chocolade Jacques             0.28.40
2 Petr Lazar / Alois Kankovsky (Cze) Cécémel                            0.28.88
3 Luke Roberts / Marc Hester (Aus/Den) RDM - JDK                        0.28.94
4 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) Tartuffe-Labo Van Vooren           0.29.03
5 Dimitri De Fauw / Alexander Aeschbach (Bel/Swi) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf     0.29.08
6 Steve Schets / Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen            0.29.49
7 Kenny De Ketele / Marco Villa (Bel/Ita) Capri-Sonne                   0.29.72
8 Andreas Beikirch / Erik Mohs (Ger) Callant verzekeringen – Q8         0.29.76
9 Tim Mertens / Andreas Muller (Bel/Ger) Passage Fitness First          0.29.80
10 Bradley Wiggins / Marc Cavendisch (GBr) Mercator                     0.30.13
11 Wim Stroetinga / Matthé Pronk (Ned) Geka kaas                        0.30.15
12 Danny Stam / Robert Slippens (Ned) VDK                               0.30.38
13 Nicky Cocquyt / Steven Deneef (Bel) AVS                              0.30.53
 
Derny
 
1 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Mercator                                             10 pts
2 Luke Roberts (Aus) RDM - JDK                                                8
3 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Geka kaas                                                6
4 Alexander Aeschbach (Swi) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf                                 4
5 Steven Deneef (Bel) AVS                                                     2
6 Petr Lazar (Cze) Cécémel                                                     
 
Elimination
 
1 Wim Stroetinga (Ned) Geka kaas                                             15 pts
2 Franco Marvulli (Swi) Tartuffe-Labo Van Vooren                             10
3 Robert Bartko (Ger) Chocolade Jacques                                       8
4 Nicky Cocquyt (Bel) AVS                                                     6
5 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Mercator                                               4
6 Tim Mertens (Bel) Passage Fitness First                                     2
7 Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                                  
8 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf                                      
9 Marc Hester (Den) RDM - JDK                                                  
10 Marco Villa (Ita) Capri-Sonne                                               
11 Erik Mohs (Ger) Callant verzekeringen – Q8                                  
12 Alois Kankovsky (Cze) Cécémel                                               
13 Robert Slippens (Ned) VDK                                                   
 
Derny
 
1 Iljo Keisse (Bel) Chocolade Jacques                                        10 pts
2 Bruno Risi (Swi) Tartuffe-Labo Van Vooren                                   8
3 Kenny De Ketele (Bel) Capri-Sonne                                           6
4 Danny Stam (Ned) VDK                                                        4
5 Andreas Muller (Ger) Passage Fitness First                                  2
6 Andreas Beikirch (Ger) Callant verzekeringen – Q8                            

Keirin
 
1 Alois Kankovsky (Cze) Cécémel                                              15 pts
2 Marc Hester (Aus/Den) RDM - JDK                                            10
3 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf                                     8
4 Erik Mohs (Ger) Callant verzekeringen – Q8                                  6
5 Steve Schets (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                                      4
6 Wim Stroetinga (Ned) Geka kaas                                              2
 
Supersprint
 
1 Petr Lazar / Alois Kankovsky (Cze) Cécémel                                 15 pts
2 Wim Stroetinga / Matthé Pronk (Ned) Geka kaas                              10
3 Luke Roberts / Marc Hester (Aus/Den) RDM - JDK                              8
4 Steve Schets / Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                  6
5 Bradley Wiggins / Marc Cavendisch (GBr) Mercator                            4
6 Nicky Cocquyt / Steven Deneef (Bel) AVS                                     2
7 Kenny De Ketele / Marco Villa (Bel/Ita) Capri-Sonne                          
8 Danny Stam / Robert Slippens (Ned) VDK                                       
9 Dimitri De Fauw / Alexander Aeschbach (Bel/Swi) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf            
10 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Chocolade Jacques                   
11 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) Tartuffe-Labo Van Vooren                 
12 Andreas Beikirch / Erik Mohs (Ger) Callant verzekeringen – Q8               
13 Tim Mertens / Andreas Muller (Bel/Ger) Passage Fitness First                
 
Flying lap
 
1 Petr Lazar / Alois Kankovsky (Cze) Cécémel                            0.08.74
2 Bradley Wiggins / Marc Cavendisch (GBr) Mercator                      0.08.96
3 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Chocolade Jacques             0.08.98
4 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) Tartuffe-Labo Van Vooren           0.09.06
5 Luke Roberts / Marc Hester (Aus/Den) RDM - JDK                        0.09.08
6 Dimitri De Fauw / Alexander Aeschbach (Bel/Swi) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf     0.09.09
7 Wim Stroetinga / Matthé Pronk (Ned) Geka kaas                         0.09.10
8 Steve Schets / Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen            0.09.23
9 Danny Stam / Robert Slippens (Ned) VDK                                0.09.25
10 Kenny De Ketele / Marco Villa (Bel/Ita) Capri-Sonne                  0.09.27
11 Tim Mertens / Andreas Muller (Bel/Ger) Passage Fitness First         0.09.39
12 Nicky Cocquyt / Steven Deneef (Bel) AVS                              0.09.41
13 Andreas Beikirch / Erik Mohs (Ger) Callant verzekeringen – Q8        0.09.58
 
Final Standings
 
1 Iljo Keisse (Bel) / Robert Bartko (Ger) Chocolade Jacques                 402 pts

One lap behind

2 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) Tartuffe-Labo Van Vooren               407 pts
3 Danny Stam / Robert Slippens (Ned) VDK                                    317

Eight laps behind

4 Kenny De Ketele / Marco Villa (Bel/Ita) Capri-Sonne                       244 pts
5 Andreas Beikirch / Erik Mohs (Ger) Callant verzekeringen – Q8             216

15 laps behind

6 Tim Mertens / Andreas Muller (Bel/Ger) Passage Fitness First              136 pts

24 laps behind

7 Luke Roberts / Marc Hester (Aus/Den) RDM - JDK                            203 pts

26 laps behind

8 Dimitri De Fauw / Alexander Aeschbach (Bel/Swi) Mega Doe-Het-Zelf         285 pts

33 laps behind

9 Petr Lazar / Alois Kankovsky (Cze) Cécémel                                178 pts

39 laps behind

10 Bradley Wiggins / Marc Cavendisch (GBr) Mercator                         172 pts

46 laps behind

11 Nicky Cocquyt / Steven Deneef (Bel) AVS                                  109 pts

48 laps behind

12 Wim Stroetinga / Matthé Pronk (Ned) Geka kaas                            136 pts

82 laps behind

13 Steve Schets / Ingmar Depoortere (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen               140 pts

UIV Talents Cup

1 Guy East / Jackie Simes IV (USA)                      1
 
One lap behind
 
2 Pavel Subrt / Marek Mixa (Cze)                       18 pts
3 Peter Kennaugh / Adam Blythe (GBr)                   14
4 Davy Tuytens / Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel)              10
5 Tristan Marquet / René Schibli (Swi)                  9
6 Dave Mertens / Walt De Winter (Bel)                   3
7 Jesper Mørkøv / Christian Ranneries (Den)              
8 Maarten Vlasseleer / Gert Jan Van Immerseel (Bel)      
 
Three laps behind
 
9 Kierian De Fauw / Thomas Sprangers (Bel)               
 
Final standings
 
1 Peter Kennaugh / Adam Blythe (GBr)                   82 pts
2 Pavel Subrt / Marek Mixa (Cze)                       52
 
One lap behind
 
3 Davy Tuytens / Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel)              96 pts
4 Jesper Mørkøv / Christian Ranneries (Den)            13
 
Two laps behind
 
5 Tristan Marquet / René Schibli (Swi)                 41 pts
6 Maarten Vlasseleer / Gert Jan Van Immerseel (Bel)    11
 
Four laps behind
 
7 Dave Mertens / Walt De Winter (Bel)                  48 pts
 
Five laps behind
 
8 Guy East / Jackie Simes IV (USA)                     14 pts
 
11 laps behind
 
9 Kierian De Fauw / Thomas Sprangers (Bel)              8 pts