Belgium,
April 6,
Start in Deinze, finish in Wevelgem, distance 206 km with, as "moment
fort", the Kemmelberg to be climbed twice.
More
than any other race, Gent-Wevelgem deserves to be called the
"fan race". The early phase of the race was really spicy,
with a peloton broken in three groups after only 25 km. The last group
was 2’ behind, but, as soon as the leaders faced the head wind
at the sea side, the rear closes up, and the peloton is compact again.
Once
in the ‘Moeren’ where the wind is free, the pack broke into
four fans. There was a first pack of 29 racers, including four of
our bys: Gert Steegmans, Nico Mattan, Henk Vogelsand
Belgian champion Tom Steels.
The
gap remained at about 1’, and they came together to the hills.
After the first climb of the Kemmelberg, 20 men remain at the
head, including Tom Steels and Nico Mattan. Gert Steegmans
and Henk Vogels followed with a small group.
The
final sifting came after the second climb of the Kemmel, with
8 racers leading. One Davitamon-Lotto racer was with that group,
our Nico Mattan. A thinned out peloton, with Bert Roesems
and Wim DeVocht had caught the others. These two young
racers have worked splendidly for Tom Steels.
This
peloton came back to about 20 seconds of the leading group. Some 10
km from the finish, Nico decided to go ahead alone ! Only another
racer was able to catch him, the Spaniard Flecha (Fassa Bortolo),
who took the lead and ran away to win the race. But in the very last
kilometre, we saw an amazing feat by our Nico. He not only succeeded
to catch Flecha, but dropped him behind and won the race all alone!.
A
brilliant victory, more than overdue, for Nico, and a jolly good result
for the team. !!! Tom Steels won the sprint of the peloton
and finished 7th.
Belgium,
April 6,
Start in Deinze, finish in Wevelgem, distance 206 km with, as "moment
fort", the Kemmelberg to be climbed twice.
