March 1/03 1:50 am - Museeuw Takes Het Volk

Posted by Editoress on 03/1/03
 

Museeuw Takes Het Volk

Johan Museeuw (Quick Step-Davitamon) has won the 2003 Het Volk, leading a dominant performance by his team, which saw them take 4 of the top 5 positions.

The early break of Jacky Durand (FDJ), Tony Bracke (Landbouwkrediet) and Kristof Trouve (Palmans) attacked 14 kilometres into the 200 kilometre race. Christophe Agnolutto (Ag2r) was with them to begin with, but dropped back to the peloton. The gap reached a maximum of nearly 9 minutes, before the Quick Step team began to lead the chase and split the field up.

With 60 kilometres to go, a small group formed off the front, containing Tom Boonen, Paolo Bettini, Johan Museeuwand Frank Vandenbroucke (all Quick Step), Max Van Heeswijk (US Postal), Filippo Pozzato (Fassa Bortolo), and Peter Farazijn (Cofidis). This group blew right by the remnants of the break With 24 kilometres to go, this was reduced to Van Heeswijk, Museeuw, and Bettini, and then Museeuw attacked twice - at 6 to go and 5 to go. The second time was successful, with Van Heeswijk only able to watch (monitored by Bettini), as Museeuw motored away for a very popular win.

1 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon 4:55:31
2 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) US Postal at 0:15
3 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Davitamon s.t.
4 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon 1:30
5 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon s.t.
6 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Fassas Bortolo 2:38
7 Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis s.t.
8 Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Sidermec 3:30
9 Gabriele Balducci (Ita) Sidermec
10 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto-Domo
11 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Fassa Bortolo
12 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) BankGiroLoterij
13 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2r-Prevoyance
14 Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) Sidermec
15 Rene Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner all s.t.