| Sorry, it's French, but you will get the general euphoria! (I'll try to
translate tomorrow).
LA FLECHE WALLONNE - MERCREDI 16 AVRIL
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D ans la foul�e du succ�s de Fr�d�ric Guesdon � Roubaix et tout juste
une semaine apr�s la victoire de Philippe Gaumont lors de Gand-Wevelgem,
le cyclisme fran�ais a connu mercredi un nouveau triomphe sur les routes
ardennaises avec la d�monstration de Laurent Jalabert. Le Tarnais remporte
sa 2e Fl�che Wallonne apr�s son succ�s compagnon d'�chapp�e des 25 derniers km
qui n'a pu r�sister � l'attaque terrible de Jaja dans le c�l�bre mur de Huy.
L a tactique adopt�e par Jalabert et son �quipe Once pour cette deuxi�me
victoire � Huy est un mod�le du genre. Durant les 17O premiers kilom�tres de
la course, le n�1 mondial n'a pas donn� un coup de p�dale superflu, ne se
montrant que rarement aux avant-postes. Il n'�tait pas du groupe de 18
coureurs qui a men� durant 6O km (Virenque,Herv�,
Peron, Chiapucci...). Mais Jalabert a brutalement attaqu� dans la c�te de
Bohissau (km 174), o� seuls Leblanc et Enrico Zaina (Asics) ont pu le suivre.
L es deux fran�ais ont rapidement sem� Zaina, d�croch� d�s la c�te de
Ahin (km 19O). L'avance des �chapp�s a tr�s vite augment� sur un premier
groupe emmen� par Alexi Z_�lle, culminant laiss� la moindre chance �
Leblanc, litt�ralement d�pos� par le Tarnais d�s les premiers m�tres
d'ascension du terrible mur final de Huy. Comme en 1995 Jalabert a attaqu�
quand et o� il l'a voulu, signant une superbe victoire
devant un Leblanc aff�t� avant le Giro.
Classement final
1.Laurent JALABERT..(Once/Fra) 5hO7'3O" Moyenne: 39,112 km/h
2.Luc LEBLANC.......(Pol./Fra) � 13"
3.Alex ZULLE.............(Sui)
4.Michele BARTOLI........(Ita)
5.Marco PANTANI..........(Ita)
6.Pascal LINO............(Fra)
NOTE the retyrn to form of Pascal Lino, one-time holder of the TdF YJ for
some days after a period in the wilderness ...
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| LA FLECHE WALLONNE - MERCREDI 16 AVRIL
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In the flurry of successes by Guesdon at Roubaix just a week after that of
Gaumont in Gent-Wevelgem, French cycling got another triumph on the Ardennes
roads, thanks to Laurent Jalabert. The man from the Tarn (dept) won his 2nd
Fleche when his breakaway companion for the last 25km failed to resist his
fierce attack on the terrible Muy de Huy.
For this second victory, Jalabert and his ONCE team adopted model tactics.
During the first 170 km, the no 1 world ranker did not make a single
unnecessary pedal stroke, showing himself rarely at the front of the bunch.
He was not amongst a group which was away for 60km (Virenque,Herv�,
Peron, Chiapucci...). However, Jalabert attacked brutally on the c�te de
Bohissau (km 174), where only Leblanc et Enrico Zaina (Asics) were able to
follow him.
The 2 Frenchmen rapidly disposed of Zaina, who was dropped on the c�te de
Ahin (km 19O). Their advantage grew quickly over a group lead by Alexi
Z_�lle, reaching ... (Minitel lost its brain here). Leblanc was left no
chance, destroyed by a fierce attack by the Tarnais right from the first
m�tres of the terrible final "wall" of Huy. As in 1995 Jalabert attacked where
and when he wanted, taking a superb victory over a Leblanc well ridden-in
(literally honed) before the Giro.
Classement final
1.Laurent JALABERT..(Once/Fra) 5hO7'3O" Moyenne: 39,112 km/h
2.Luc LEBLANC.......(Pol./Fra) � 13"
3.Alex ZULLE.............(Sui)
4.Michele BARTOLI........(Ita)
5.Marco PANTANI..........(Ita)
6.Pascal LINO............(Fra)
NOTE the retyrn to form of Pascal Lino, one-time holder of the TdF YJ for
some days after a period in the wilderness ...
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