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A Brief History of The Tour of Flanders
De Ronde van Vlaanderen (The Tour of Flanders) was the inspiration of cyclist Karel Van Wijnendaele (pictured right). In 1912 Van Wijnendaele, following little success as a cyclist, became one of the creators of the sports newspaper Sportwereld. This gave him the opportunity to organise and publicise a bicycle race himself and de Ronde Van Vlaanderen was born.
In the Beginning...
The race was first run in 1913 over a distance of 330km (much further than the modern day races) and was not an immediate success - it had only 37 competitors. The 1914 edition of the race attracted only 10 competitors. The race then had to be abandoned during the war years of 1915 - 1918 and the 3rd edition of the race wasn't run until 1919. Perseverance paid off however and the success and popularity of the Tour of Flanders grew until it is now one of he most prestigious races on the professional calendar. It has been held every year since 1919 including the years during the Second World War.
The Race Route
The Tour of Flanders is characterised by it's series of climbs (16 in the 2002 edition) during the second half of the race. The climbs are not long but are often very steep and narrow. These short, sharp climbs can quickly drain the strength from the riders legs as they encounter the first of them after already covering around 150km. Although the roads leading up to the hilly section are generally flat, the riders can normally expect some fairly strong winds to impede their progress. And with little distance between each climb, the riders get little opportunity to recover sufficiently after each climb.
Due to the narrow roads, riders must make sure they're positioned near the front of the peleton at the bottom of the climbs. This often keeps the speed of the race very high leading up to each climb with the resulting increase in danger as many riders try to move forward and those at the front try to hold their place there. In addition to the steep gradients, many of the climbs are on cobbled roads which require much more effort to ascend. Riders must be careful to avoid collisions on the rough surfaces as they move around in search of the smoothest line on the road and their bikes are thrown around on the very rough and narrow roads. The cobbles also become extremely slippery when wet and at times, just keeping the bike upright is a challenge.
Belgian Dominance
The race has been won by Belgians on 56 occasions out of the 86 times it has been run. Dutch riders have won the race 10 times and Italians have won 8. Four riders have each won the Tour of Flanders 3 times: Belgians Achiel Buysse (1940, 1941, 1943), Eric Leman (1970, 1972, 1973) and Johan Museeuw (1993, 1995, 1998). Italian Fiorenzo Magni won on three consecutive occasions (1949 1950, 1951).
Past Winners
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Year
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First
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Second
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Third
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2001
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Gianluca Bortolami (Ita)
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Erik Dekker (Ned)
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Denis Zanette (Ita)
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2000
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Andrei Tchmil (Bel)
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Dario Pieri (Ita)
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Romans Vainsteins (Lat)
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1999
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Peter Van Petegem (Bel)
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Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel)
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Johan Museeuw (Bel)
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1998
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Johan Museeuw (Bel)
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Stefano Zanini (Ita)
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Andrei Tchmil (Bel)
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1997
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Rolf Sörensen (Den)
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Frédéric Moncassin (Fra)
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Franco Ballerini (Ita)
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1996
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Michele Bartoli (Ita)
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Fabio Baldato (Ita)
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Johan Museeuw (Bel)
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1995
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Johan Museeuw (Bel)
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Fabio Baldato (Ita)
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Andrei Tchmil (Ukr)
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1994
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Gianni Bugno (Ita)
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Johan Museeuw (Bel)
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Andrei Tchmil (Ukr)
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1993
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Johan Museeuw (Bel)
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Franz Maassen (Ned)
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David Bottaro (Ita)
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1992
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Jacky Durand (Fra)
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Thomas Wegmuller (Swi)
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Edwig Van Hooydonck (Bel)
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1991
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Edwig Van Hooydonck (Bel)
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Johan Museeuw (Bel)
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Rolf Sörensen (Den)
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1990
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Moreno Argentin (Ita)
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Rudy Dhaenens (Bel)
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John Talen (Ned)
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1989
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Edwig Van Hooydonck (Bel)
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Herman Frison (Bel)
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Dag Otto Lauritzen Nor)
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1988
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Eddy Planckaert (Bel)
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Phil Anderson (Aust)
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Adri Van Der Poel (Ned)
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1987
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Claude Criquielion (Bel)
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Sean Kelly (Ire)
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Eric Vanderaerden (Bel)
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1986
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Adri Van Der Poel (Ned)
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Sean Kelly (Ire)
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Flup Vandenbrande (Bel)
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1985
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Eric Vanderaerden (Bel)
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Phil Anderson (Aust)
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Hennie Kuiper (Ned)
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1984
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Johan Lammerts (Ned)
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Sean Kelly (Ire)
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Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke (Bel)
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1983
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Jan Raas (Ned)
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Ludo Peeters (Bel)
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Marc Sergeant (Bel)
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1982
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Rene Martens (Bel)
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Eddie Planckaert (Bel)
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Rudy Pevenage (Bel)
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1981
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Hennie Kuiper (Ned)
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Frits Pirard (Ned)
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Jan Raas (Ned)
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1980
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Michel Pollentier (Bel)
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Francesco Moser (Ita)
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Jan Raas (Ned)
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1979
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Jan Raas (Ned)
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Marc Demeyer (Bel)
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Daniel Willems (Bel)
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1978
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Walter Godefroot (Bel)
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Michel Pollentier (Bel)
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Greg Braun (Ger)
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1977
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Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel)
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**
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***
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1976
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Walter Planckaert (Bel)
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Francesco Moser (Ita)
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Marc Demeyer (Bel)
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1975
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Eddy Merckx (Bel)
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Frans Verbeeck (Bel)
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Marc Demeyer (Bel)
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1974
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Cees Bal (Ned)
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Frans Verbeeck (Bel)
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*
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1973
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Eric Leman (Bel)
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Freddie Maertens (Bel)
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Eddy Merckx (Bel)
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1972
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Eric Leman (Bel)
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André Dierickx (Bel)
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Frans Verbeeck (Bel)
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1971
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Evert Dolman (Ned)
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F. Kerremans (Bel)
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Cyril Guimard (Fra)
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1970
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Eric Leman (Bel)
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Walter Godefroot (Bel)
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Eddy Merckx (Bel)
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1969
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Eddy Merckx (Bel)
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Felice Gimondi (Ita)
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Marino Basso (Ita)
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1968
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Walter Godefroot (Bel)
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Rudi Altig (Ger)
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Jan Janssen (Ned)
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1967
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Dino Zandegu (Ita)
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Noél Foré (Bel)
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Eddy Merckx (Bel)
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1966
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Ward Sels (Bel)
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Adriano Durante (Ita)
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Georges Vandenberghe (Bel)
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1965
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Jo De Roo (Ned)
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Edward Sels (Bel)
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Georges Vanconingsloo (Bel)
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1964
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Rudi Altig (Ger)
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Benoni Beheyt (Bel)
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Jo De Roo (Ned)
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1963
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Noél Foré (Bel)
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Frans Melckenbeeck (Bel)
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Tom Simpson (GB)
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1962
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Rik Van Looy (Bel)
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Michel Van Aerde (Bel)
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Norbert Kerckhove (Bel)
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1961
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Tom Simpson (GB)
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Nino Defilippis (Ita)
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Jo De Haan (Ned)
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1960
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Arthur De Cabooter (Bel)
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Jean Graczyk (Fra)
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Ric Van Looy (Bel)
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1959
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Rik Van Looy (Bel)
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Frans Schoubben (Bel)
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Gilbert Desmet (Bel)
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1958
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Germain Derijcke (Bel)
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Willy Truye (Bel)
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Angelo Conterno (Ita)
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1957
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Fred De Bruyne (Bel)
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Jos Planckaert (Bel)
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Norbert Kerckhove (Bel)
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1956
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Jean Forestier (Fra)
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Stan Ockers (Bel)
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Leon Van Daele (Bel)
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1955
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Louison Bobet (Fra)
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Hugo Koblet (Swi)
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Rik Van Steenbergen (Bel)
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1954
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Raymond Impanis (Bel)
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Francois Mahe (Fra)
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Alfons Van Den Brande (Bel)
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1953
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Wim Van Est (Ned)
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Désiré Keteleer (Bel)
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Bernard Gauthier (Fra)
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1952
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Roger Decock (Bel)
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Loretto Petrucci (Ita)
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Briek Schotte (Bel)
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1951
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Fiorenzo Magni (Ita)
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Bernard Gauthier (Fra)
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Attilio Redolfi (Fra)
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1950
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Fiorenzo Magni (Ita)
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Briek Schotte (Bel)
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Louis Caput (Fra)
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1949
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Fiorenzo Magni (Ita)
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Valére Ollivier (Bel)
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Briek Schotte (Bel)
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1948
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Briek Schotte (Bel)
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Albert Ramon (Bel)
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Marcel Rijckaert (Bel)
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1947
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Emiel Faignaert (Bel)
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René Desmet (Bel)
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Henri Renders (Bel)
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1946
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Rik Van Steenbergen (Bel)
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Louis Thiétard (Fra)
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Briek Schotte (Bel)
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1945
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Sylvain Grysolle (Bel)
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Albert Sercu (Bel)
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Jos Moerenhout (Bel)
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1944
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Rik Van Steenbergen (Bel)
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Briek Schotte (Bel)
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Jos Moerenhout (Bel)
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1943
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Achiel Buysse (Bel)
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Albert Sercu (Bel)
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K. Beeckman (Bel)
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1942
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Briek Schotte (Bel)
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Georges Claes (Bel)
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Robert Van Eenaeme (Bel)
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1941
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Achiel Buysse (Bel)
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Gustaaf Van Overloop (B)
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O. Vanden Meerschaut (Bel)
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1940
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Achiel Buysse (Bel)
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G. Christiaens (Bel)
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Briek Schotte (Bel)
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1939
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Karel Kaers (Bel)
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Romain Maes (Bel)
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Ward Vissers (Bel)
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1938
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Edgard De Caluwe (Bel)
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Sylveer Maes (Bel)
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Marcel Kint (Bel)
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1937
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Michel D'Hooghe (Bel)
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Herman Deltour (Bel)
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Louis Hardiquest (Bel)
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1936
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Louis Hardiquest (Bel)
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Edgard De Caluwe (Bel)
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Francois Neuville (Bel)
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1935
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Louis Duerloo (Bel)
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Eloi Meulenberg (Bel)
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C. Leemans (Bel)
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1934
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Gaston Rebry (Bel)
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Alfons Schepers (Bel)
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Félicien Vervaecke (Bel)
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1933
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Alfons Schepers (Bel)
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Leon Tommies (Bel)
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Romain Gijssels (Bel)
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1932
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Romain Gijssels (Bel)
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Alphonse Deloor (Bel)
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Alfred Haemerlinck (Bel)
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1931
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Romain Gijssels (Bel)
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Cesar Bogaert (Ned)
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Jean Aerts (Bel)
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1930
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Frans Bonduel (Bel)
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Aimé Dossche (Bel)
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Emile Joly (Bel)
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1929
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Jef Dervaes (Bel)
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Georges Ronsse (Bel)
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Alfred Haemerlinck (Bel)
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1928
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Jan Mertens (Bel)
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August Mortelmans (Bel)
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Louis De Lannoy (Bel)
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1927
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Gerard Debaets (Bel)
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G. Van Slembrouck (Bel)
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M. Dewaele (Bel)
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1926
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Denis Verschueren (Bel)
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Gustaaf Van Slembrouck
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Raymond Decorte (Bel)
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1925
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Julien Delbecque (Bel)
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Jef Pé (Bel)
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Hector Martin (Bel)
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1924
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Gerard Debaets (Bel)
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René Vermandel (Bel)
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Felix Sellier (Bel)
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1923
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Henri Suter (Swi)
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Charles De Ruyter (Bel)
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Albert De Jonghe (Bel)
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1922
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Leon Devos (Bel)
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Jean Brunier (Fra)
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Francis Pelissier (Fra)
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1921
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Rene Vermandel (Bel)
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Jules Van Hevel (Bel)
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Louis Budts (Bel)
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1920
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Jules Van Hevel (Bel)
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Albert De Jonghe (Bel)
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Alfons Van Hecke (Bel)
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1919
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Henri Van Lerberghe (Bel)
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Leon Buysse (Bel)
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Jules Van Hevel (Bel)
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1914
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Marcel Buysse (Bel)
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Henri Van Lerberghe (Bel)
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Pierre Van De Velde (Bel)
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1913
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Paul Deman (Bel)
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Jozef Van Daele (Bel)
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Victor Doms (Bel)
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* - 1974: Walter Godefoot finished 3rd but was disqualified for doping.
** - 1977: Walter Plankaert finished 2nd but was disqualified for doping.
*** - 1977: Guy Sibille finished 3rd but was disqualified for doping.
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See Also:
The Tour of Flanders 2002 - Home Page
The Tour of Flanders 2002 - Race Description
The Tour of Flanders 2002 - Race Photos
Photos from Flanders
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