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April 12, 1998
Paris-Roubaix 1998 – Compiègne – Roubaix : 266 km
The 1998 Paris–Roubaix was the 96th running of the Paris–Roubaix single-day cycling race, often known as the Hell of the North.
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April 12, 1998
Paris-Roubaix 1998 – Compiègne – Roubaix : 266 km
The 1998 Paris–Roubaix was the 96th running of the Paris–Roubaix single-day cycling race, often known as the Hell of the North. It was held on 12 April 1998 over a distance of 266.5 kilometres (165.6 miles).
Italian cyclist Franco Ballerini won his second Paris-Roubaix (1995 his first) by over 4 minutes from his teammates Andrea Tafi and Belgian Wilfried Peeters. The results was carbon copy of Mapei’s 1996 performance although this year the actors were different. In 1996 Museeuw, Bortolami and Tafi took the podium and “arranged” the finish to allow Museeuw to win (he may have won anyway!). This year the race was difficult almost from the start, because in addition to the usual battles over the cobbles, bad weather accompanied the riders throughout the day. But the breakaway, which proved finally to be successful came well into the race – at the 186.5 kms mark. 6 riders who were in front group opened a gap of about one minute, with Ekimov, Ballerini and Tafi driving. A little before this break, around km 155, in a pave section through the Arenberg forest there were numerous falls. One of the most affected was Belgian Johan Museeuw, one of the favorites for the win, who had been well placed until then due to the excellent work of his teammates. Museeuw, who was the winner at the Tour of Flanders last weekend, had to be transported to the hospital because of an injury to his knee which was subsenquently diagnosed as a cracked patella.
Museeuw’s fall and withdrawal led to the Mapeio director changing the team plans. Mapei neutralized every escape attempt and then broke open the race. Things worked to perfection, when at around km 200 a group of 8 ridersformed with Ballerini, Tafi and Peeters, plus Moncassin, Van Bon, Sorensen, Boscardin and Backstedt. Ballerini launched an attack with 50 kms to go and almost without wanting it he found himself a few meters ahead of his breakaway companions, with Tafi and Peeters controlling the breakaway behind him. At the Roubaix velodrome, Ballerini did his thing, while behind, Tafi and Peeters after controlling his escape, subsequently drove away from Moncassin et al and completed the Mapei podium.
Results :
1. Franco Ballerini (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi 6.57.49 (38.27 km/h)
2. Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi 4.16
3. Wilfried Peeters (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 4.19
4. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank 4.49
5. Frèdèric Moncassin (Fra) GAN 4.49
6. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank 4.50
7. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) GAN 4.52
8. Bart Leysen (Bel) (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 6.34
9. Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) Festina 6.34
10. Henk Vogels (Aus) GAN 6.34
11. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93 6.34
12. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 6.35
13. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 8.34
14. Michael Rich (Ger) Saeco-Cannondale 9.12
15. Christophe Capelle (Fra) Cofidis 9.12
16. Biagio Conte (Ita) Scrigno-Gaerne 9.12
17. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites 9.12
18. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 9.14
19. Tristan Hoffman (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites 11.00
20. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) GAN 11.00
21. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux 11.18
22. Vjatceslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 11.18
23. Jan Schaffrath (Ger) Telekom-ADR 11.18
24. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 11.19
25. Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank 13.02
26. Alexei Sivakov (Rus) Big Mat-Auber 93 13.02
27. Hendrik Van Dyck (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites 14.42
28. Bruno Boscardin (Swi) Festina 15.28
29. Lars Michaelsen (Den) TVM-Farm Frites 15.33
30. Martin Hvastija (Slo) Cantina Tollo 15.33
31. Johan Capiot (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites 15.33
32. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Polti 15.33
33. Nicola Loda (Ita) Ballan 15.33
34. Wim Feys (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 15.33
35. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Rabobank 15.38
36. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 15.38
37. Rolf Aldag (Ger) Telekom-ADR 15.38
38. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93 15.38
39. Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites 15.38
40. Geert Van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites 15.43
41. Marco Serpellini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas 15.46
42. Eros Poli (Ita) GAN 17.53
43. Christophe Mengin (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux 17.53
44. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 19.29
45. Davide Casarotto (Ita) Scrigno-Gaerne 19.29
46. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank 19.29
47. Jann J.Kirsipuu (Est) Casino 19.30
48. Viatcheslav Djavanian (Rus) Big Mat-Auber 93 19.30
49. Dario Pieri (Ita) Scrigno-Gaerne 19.31
Outside the Time Limit (in order)
50. Ruben Galvan Manchon (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
51. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino
52. Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi
53. Martin Rittsel (Swe) Cantina Tollo
54. Steven De Jongh (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites
55. Franck Morelle (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux
56. Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros
57. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
58. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti
59. Fabio Roscioli (Ita) ASI
60. Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
61. Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal
62. Jaime Javier Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Festina
63. Laurent Pillon (Fra) Mutuele Seine-et-Marne
64. Jos� Ramon Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Festina
65. Bert Hiemstra (Ned) Rabobank
66. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal