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The Linda McCartney Foods Cycling Team have been parading their wares at
Ghent-Wevelgem on Eurosport today. The team counted three finishers, a
satisfactory result in the traditionally brutal Belgian classic.
Gale-force winds and freezing temperatures played their part in shaping the
race as it headed out towards the coast at Oostende. Bjornar Vestol took
advantage of the live TV by joining Italian superstar Andrea Tafi in a
two-man move as the vicious crosswinds split the field. The major selection
took place as the race picked up speed in readiness for the two ascents of
the notorious cobbled Kemmelberg, and Max Sciandri made the race-winning
break alongside Johan Museeuw (Mapei) and Peter Van Petegem (Farm Frites).
Unfortunately the second time up the cruel 23% "berg" was too much for Max,
and he lost contact with the leaders and was dropped in the company of Jan
Kirsipuu.
Ciaran Power, Bjornar Vestol and Maurizio de Pasquale, who were in the main
field, ground a path to the finish, happy to have been among the few
survivors.
This race was undoubtedly the most intense of the season so far, as your
favourite press office was lucky to escape with his dignity and clothing
intact after a "mobbing" at the start in Ghent. Thousands of crazed
middle-aged Belgians descended upon the besieged team Renaults, shouting one
word over and over: "Photos!" Fortunately, the staff were saved by Phil
O'Connor's new publicity photographs, thousands of which were ripped out of
our mangled hands within seconds.
It may well be a symptom or an indicator of the team's current high media
profile. Since the announcement of Linda McCartney's invitation to the Giro
d'Italia, there have been seemingly a million stories, features and
appearances to report. A full recap of the various media activities will be
issued before the weekend.
The team stay in this particularly windswept neck of the woods for the next
few days, with Pino Cerami and Ronde Van Nord Holland on the immediate agenda.
Report by John Deering
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