73rd Ronde van Vlaanderen 1989 / Tour of Flanders (Belgium)

Bosberg Breakaway

The experts picked their favorites for the 73rd Tour of Flanders: Rik Van Looy confidently picked defending champion Eddy Planckaert; Eddy Merckx selected 1986 champion Adri Van der Poel; and Rik Van Steenbergen waffled saying either Van der Poel or Planckaert would win. 

Nasty Flemish weather with slippery corners cause havoc from start to finish. The decisive move of the race came on the Muur de Grammont when 7-Eleven’s Dag-Otto Lauritzen made a solo bid on the Muur de Gammont, only Edwig Van Hooydonck stayed with the attack. On the Bosberg, the 12th and final climb before the finish, Edwig Van Hooydonck attacked with amazing power. Through a heavy rain the chase struggled to close on the lone leader and Van Hooydonck rode across the finish line 22 seconds ahead of second placed Herman Frison. 

The 22 year old Belgian emotionally accepted the accolades of his first Flanders victory. To Van Hooydonck winning Flanders was more than just another win, it was the biggest victory of his young life.

RVV 1988

RVV 1990

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