57th July 29

A very interesting Scheldeprijs. Due to the strong side wind the peloton falls apart early on in the race. Finally an echelon of 45 riders were in front, the remainder of the peloton follows at more than seven minutes. Rini Wagtmans is very active in the first echelon but the team with and is too strong. Walter and Roger both try to break away but it’s Walter who succeeds and wins the Scheldeprijs.

ROADMAP , Brecht, Loenhout, Meer, Minderhout, Hoogstraten, Merksplas, Beerse, Gierle, Tielen, Lichtaart, Oevel, Tongerlo, Westerlo, Averbode, Herselt, Booischot, Heist-op-den-Berg, Itegem, Berlaar, Kessel, Nijlen, Herenthout, Bouwel, , Pulle, Pulderbos, Zandhoven, Oelegem, Schilde, ’s-Gravenwezel, Schoten (194 km) and three local laps, total 241 km. RESULT 123 participants 1. Walter Godefroot, 241 km in 5h35m (43,164 km/h); 2. Roger De Vlaeminck at 45”; 3. Rini Wagtmans (Ned) at 47”; 4. Christian Callens at 1’; 5. Etienne Buysse at 1’30”; 6. Tony Houbrechts at 1’40; 7. Vic Van Schil; 8. Frans Verstraeten; 9. Eddy Reniers; 10. Hubert Hutsebaut; 11. Gilbert Wuytack at 4’04”; 12. Herman Vrijders; 13. Ronald De Witte at 5’; 14. Ward Janssens; 15. Jan Van Nueten; 16. Valeer Van Sweevelt at 6’20”; 17. Jan Serpenti (Ned); 18. Bart Zoet (Ned); 19. Jos De Schoenmaecker; 20. ; 21. Englebert Opdebeeck; 22. Ronny Van de Vijver; 23. Jan Krekels (Ned); 24. Romain Pauwels; 25. Roger Kindt; 26. Leendert Groot (Ned); 27. Willy De Mol; 28. Roger Jochmans; 29. Fernand Hermie.

Walter Godefroot (°Gent 02.07.1943)

Considered a monument in the history of cycling. He won many big races. Champion of (1965- 72), Liege-Bastogne-Liege (1967), Tour of (1968-78), Gent-Wevelgem (1968), Paris-Roubaix (1969), Scheldeprijs (1969), Bordeaux-Paris (1969- 76), ten stages in the Tour including the green jersey (1970), Championship of Zürich (1970-74), Henninger Turm (1974), one stage in the Giro and two stages in the Vuelta. Bronze medal as amateur in the Olympic games in Tokyo in 1964… Afterwards team leader of several professional racing teams. René Vermeiren