November 25, 2007 (Gent, Belgium) — On Saturday night in Gent, it was +7 degrees and the action at the Kuipke started early with the UIV Toekomstzesdaagse. The boys from Great Britain Peter Kenaugh and Adam Blythe took third in the 500m Time Trial and second in the 100-lap Madison. With combined points and being able to gain a lap on the leaders Davy Tuytens and Tosh Van Der Sande, the Brits knocked them out of first place. The pre-racing entertainment tonight included a group of amateurs from Radio2, the Gent radio station.

Tonight there is a festival atmosphere here at the Kuipke. Being Saturday night the fan clubs of the different riders are here en masse, waving flags and blowing air horns. The German, Dutch and French media are present as well as the usually Belgian media. The introductions are made as the riders are circling the track. There is a huge contingent of Anglos and they give a rousing cheer for Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish. The fan favourites are Dimitri De Fauw and Iljo Keisse.

The Points Race has had a different team winning every night: Day 1, Keisse/Bartko, Day 2 Schets/De Poortere, Day 3 Roberts/Hester, Day 4 De Kettle/Villa and tonight’s winners were Schets/DePoortere.

The Team Elimination event has been won by four different teams: Day 1 Risi/Marvulli, Day 2 Slippens/Stam, Day 3 Keisse/Bartko, Day 4 Mertens/Muller and tonight the Dutch duo Robert Slippens and Danny Stam were again victorious Slippens edging out Risi at the finish line. The 166-meter Flying Lap has been won by Risi/Marvulli and tonight was no exception. The track record here at the Kuipke track was set by Jean-Pierre Van Zyl in 8.63 seconds. Marvulli’ winning times this week have been: Day 1, 8.81 seconds; Day 2, 8.83 seconds; Day 3, 8.79 seconds; Day 4, 8.88 seconds and tonight 8.82 seconds.

This is “˜the Chase’ of the week and will potentially decide the overall championship of this six-day race. If Bruno Risi wins tonight this may lead to his 50th lifetime six-day race victory on Sunday. While he has won here before in Gent in 1993, 1996 and 2002 this victory would be especially sweet.

After losing a lap to Slippens/Stam in the first chase and to Risi/Marvulli in the second last evening, Keisse/Bartko are behind the eightball. Keisse stated that they made tactical errors last night. When we attacked Risi/Marvulli and Slippens/Stam countered each time and Beikirch/Mohs took a lap, that resulted in Keisse/Bartko being out of position and their losing a lap.

Tonight’s first Madison of 40 minutes and 10 laps was a hotly contested affair with Keisse/Bartko trying to animate the action and being marked closely by Slippens/Stam and Risi/Marvulli. Keisse was on the attack and Slippens appeared to drive him up the track on the back straight, but at the line it was Keisse/Bartko taking the win with Slippens/Stam second.

After the break was the first Derny Heat, won by Mark Cavendish. Next the Individual Elimination was won by a resurgent Dimitri De Fauw and a second Derny Heat won by Iljo Keisse. Franco Marvulli came in second and that gave him enough points to go over 300 and gain a bonus lap.

The 500m Time Trial: Iljo Keisse and Robert Bartko have controlled this event all week, winning the previous four 500m time trails and tonight was no exception as they powered to victory, gained bonus laps and winners points that put them back in first place at 313 points 0 laps to Risi/Marvulli at 312 points 0 laps. Ohh baby, the music announces the one point lead.

We are now into the second Madison of the night, another 40 minute 10 lap affair. Risi/Marvulli, Keisse/Bartko, Slippens/Stam, Wiggins/Cavendish and De Ketele/Villa each gain a lap on the pack. At 23 minutes into the chase, Risi/Marvulli and Slippens/Stam gain a lap and that sends Keisse/Bartko and DeKetele/Villa on the counter attack, gaining the lap back. Now Wiggins/Cavendish gain a lap. Roberts/Hester and Mertens/Muller also gain a lap. Between 34-36 minute Risi/Marvulli, Beikirch/Mohs, De Ketele/Villa and Mertens/Muller gain a lap back. Then with tree minutes left plus the 10 laps, Keisse/Bartko and Slippens/Stam join the front runners. It’s a sprint to the line and Franco Marvulli edges out Iljo Keisse. That puts Risi/Marvulli back in first place with 0 laps and 327 points. Keisse/Bartko are the only other team at zero laps. They now four back at 323 points.

The last series of events of the early morning include a Keirin Final, 2 Derny Heats and an Individual Elimination. Risi won the 3 Derny Heat of the evening putting his team back into first place: 332 points with Keisse/Bartko at 327 points.

Its 2:00am and the last of the Derny heats is on. These racers are flying around this track. Bradley Wiggins takes off behind the derny with driver Walrave. In the last turn as they are sprinting to the line, local hero Dimitri De Fauw with his hundred or so blue shirted fan club and Michel Vaarten his driver take the win handily.

The Australian Luke Roberts, who lives in Cologne, Germany during the European winter months, wins the Keirin race, gaining 15 points. Risi/Marvulli are in first place with a 5-point lead over Keisse/Bartko.

Standings after Day 5

1. Risi Marvulli, 0, 332 points
2. Keisse Bartko , 0 , 327
3. Slippens Stam , 1 lap, 276
4. De Ketele Villa, 3 laps, 202
5. Beikirch Mohs, 4 laps, 190
6. Mertens Muller, 9 laps, 132
7. Roberts Hester, 18 laps, 155
8. De Fauw Aeschbach , 19 laps, 267
9. Lazar Kankovsky, 24 laps, 123
10. Wiggins Cavendish , 28 laps, 136
11. Cocquyt Deneef, 37 laps, 99
12. Stroetinga Pronk , 39 laps, 95
13. Schets Depoortere, 71 laps, 126