March 7, 2003 – The 3-Days of West-Flanders (3-Daagse Van West-Vlaanderen) began today with a demanding 7.6K prologue time trial through the streets of Bellegem, Belgium. A stiff wind and cold temperatures greeted the riders at the 2:45PM start. The circuit contained 13 turns and two long stretches in the wind, as it took the riders through the center as well as the outskirts of town. Throughout the field of 151 starters, the times were all close as only 2:18 separated 1st place from last place.

The Navigators squad was planted squarely in the middle of the pack, and within seconds of each other, with Jeff Louder the fastest on the day, just 52 seconds off the pace. The podium was filled with English-speaking riders from the U.K. and Australia, with a virtual tie for 2nd place as only 8/100 of a second separated the two riders. The Quickstep Team also had men in the 4th and 5th positions, which will make for an interesting 182K Stage-2 tomorrow.

Prologue
1. David Millar (Cofidis) 9:19
2. Bradlee McGee (FDJeux) @6.30
3. Michael Rogers (Quick Step) @6.38

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70. Jeff Louder (Navigators)