Debutants
Youngest debutants in Gent-Wevelgem in 1997. There are 57 debutants.
| # | Rider | Team | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CERNEUS Michel | Foreldorado - Golff | 20y + 179d |
| 2 | BALDUCCI Gabriele | Refin - Mobilvetta | 21y + 157d |
| 3 | PIERI Dario | Scrigno - Gaerne | 21y + 220d |
| 4 | CHARRIERE Christian | MG Maglificio - Technogym | 21y + 280d |
| 5 | STREMERSCH Tom | Vlaanderen 2002 - Eddy Merckx | 21y + 315d |
| 6 | BÄCKSTEDT Magnus | Palmans - Lystex | 22y + 69d |
| 7 | RENDERS Nico | Vlaanderen 2002 - Eddy Merckx | 22y + 241d |
| 8 | BASSONS Christophe | Festina - Lotus | 22y + 303d |
| 9 | SACCHI Fabio | Polti | 22y + 322d |
| 10 | TOSATTO Matteo | MG Maglificio - Technogym | 22y + 330d |
| 11 | GUIDI Leonardo | Scrigno - Gaerne | 23y + 20d |
| 12 | VAN DYCK Hendrik | TVM - Farm Frites | 23y + 63d |
| 13 | ZANOTTI Marco | AKI - Safi | 23y + 78d |
| 14 | MOERENHOUT Koos | Rabobank ProTeam | 23y + 155d |
| 15 | VOGELS Henk | GAN | 23y + 252d |
| 16 | SAUGRAIN Cyril | Cofidis | 23y + 291d |
| 17 | SAVOLDELLI Paolo | Roslotto-ZG Mobili | 23y + 337d |
| 18 | VERHEYDEN Gino | Palmans - Lystex | 24y + 115d |
| 19 | BARTHE Stéphane | Casino - C'est votre équipe | 24y + 125d |
| 20 | RAIMONDI Giancarlo | Brescialat - Oyster | 24y + 132d |
| 21 | GILMORE Matthew | RDM - Asfra | 24y + 210d |
| 22 | MERCKX Axel | Polti | 24y + 244d |
| 23 | MCEWEN Robbie | Rabobank ProTeam | 24y + 289d |
| 24 | MEDAN Sébastien | Festina - Lotus | 24y + 308d |
| 25 | LEFEVRE David | Casino - C'est votre équipe | 24y + 345d |
| 26 | GUIDI Fabrizio | Scrigno - Gaerne | 24y + 361d |
| 27 | CASSANI Enrico | Polti | 25y + 53d |
| 28 | HERNANDEZ Jaime Javier | Festina - Lotus | 25y + 81d |
| 29 | DESCHUYTTER Koen | Collstrop | 25y + 203d |
| 30 | PRETOT Arnaud | GAN | 25y + 236d |
| 31 | CASAROTTO Davide | Scrigno - Gaerne | 25y + 264d |
| 32 | BOZZI Dominique | Casino - C'est votre équipe | 25y + 280d |
| 33 | TARTAGGIA Giuseppe | Batik - Del Monte | 25y + 298d |
| 34 | BROGNARA Andrea | Batik - Del Monte | 25y + 318d |
| 35 | PAUWELS Karl | Palmans - Lystex | 25y + 333d |
| 36 | PADRNOS Pavel | Roslotto-ZG Mobili | 26y + 113d |
| 37 | EECKHOUT Niko | Lotto - Mobistar | 26y + 114d |
| 38 | VAN DER WOLF Michael | Foreldorado - Golff | 26y + 121d |
| 39 | SGNAOLIN Daniele | Roslotto-ZG Mobili | 26y + 138d |
| 40 | DEKKER Erik | Rabobank ProTeam | 26y + 231d |
| 41 | POPPE Jan | Ipso - Euroclean | 26y + 241d |
| 42 | APOLLONIO Massimo | Scrigno - Gaerne | 27y + 19d |
| 43 | ASSEZ Ronny | RDM - Asfra | 27y + 52d |
| 44 | RICH Michael | Saeco - Estro | 27y + 198d |
| 45 | FERRIGATO Andrea | Roslotto-ZG Mobili | 27y + 220d |
| 46 | KOERTS Jans | Rabobank ProTeam | 27y + 228d |
| 47 | CAPPELLE Marnix | Ipso - Euroclean | 27y + 238d |
| 48 | KIRSIPUU Jaan | Casino - C'est votre équipe | 27y + 266d |
| 49 | PAVANELLO Luca | AKI - Safi | 27y + 280d |
| 50 | USHAKOV Serhiy | Polti | 28y + 333d |
| 51 | CONTE Biagio | Scrigno - Gaerne | 29y + 2d |
| 52 | CHANTEUR Pascal | Casino - C'est votre équipe | 29y + 59d |
| 53 | PANKOV Oleg | RDM - Asfra | 29y + 250d |
| 54 | DE BUYST Franky | Tönissteiner - Colnago | 29y + 261d |
| 55 | VAN DE MEULENHOF Wim | Foreldorado - Golff | 30y + 298d |
| 56 | HOPMANS Kees | Tönissteiner - Colnago | 32y + 160d |
| 57 | SANTAROMITA Mauro-Antonio | MG Maglificio - Technogym | 32y + 203d |