Planckaert takes lead as team win time trial 

FUMADES, France, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Jo Planckaert, winner in 1998, took the lead in the Etoile de Besseges race after his team Cofidis won the 28.3-km fourth-stage time trial on Friday. 

The Belgian snatched the lead from Estonian Jaan Kirsipuu, who had won the third stage earlier in the day, his second stage victory of the race. 

Planckaert is now 18 seconds ahead of second-placed team mate and compatriot Chris Peers. 

Kirsipuu, whose AG2R Prevoyance team were third behind Credit Agricole in the time trial, is third overall 26 seconds behind. 

The French Cofidis team have five riders, all of them Belgian, in the top six going into Saturday's fifth and penultimate stage over 150 kms from Ales to Grande'Combe. 

Earlier, Kirsipuu sprinted home ahead of Planckaert and Frenchman Jean-Patrick Nazon of La Francaise des Jeux in the 116-km third stage from Nimes to Fumades. 

Kirsipuu, who also won the first stage on Wednesday, won two stages last year and one in 1998. 

updated at Fri Feb 4 11:38:44 2000 PT 

Magnien completes comeback from injury with opening win 

LA SEYNE SUR MER, France, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Frenchman Emmanuel Magnien, badly injured in a crash last year, showed he had completely recovered by winning the Grand Prix La Marseillaise, the opening race of the European road cycling season on Tuesday. 

Magnien, who rides for La Francaise des Jeux, outsprinted his three breakaway companions, Frenchman Christophe Bassons, Estonian Laurie Aus and Belgian Kurt Van Lancker, over the 135.5 kms of the race. 

The four had parted with the main bunch 80 kms from the finish line of this 135.5-km curtainraiser for the Etoile de Bessegers race which starts on Wednesday. 

Magnien's season came to an abrupt end last June in the Tour of Germany when  he crashed into a barrier and was run over by a motorbike. 

He suffered multiple fractures, including a broken knee cap, and was not able to ride again until September. 

``This is good for my morale and, hopefully, it is only the first step to bigger triumphs,'' he said. 

updated at Tue Feb 1 16:31:47 2000 PT

Cycling-Grand Prix La Marseillaise results 

LA SEYNE SUR MER, France, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Leading results in the 135.5-kms Grand Prix La Marseillaise one-day cycling race on Tuesday: 

1. Emmanuel Magnien (France) Francaise des Jeux three hours 24 minutes 33 seconds (39.746 kph) 
2. Lauri Aus (Estonia) AG2R Prevoyance 
3. Christophe Bassons (France) Jean Delatour both same time 
4. Kurt Van Lancker (Belgium) Lotto three seconds behind
5. Fabrizio Guidi (Italy) Francaise des Jeux 56 seconds 
6. Sebastien Hinault (France) Credit Agricole 
7. Nico Mattan (Belgium) Cofidis 
8. Lars Michaelsen (Denmark) Francaise des Jeux 
9. Christophe Moreau (France) Festina 
10. Dimitri Fofonov (Kazakhstan) Besson Chaussures all same time 

updated at Tue Feb 1 16:15:00 2000 PT