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2002 Results    Results    Past winners

World Champion Wellens takes early lead

World Champion Bart Wellens (Spaar Select) has taken the opening honours in the 2003/2004 Superprestige series, winning the first round in Ruddervoorde. In cold but dry conditions, Wellens triumphed over his main rival Sven Nijs (Rabobank) with Sven Vanthourenhout (Quick.Step) taking third.

Wellens took the lead with Nijs and Vanthourenhout on the very first lap, with only Davy Commeyne (Palmans-Collstrop) being able to hold onto the trio for a brief period. The three leaders did not let any other rider come back to them, and the podium spots were decided. After a second bike change, Wellens lost time to Nijs, who led until shortly before halfway, when Wellens passed the Belgian champion and continued leading until the finish. Nijs was second at 16 seconds with Vanthourenhout third at 23 seconds.

Fourth place was fought out between Ben Berden (John Saey-Deschacht), Dariusz Gil (Poland), Erwin Vervecken (SpaarSelect) and Richard Groenendaal (Rabobank). Berden had fallen on the first lap and spent much of the race chasing, but he eventually caught them and took fourth by three seconds in front of Gil, Vervecken and Groenendaal.

"I'm astonished at how strong I showed myself today," said a happy Bart Wellens after the finish. "Don't forget that last week I was still sick as a dog so that I had to forfeit Mario De Clercq's farewell 'cross in Wortegem-Petegem. For a whole week I couldn't train for more than an hour a day. Last Saturday I could train for the first time with my teammates. Really, it was also a surprise for me that I could go so strongly here in Ruddervoorde.

"Riding away from Sven Nijs and Sven Vanthourenhout went by itself. Much early than I'd talked about with my trainer Paul Ponnet. He said to wait until three laps from the finish, because there was so much wind. But when Nijs had to change his bike for the second time, I couldn't hold myself back any more. It was the moment to go, I thought, and I went. For a long time I had to fight for just 10 metres gap, but eventually my chasers fell to their knees. The fact that I was the only one who could ride through the sand in the tent played in my favour. That is now one of my specialties."

Second placed Sven Nijs explained his two bike changes: "Because I wanted to ride with the new bike I got last Saturday. But ultimately my old bike suited me better and so I had to change. It's normal that Wellens opened up all stops. I would have done the same. That I couldn't come back had to do with the fact that today I didn't have super legs that are necessary to win a top level 'cross race. Wellens had them today and therefore he is the deserving winner."

Sven Vanthourenhout (third) paid tribute to Wellens' impressive abilities: "No-one else can match the accelerations that Wellens can make. They are killer. Even together with Sven Nijs it was impossible. I couldn't even help him, because I was riding on my limit on his wheel. But I am happy with my third place. A spot in the World Cup team for next Sunday in Turin will not be a problem now.

The U23 race was marked by a crash involving Wesley Van der Linden and Martin Bina at the halfway point of the race. Bina had to abandon while Van der Linden continued, still bleeding. The crash happened while the pair were leading with Klas Vantornout and Simon Zahner (Swi), meaning that the surviving two stayed clear to fight out the victory. Vantornout won ahead of the Swiss rider, with Bart Aernouts third.

In the juniors race, Niels Albert won solo after leading from start to finish. Second went to Maxim Debusschere and third was Bart Verschueren. In the beginner's race, Dutchman Johim Ariesen and Belgian Ben Aernouts attacked from the start. Aernouts crashed and was overtaken by Tom Meusen, but Johim Ariesen hung onto win the race in front of Meusen and Aernouts.

Results

Elite
 
1 Bart Wellens (Bel) Spaar Select                  1.01.35
2 Sven Nijs (Bel) Rabobank                            0.16
3 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon      0.23
4 Ben Berden (Bel) John Saey-Deschacht                0.35
5 Dariusz Gil (Pol)                                   0.38
6 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Spaar Select
7 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank
8 Arne Daelmans (Bel) Vlaanderen - T Interim          0.51
9 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop               1.10
10 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
11 Peter Van Santvliet (Bel) Spaar Select             1.17
12 Petr Dlask (Cze) Author Praha                      1.18
13 Maxime Lefebvre (Fra) CV Liévin                    1.22
14 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank                     1.31
15 Bjorn Rondelez (Bel) Wincor Nixdorf-Spemco         1.40
16 Vaclav Jezek (Cze) Author Praha                    1.46
17 Jonathan Page (USA)                                1.47
18 Wilant van Gils (Ned)                              1.58
19 Thijs Verhagen (Ned)                               2.04
20  Michael Baumgartner (Swi) VC Hittnau              2.05
21 Christian Heule (Swi) Team Cologne                 2.15
22 Dominique Arnould (Fra)                            2.17
23 Jan Verstraeten (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim         2.36
24 Maarten Nijland (Ned) Heijdens-Ten Tusscher        2.42
25  Jan Ramsauer (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale               2.44
26 Matthew Ellis (GBr)                                2.56
27 David Seco (Spa)                                   3.05
28 Pedro Baelen (Bel)                                 3.23
29 Geoffrey Clochez (Fra) Julie Nature                3.29
30 Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) John Saey-Deschacht           3.39
31 David Rusch (Swi) GS Wetzikon-WD40-BiXS            3.41
32 Pawel Prosek (Cze)                                 4.03
33 Tomas Trunschka (Cze)                              4.17
34 David Willemsens (Bel)                             4.21
35 Isaac Suarez (Spa)                                 4.30
36 Ronny Poelvoorde (Bel)                             5.13
37 Tadeusz Korzeniewski (Pol)                         5.44
38 Mike Muller (Swi)                                  5.55
39 Beat Morf (Swi)
 
U23 Men
 
1 Klaas Vantornout (Bel)                             47.51
2 Simon Zahner (Swi)                                  0.06
3 Bart Aernouts (Bel)                                 0.19
4 Radomir Simunek (Cze)                               0.22
5 Jan Soetens (Bel)
6 Jorn Van der Veken (Bel)                            0.28
7 Geert Wellens (Bel)                                 0.43
8 Martin Zlamanik (Cze)                               0.55
9 Tom Van den Bosch (Bel)                             1.07
10 Kevin Pauwels (Bel)
11 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel)                        1.15
12 Stijn Penne (Bel)                                  1.17
13 David Kasek (Cze)                                  1.27
14 Wesley Van der Linden (Bel)                        1.36
15 Dries Devenyns (Bel)                               2.05
16 Pirmin Lang (Swi)                                  2.17
17 Kevin Van Lierde (Bel)                             2.20
18 Frederik Herpol (Bel)                              2.50
19 Adrien Delautre (Fra)                              2.58
20 Eddy van IJzendoorn (Ned)                          3.50
21 Alois Lievens (Bel)                                3.54
22 Sven Mombaerts (Bel)                               4.13
23 Joeri van Kouwenhoven (Ned)                        4.30
24 Mariusz Gil (Pol)
25 Robby De Baene (Bel)                               4.40
26 Gino Detemmerman (Bel)                             4.55
27 Lorenzo Van Damme (Bel)                            5.00
28 Slawomir Pituch (Pol)
29 Dylan Esmans (Fra)
30 Jeroen Thielemans (Bel)                            5.40
31 Nard van der Sanden (Ned)                          6.00
32 Frank van Grootel (Ned)                            6.15
33 Till Schaltegger (Swi)                             6.40
34 Erik Verboven (Ned)                              1 lap
35 Sebastien Durieu (Bel)
36 Chris Rovers (Ned)
37 Christophe Vandevivere (Bel)
 
Juniors
 
1 Niels Albert (Bel)                                 42.27
2 Maxim Debusschere (Bel)                             0.50
3 Bart Verschueren (Bel)                              0.55
4 Jempi Drucker (Lux)
5 Enrico Liebe (Ned)                                  0.58
6 Jeroen Dingemans (Bel)                              1.10
7 René Lang (Swi)                                     1.16
8 Quincy Vens (Bel)                                   1.30
9 Kenny Geluykens (Bel)                               1.45
10 Jan Aernouts (Bel)                                 1.57
11 Valentijn Ponseele (Bel)
12 Nick Rafael (Swi)
13 Dieter Buyens (Bel)                                2.19
14 Gianni Denolf (Bel)
15 Koen Boelens (Bel)                                 2.20
16 Willem Schwaner (Ned)
17 Patrick Vliegen (Ned)                              2.37
18 Harm Vandekerckhove (Bel)
19 Jan Mikkers (Ned)
20 Bart Senders (Ned)                                 2.48
21 Davy Depaepe (Bel)                                 3.15
22 Jerry Kallenfels (Ned)                             3.19
23 Quentin Bertholet (Bel)                            3.26
24 Ivar Hartogs (Ned)                                 3.38
25 Steven Van Vooren (Bel)
26 Romain Renaux (Fra)
27 Jonathan Parsy (Fra)                               4.04
28 Dennis Verhoeven (Bel)                             4.10
29 Rik Van Ijzendoorn (Ned)                           4.28
30 Marc Broks (Ned)                                   4.40
31 Koen van Grootel (Ned)                             4.51
32 Djuri Van Rijbroeck (Ned)                          5.28
33 Anja Nobus (Bel)                                   5.40
34 Elmer Walraedt (Bel)
35 Kevin Ryckaert (Bel)
36 Franck Sikking (Ned)
37 Nicole Leijten-De Bie (Bel)                        6.10
38 Martijn Motshagen (Ned)
39 Tom Lambrechts (Bel)
40 Rik Senders (Ned)
41 Tim Vanhoornick (Bel)
42 Niels De Boo (Bel)                               1 lap
43 Thomas Demets (Bel)
44 Corry Page (USA)
45 Koen Bertels (Bel)
46 Joachim De Maerschalck (Bel)
47 Tom Decock (Bel)
48 Brigitte De Vlaeminck (Bel)
49 Kenneth Van Renterghem (Bel)
50 Sandie Verriest (Bel)
 
Beginners
 
1 Johim Ariesen (Ned)                                35.05
2 Tom Meusen (Bel)                                    0.19
3 Bart Aernouts (Bel)                                 0.39
4 Geert Van der Sanden (Ned)                          0.46
5 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel)                       0.53
6 Remco te Brake (Ned)                                0.57
7 Christophe Janssens (Ned)                           1.12
8 Matthias Moeyaert (Bel)                             1.31
9 Bjorn De Decker (Bel)                               1.53
10 Jan Van Zeebroeck (Bel)                            2.12
11 Richard van Loon (Ned)
12 Jorg Pannekoek (Bel)                               2.25
13 Bart Wouters (Bel)
14 Dave Decleyn (Bel)                                 2.34
15 Kim Goethals (Bel)                                 2.55
16 Laurens De Vreese (Bel)                            3.07
17 Timothy De Jonghe (Bel)
18 Dimitri Stevens (Bel)
19 Stijn Mortelmans (Bel)                           1 lap
20 Raymond Gaasbeek (Ned)
21 Matthias Hendryckx (Bel)
22 Ruben Depoorter (Bel)
23 Dennis Delannoit (Bel)
24 Dries Ingels (Bel)
25 Frederik Catrysse (Bel)
26 Vincent Bastiaens (Bel)
27 Matthias Holvoet (Bel)
28 Timothy Declercq (Bel)
29 Lorenzo Zauters (Bel)
30 An Van Rechem (Bel)
31 Loic Dellachurie (Bel)
32 Janis Demeurisse (Bel)
33 Allegon Smit (Ned)
34 Atze De Vis (Bel)
35 Kevin De Jaeger (Bel)
36 Benito Victoor (Bel)
37 Sven Deschoenmacker (Bel) 

Superprestige standings after round 1

Elite Men
 
1 Bart Wellens (Bel) Spaar Select                       30 pts
2 Sven Nijs (Bel) Rabobank                              25
3 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon        21
4 Ben Berden (Bel) John Saey-Deschacht                  18
5 Dariusz Gil (Pol)                                     16
6 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Spaar Select                    15
7 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank                    14
8 Arne Daelmans (Bel) Vlaanderen - T Interim            13
9 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                 12
10 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                11
11 Peter Van Santvliet (Bel) Spaar Select               10
12 Petr Dlask (Cze) Author Praha                         9
13 Maxime Lefebvre (Fra) CV Liévin                       8
14 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank                        7
15 Bjorn Rondelez (Bel) Wincor Nixdorf-Spemco            6
16 Vaclav Jezek (Cze) Author Praha                       5
17 Jonathan Page (USA)                                   4
18 Wilant van Gils (Ned)                                 3
19 Thijs Verhagen (Ned)                                  2
20  Michael Baumgartner (Swi) VC Hittnau                 1
 
U23 Men
 
1 Klaas Vantornout (Bel)                                30 pts
2 Simon Zahner (Swi)                                    25
3 Bart Aernouts (Bel)                                   21
4 Radomir Simunek (Cze)                                 18
5 Jan Soetens (Bel)                                     16
6 Jorn Van der Veken (Bel)                              15
7 Geert Wellens (Bel)                                   14
8 Martin Zlamanik (Cze)                                 13
9 Tom Van den Bosch (Bel)                               12
10 Kevin Pauwels (Bel)                                  11
11 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel)                          10
12 Stijn Penne (Bel)                                     9
13 David Kasek (Cze)                                     8
14 Wesley Van der Linden (Bel)                           7
15 Dries Devenyns (Bel)                                  6
16 Pirmin Lang (Swi)                                     5
17 Kevin Van Lierde (Bel)                                4
18 Frederik Herpol (Bel)                                 3
19 Adrien Delautre (Fra)                                 2
20 Eddy van IJzendoorn (Ned)                             1
 
Juniors
 
1 Niels Albert (Bel)                                    30 pts
2 Maxim Debusschere (Bel)                               25
3 Bart Verschueren (Bel)                                21
4 Jempi Drucker (Lux)                                   18
5 Enrico Liebe (Ned)                                    16
6 Jeroen Dingemans (Bel)                                15
7 René Lang (Swi)                                       14
8 Quincy Vens (Bel)                                     13
9 Kenny Geluykens (Bel)                                 12
10 Jan Aernouts (Bel)                                   11
11 Valentijn Ponseele (Bel)                             10
12 Nick Rafael (Swi)                                     9
13 Dieter Buyens (Bel)                                   8
14 Gianni Denolf (Bel)                                   7
15 Koen Boelens (Bel)                                    6
16 Willem Schwaner (Ned)                                 5
17 Patrick Vliegen (Ned)                                 4
18 Harm Vandekerckhove (Bel)                             3
19 Jan Mikkers (Ned)                                     2
20 Bart Senders (Ned)                                    1

Past winners

2002 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank     
2001 Bart Wellens (Bel) Spaar Select
2000 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank 
1999 Sven Nijs (Bel) Rabobank

Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com