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Cyclo-Cross World Cup #2 - CDM
Tabor, Czech Republic, October 29, 2005
Nys on a roll
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Belgian Sven Nys (Rabobank) has scored his second World Cup cyclo-cross win in a row by beating Czech pair Petr Dlask and Kamil Ausbuher in Tabor, Czech Republic. It wasn't as straightforward a win as last week for Nys, who was accompanied by the Czechs until the very last lap, when he finally dropped them.
"I won't be good for a few hours after this," said an exhausted Nys at the finish. "This was one of the toughest 'cross races of the last few years. I thought that the Czechs would watch me, but they immediately took the race in hand themselves. I've rarely seen such a fast train. Together with Wellens I had to ride a "final lap" just to get them back.
"I made the right choice at each moment. Not only conditionally, but also mentally I'm at the top of my capabilities. This was a unique performance."
How it unfolded
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Last year's winner in Tabor, Kamil Ausbuher (Budweiser), was keen to make an impression on home ground, and attacked from the gun. Ausbuher was joined by Petr Dlask and Dutch rider Gerben de Knegt (AA Drink-Bejan), although the latter could not contribute too much to the work. The other main favourites, Sven Nys and Bart Wellens (Fidea), were 17 seconds back together with Czech Martin Zlamalik.
The two front groups closed up at the end of lap 3, and the top six of the race was already determined. A couple of laps later, Wellens attacked, but could not get ride of the Czechs and Nys. With three to go, Nys lifted the tempo when he saw that Wellens had flatted. Only Dlask and Ausbuher could follow while Zlamalik and De Knegt were stranded 20 seconds back.
Wellens chased after his puncture and was within 10 seconds of the three leaders on the final lap, but then Nys attacked again and dropped first Ausbuher, then Dlask. The World Champion was the best once again.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- Sven Nys (Rabobank) leads Kamil Ausbuher (Budweiser) at speed
- Sven Nys (Rabobank) focuses as he tackles the stairs
- Sven Nys (Rabobank) lifts the tempo
- Petr Dlask (Cze) was once again very strong
- Kamil Ausbuher (Budweiser) struggling to hold the pace on the stairs
- Bart Wellens (Fidea) couldn't come back after a flat tyre
- Sven Nys (Rabobank) wins the second round of the World Cup in Tabor
- The podium (L to R): Petr Dlask (2nd), Sven Nys (1st), and Kamil Ausbuher (3rd)
Results
Elite Men 1 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank 2 Petr Dlask (Cze) 3 Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) Budweiser 4 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 5 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) AA Drink-Bejan 6 Martin Zlamalik (Cze) 7 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 8 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Rabobank 9 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team 10 Zdenek Mlynar (Cze) 11 Christian Heule (Swi) Stevens Racing Team 12 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank 13 Wim Jacobs (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 14 John Gadret (Fra) Chocolade Jacques 15 Michael Baumgartner (Swi) 16 Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze) 17 Arnaud Labbe (Fra) Auber 93 18 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Mrbookmaker - Sports Tech 19 Martin Bina (Cze) 20 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) Mrbookmaker - Sports Tech 21 Peter Presslauer (Aut) Stevens Racing Team 22 Malte Urban (Ger) Stevens Racing Team 23 Jonathan Page (Usa) Colavita Olive Oil - Sutter Home 24 Radomir Simunek (Cze) 25 Jens Schwedler (Ger) Stevens Racing Team 26 Thorsten Struch (Ger) 27 Thijs Al (Ned) Giant-Racing-Team 28 Julien Belgy (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 29 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank 30 Gusty Bausch (Lux) 31 Milan Barenyi (Svk) 32 David Seco Amundarain (Spa) 33 Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) 34 Vaclaf Metlicka (Svk) 35 Robert Glajza (Svk) 36 Wilant Van Gils (Ned) Team Skil - Moser 37 Marco Bianco (Ita) 38 Camiel Van Den Bergh (Ned) Stevens Racing Team 39 Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spa) 40 Fabian Brezinski (Ger) 41 Bart Dirkx (Ned) AA Drink-Bejan 42 Alessandro Fontana (Ita) 43 Joachim Parbo (Den) 44 David Derepas (Fra) 45 Jens Reuker (Ger) 46 Rafael Visinelli (Ita) 47 Jan Ramsauer (Swi) 48 Lukas Keller (Ger) 49 Robert Bachraty (Svk) 50 Roland Morx (Aut) 51 Gerhard Krenn (Aut) 52 Thomas Riegler (Aut)
World Cup standings after round 2
1 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank
