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Azencross Loenhout (Gazet van Antwerpen Trofee Veldrijden #5) - C1
Loenhout, Belgium, December 28, 2006
2005 Results Results Past winners
Young ace Albert gives big boys a beating
Sven Nys close to overall win in the GvA-trophy
By Brecht Decaluwé
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Nightly showers made sure that the riders were presented with a big puddle of mud in Loenhout ,where the fifth event of the prestigious Gazet van Antwerpen-trophy was held; the so-called cross of the aces. Dark clouds during the race created an even more impressive atmosphere for spectators and riders. UCI-leader Sven Nys (Rabobank) and current leader in the GvA-trophy Bart Wellens (Fidea) were expected to battle each other for the overall lead. In the end they only had a walk-on part in the one-man show of 20 year-old Niels Albert (Palmans – Collstrop). After three laps Albert rode away and the other riders only saw the blonde ace again after the finish.
”I was surprised the others allowed me to ride away during the third lap. I didn’t mind as riding alone doesn’t matter on this tough course, it’s even an advantage as you can choose your own line in the mud,” Albert explained. The young rider normally rides in the U23 category but choose to race with the elite riders in all the races of the GvA – trophy.
This victory was the first but certainly not the last of the young Belgian; Cyclingnews asked Niels Albert if we will see another great performance in the near future. “There’s only one race left for me this year, the U23 world championships. My main rival over there will be Dutchman Lars Boom, but hopefully he won’t win. Boom moves up to the elite level next yea,r so we wouldn’t see the jersey throughout the year,” Albert said.
The Belgian and Dutch press are outplaying quotes from the two riders, which results in a war of words between the two biggest guns in the U23 category. “I’m convinced Lars [Boom] is a talented and good rider… but he says it quite too often I think. I’m not playing along with this game, last year the press did the same and eventually the third dog ran away with the jersey [cfr. Zdenek Stybar]”, today’s winner explained. “This morning I knew I had good legs, and then it’s possible for me to follow the top,” Albert said. That is an understatement as the so-called top was unable to follow the young ace in Loenhout.
Behind Albert the battle for second place was exciting, with five riders in contention for that place. Eventually Sven Nys was able to distance himself from the group. The UCI-leader did a great job for the overall classification in the GvA – trophy where he now has a bonus of ten points on Bart Wellens.
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“Normally I’m riding a race based on the sensations my body gives me, now I was riding more against those sensations. Today I crossed my borders to grab that important second place; a result that was the most I could possibly aim for here. I’m feeling miserable now,” the tired UCI-leader said. “I don’t know if I’ll ride in Middelkerke tomorrow but I probably should go there as the organizers already did a lot to get me at the start."
World champion Erwin Vervecken had to work hard for his third place but his performance was encouraging and it will surely boost his confidence a little more. “I recovered well from the previous races but I got locked up at the start until 15th position. Together with Bart [Wellens] we tried to close the gap on the leaders during a few laps, he couldn’t follow so I continued on my own and got back to the front [behind Albert]. This means I’m good. When Nys attacked Petr Dlask (Fidea) rode in front of me and had a little setback, Nys had ten metres and that was just too much to close down,” Erwin Vervecken said.
Wellens’ teammates in the front group, Petr Dlask and Zdenek Stybar didn’t wait for Wellens while he was at only ten seconds off their group. Both Czech riders claim they didn’t know where Wellens was; that’s bad news for Wellens as he now probably blew his chances for the GvA-trophy with his seventh place. “I started off quickly as I had nothing to lose,” Stybar said about his early attack, “I think Dlask didn’t ride that fast in front of the group on the road and I was focused on my position so I honestly didn’t know that Bart [Wellens] was so close,” Stybar explained.
Jonathan Page (Morgan Blue – BSI) disappeared from the race during the fourth lap after a good start. Cyclingnews was told that Page used tires with too much grip to avoid crashes on the slippery course; he probably didn’t want to risk a setback after his injury spoiled first half of the season. Ryan Trebon (Kona) had a terrible start but worked his way up the field to eventually finish twentieth. “The organizers apparently forgot me during the call-up at the start so I was way too far back in the bunch; I’m really disappointed now but tomorrow should be better,” the man in stars and stripes explained.
How it unfolded
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Christian Heule got the hole shot, but soon after that Wellens took the lead of the bunch. U23 world champion Zdenek Stybar attacked the bunch during that first lap and managed to create a little gap. Sven Nys and Niels Albert started the chase on Stybar; followed by a bunch of twenty riders.
During the second lap, the three riders in front came together while Petr Dlask and Richard Groenendaal (Rabobank) chased, and at the end of the lap Nys won the intermediate sprint for three points in the GvA-trophy ahead of Albert and Stybar. At that moment Page was riding in a little group behind the bunch, while Trebon was set even further back.
During the third out of nine laps Nys and Stybar allowed Albert to ride away. Behind Dlask and Groenendaal there was a big group in pursuit being led by Bart Wellens. During the next lap four riders came together behind Albert, who extended his lead up to 20”. World champion Erwin Vervecken and Maxime Lefebvre (Josan) were in pursuit of that group, but Lefebvre blew his chances with a bobble in the technical zone.
With three laps to go Vervecken joined the group behind Albert, who was 40” ahead, while Wellens was still ten seconds behind. The other riders were then already at least 1”35” down on leader Niels Albert. As the end of the race neared, it was clear that Sven Nys could do a great job in the overall classification of the GvA-trophy: Wellens gave up his chase to join the group and Gerben De Knegt (Rabobank) was way down in the field.
Nys accelerated during the last lap while Groenendaal and Stybar were dropped, and Albert took the race win with an advantage of almost half a minute on Nys; Vervecken came in six seconds later. Dlask won the sprint for fourth place ahead of his compatriot Stybar and the Dutch veteran Groenendaal. Wellens eased off and got seventh before Sven Vanthourenhout (Rabobank), De Knegt and Davy Commeyne (Palmans) who concluded the top ten.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Luc Claessen/www.ctm-images.com
- Arne Daelmans
- Bart Wellens
- Daphne Van den Brandt second place in the women's event
- David Willemsens was 15th
- Davy Commeyne had a good race, and took 10th
- Dieter Vanthourenhout, under 23 winner
- Florian Vogel, Switzerland
- Hanka Kupfernagel the winner of the women's race
- Kenny Geluykens was 6th in the U23 race
- Marianne Vos, World champion got on the podium, just.
- Nancy Bollansee, Belgium
- Niels Albert and Zdenek Stybar
- Niels Albert at the finish
- Niels Albert, elite winner
- Philippe Gilbert did quite well
- Men's podium
- Nys, Albert and Vervecken
- Rob Peeters, second place under 23
- Ryan Trebon, USA
- Start of the elite race
- Sven Nys on one of the obstacles
- Sven Nys, world cup leader
- Thomas Frischknecht
- Very muddy conditions in Loenhout
- Wellens on one of the obstacles
- Zdenek Stybar and Sven Nys going after Albert
Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews.com
- Francis Mourey's (fdjeux.com) tires are being prepared.
- Do you remember Unai Yus Kerejeta? He's growing old but still crazy about cyclo-cross.
- Some of the Proctor guys warming up with Ryan Trebon (Kona) showing his best face.
- That's a giant Czech champion ... Petr Dlask (Fidea).
- Third in the world cup of Hofstade, looking uncomfortable at the start in Loenhout: Thijs Al (Bejan).
- Ryan Trebon (Kona) points out that they overlooked his name at the call-up in Loenhout.
- Jonathan Page (Morgan Blue) starts behind the Kona twin towers (Trebon & Wicks) and checks his back.
- Philippe Gilbert (fdjeux.com) used this cross as an intensive training session.
- Red lights...
- Green! and off they go for nine laps near Loenhout.
- Sven Nys (Rabobank) won the intermediate sprints - which he dislikes - before future winner Niels Albert (Palmans) and Zdenek Stybar (Fidea).
- Eric Tonkin (Kona) at the finish.
- Troy Wells (TIAA CREF) at the finish.
Results
1 Niels Albert (Bel) Palmans Collstrop 1.00.30 2 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank 0.25 3 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 0.31 4 Petr Dlask (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team 0.36 5 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team 6 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank 7 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 1.40 8 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Rabobank 1.47 9 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank 1.57 10 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Palmans Collstrop 2.05 11 Jan Verstraeten (Bel) SD Worx 12 Simon Zahner (Swi) Bürgis Cycling Team 2.25 13 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 14 Radomir Simunek (Cze) Palmans Collstrop 15 David Willemsens (Bel) Vos Sportief 16 Maxime Lefebvre (Fra) Josan 3.00 17 Thijs Al (Ned) Bejan-Rings 18 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) G.S. Selle Italia Guerciotti 19 Wilant Van Gils (Ned) ZZPR.nl 20 Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona 21 Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) Stevens Racing Team 22 Florian Vogel (Swi) Swisspower 23 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank 24 Arne Daelmans (Bel) Palmans Collstrop 25 Wim Jacobs (Bel) Van Der Vorst Cycling Team 26 Peter Van Santvliet (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 27 Marek Cichosz (Pol) Entente Cycliste Raismes 28 Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 29 Francis Mourey (Fra) Française des Jeux 30 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) Palmans Collstrop 31 Lukas Flückiger (Swi) 32 Jorn Van Der Veken (Bel) Profel-Ziegler Continental Team 33 Jean Pierre Leijten (Ned) 34 Barry Wicks (USA) Kona Factory Cyclocross Team 35 Johannes Sickmuller (Ger) Stevens Racing Team 36 Mariusz Gil (Pol) LKS Pom Strzelce POL 37 David Collins (GBr) 38 Bjorn Rondelez (Bel) Lingier-Versluys 39 Maros Kovác (Svk) Dukla Trencín 40 Christoph Roodhooft (Bel) 41 Alexandre Moos (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 42 Andreas Moser (Swi) 43 Erik Tonkin (USA) Kona Factory Cyclocross Team 44 Zdenek Mlynár (Cze) Max Cursor 45 Troy Wells (USA) Team TIAA - Cref 46 Camiel Van Den Bergh (Ned) Stevens Racing Team 47 Christophe Le Bouedec (Fra) CD Morbihan 48 Kelichi Tsujiura (Jap) 49 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) FDJeux.com 50 Robert Glajza (Svk) CK ZP Sport A.S. 51 Unai Yus Kerejeta (Spa) 52 Dariusz Gil (Pol) KS Scout DNF Jonathan Page (USA) (Morgan Blue – BSI) Under 23 1 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) 47.30 2 Rob Peeters (Bel) 0.30 3 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) 4 Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) 0.36 5 Yves Corminboeuf (Swi) 6 Kenny Geluykens (Bel) 0.43 7 Boy Van Poppel (Ned) 1.03 8 Ondrej Bambula (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor 9 Quentin Bertholet (Bel) 1.11 10 Frantisek Kloucek (Cze) Author Praha 11 Frank Sikking (Ned) 1.18 12 Ricardo Van Der Velde (Ned) 13 Rafael Visinelli (Ita) V.C. Bologna 1.40 14 Davide Malacarne (Ita) 15 Tom Van Den Bosch (Bel) 16 Bart Verschueren (Bel) 17 Eddy Van Yzendoorn (Ned) 18 Jan Van Dael (Bel) 19 Ian Bibby (GBr) 20 Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) 21 Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) 22 Lukás Kloucek (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor 23 Wim Leemans (Bel) 24 Thomas Vernaeckt (Bel) 25 Bjorn Selander (USA) 26 Mitchell Huenders (Ned) 27 Renč Lang (Swi) 28 Dennis Vanendert (Bel) 29 Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) 30 Davy De Scheemaeker (Bel) 31 Johim Ariesen (Ned) 32 Christian Cominelli (Ita) 33 Jo Pirotte (Bel) 34 Gianni Denolf (Bel) 35 Marcin Sobiepanek (Pol) 36 Chance Noble (USA) 37 Paul Vos (Ger) 38 Dave De Cleyn (Bel) 39 Robert Gavenda (Slo) 40 Arjen De Baat (Ned) 41 David Menger (Cze) 42 Daan De Jonge (Bel) 43 James Driscoll (USA) 44 Remco Te Brake (Ned) 45 Nivard Vanacker (Bel) 46 Kevin Cant (Bel) 47 Gerald Uyttersprot (Bel) 48 Jan Arnouts (Bel) 49 Dries Govaerts (Bel) 50 Morgan Schmitt (USA) 51 Koen Van Grootel (Ned) 52 Edwin Arts (Ned) 53 Nicholas Weighall (USA) 54 Thomas Boeckx (Bel) 55 Willem Schwaner (Ned) 56 Jerry Kallenfels (Ned) 57 Konrad Hasik (Pol) 58 Wim Thijs (Bel) 59 Daniel Neyens (USA) 60 Hans Van Den Bogaert (Bel) 61 Ian Legg (GBr) 62 Bart Wouters (Bel) 63 Jan Verhaegh (Ned) 64 Hans Becking (Ned) 65 Rob Vangenechten (Bel) 66 Dries Pauwels (Bel) 67 Tom Lambrechts (Bel) 68 Mark Cotton (GBr) Juniors
1 Jiri Polnicky (Cze) 40.03 2 Peter Sagan (Svk) 3 Joeri Adams (Bel) 4 Matteo Trentin (Ita) 5 Daniel Summerhill (USA) 0.09 6 Stef Bodfen (Bel) 0.28 7 Marek Benda (Cze) 0.35 8 Kenneth De Ker (Bel) 9 Twan van den Brand (Ned) 10 Jim Aernouts (Bel) 11 Rob van der Velde (Ned) 0.38 12 Alessandro Calderan (Ita) 13 Lubomir Petrus (Cze) 0.40 14 Pierre Kaeslin (Swi) 1.07 15 Zeb Willems (Bel) 16 Vincent Meyvis (Bel) 17 Gregor Lendenmann (Swi) 18 Scott Thwaites (GBr) 19 Bart Hermans (Bel) 1.24 20 Nick De Proost (Bel) 21 Stefan Limburg (Ned) 22 Jordy Beuker (Ned) 23 Harm van der Sanden (Ned) 24 Kenny Maes (Bel) 25 Matthias Rupp (Swi) 26 Kevin Smit (Ned) 2.35 27 Pieter-Jan Pirotte (Bel) 28 Sven Beelen (Bel) 29 Filip Adel (Cze) 30 Peter Frei (Swi) 31 Jasper Ockeloen (Ned) 32 Piotr Antkowiak (Pol) 33 Steve Meisher (USA) 34 Tim Debusschere (Bel) 35 Thomas Gysbrechts (Bel) 36 Bart Barkhuis (Ned) 37 Yannick Pauwels (Bel) 38 Jerome Townsend (USA) 39 Tommy van Beem (Ned) 40 Philippe Hutmacher (Lux) 41 Adri Nugter (Ned) 42 Jim Lennon (USA) 43 Marian Simora (Svk) 44 Ruben Veestraeten (Bel) 45 Sean Worsech (USA) 46 Raf Plyum (Bel) 47 Jordy van Erp (Ned) 48 Arnaud Grand (Swi) 49 Joeri Bakker (Ned) 50 Sean Van Hemelen (Bel) 51 Mike Vreys (Bel) 52 Jonathan Bervoets (Bel) 53 Tommy Groffen (Ned) 54 Leigh Andrews (GBr) 55 Christian Wettermann (Ger) 56 Michael Sterk (Ned) 57 Steven van Leijen (Ned) 58 Alain Page (USA) 59 Timo Daams (Ned) 60 Rick van Deursen (Ned) 61 Wout Mertens (Bel) 62 Robert Witkowski (Pol) 63 Jonas De Bory (Bel) 64 Dimi Diels (Bel) 65 Erwin van Dijk (Ned) 66 Ferdi Gerritse (Ned) 67 Rob Fleerakkers (Ned) 68 Ferdinand Boogaard (Ned) 69 Elia Silvestri (Ita) 70 Pieter Van Echelpoel (Bel) 71 Mickael Van de Putte (Bel) 72 Ben Suykens (Bel) Novices 1 Corné van Kessel (Ned) 27.58 2 Milan van den Ende (Ned) 3 Radek Polnicky (Cze) 4 Daan Meyers (Ned) 5 Gerry Druyts (Bel) 6 Mike Teunissen (Ned) 0.12 7 Dennis Stultiens (Ned) 8 Hendrik Sweeck (Bel) 0.57 9 Jurgen van Trijp (Ned) 10 Brian Brusselman (Ned) 11 Kay Welten (Ned) 12 Raf Risbourg (Bel) 13 Wietse Boasmans (Bel) 1.02 14 Niels Koyen (Bel) 15 Sieën Veestraeten (Bel) 16 Dion Vanhommerig (Ned) 17 Bart De Vocht (Bel) 18 Dieter Eyskens (Bel) 19 Zeb Veestraeten, (Bel) 20 Robin Wennekes (Ned) 21 Andy Wagemans (Bel) 22 Jelle Cant (Bel) 23 Frederik Geerts (Bel) 24 Jurrien Bosters (Ned) 25 James Laureys (Bel) 26 Moreno Hofland (Ned) 27 Oscar Riesebeek (Ned) 28 Kevin Reynders (Bel) 29 Wout Franssen (Bel) 30 Alexis Caresmel (Fra) 31 Lennerd Van den Bleeken (Bel) 32 Stefan van den Bergh (Ned) 33 Ritchie Denolf (Bel) 34 Jens Adams (Bel) 35 Niels Meeuwen (Bel) 36 Christophe Ysenbaardt (Bel) 37 Jens Joosen (Bel) 38 Rinze De Proost (Bel) 39 Tom Opdam (Ned) 40 Gertjan Dhondt (Ned) 41 Jelle Lugten (Ned) 42 Maikel Elsten (Ned) 43 Sjors Roosen (Ned) 44 Niels Heyns (Bel) 45 Jens Van den Bosch (Bel) 46 Matthias Sirazcusa (Bel) 47 Djago Smits (Ned) 48 Jordan Aerts (Bel) 49 Jelle Veraart (Bel) 50 Sebastiaan Roodhooft (Bel) 51 Jeffrey Mellemans (Bel) 52 Teun van Poppel (Ned) 53 Gianni Anthoni (Bel) 54 Ingmar Uytdewilligen (Bel) 55 Rutger La Haye (Bel) 56 Gijs Schefferlie (Ned) 57 Tijs Arnouts (Bel) 58 Bram van de Schoot (Ned) 59 Niels Van Gysegem (Bel) 60 Giovanni Jacobs (Bel) 61 Kevin Collaer (Bel) 62 Nick van Dijke (Ned) 63 Joeri Vermeiren (Bel) 64 Joris Tips (Bel) 65 Robin Delanghe (Bel) 66 Glenn Van Laer (Bel) 67 Oliver Webster (GBr) 68 Ken Ansloos (Bel) 69 Bruce Dalton (GBr) 70 Koern Vandeput (Bel) 71 Mike Mutsaerts (Bel) Women 1 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) 40.10 2 Daphny van den Brand (Ned) 3 Marianne Vos (Ned) 0.56 4 Helen Wyman (GBr) 1.00 5 Birgit Hollmann (Ger) 6 Veerle Ingels (Bel) 1.53 7 Reza Hormes-Ravenstijn (Ned) 8 Gabriella Day (GBr) 9 Hilde Quintens (Bel) 10 Susanne Juranek (Ger) 11 Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) 12 Sanne Cant (Bel) 13 Loes Sels (Bel) 14 Claudia Seidel (Ger) 15 Daniele Bresciani (Ita) 16 Katrien Pauwels (Bel) 17 Vania Rossi (Ita) 18 Ludivine Henrion (Bel) 19 Nadia Triquet-Claude (Fra) 20 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) 21 Laurence Leboucher (Fra) 22 Rosa Maria Bravo (Spa) 23 Francesca Cucciniello (Ita) 24 Kathy Ingels (Bel) 25 Anja Nobus (Bel) 26 Sanne van Paassen (Ned) 27 Christine Vardaros (USA) 28 Alessandra Fatato (Ita) 29 Katrien Aerts (Bel) 30 Nancy Bollansee (Bel) 31 Britt Jochems (Ned) 32 Tara Ross (Can) 33 Maaike Polspoel (Bel) 34 Monique van de Ree (Ned) 35 Veronique Staes (Bel) 36 Mika Ogishima (Jap) 37 Kelly Jones (Can) 38 Elisabetta Borgia (Ita) 39 Ilse Vandekinderen (Bel) 40 Stephanie Pohl (Ger) 41 Iris Ockeloen (Ned) 42 Kristien Nelen (Bel) 43 Anne Arnouts (Bel) 44 Melissa Flagothier (Bel)
Past winners
2005 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank
2004 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank 2003 Bart Wellens (Bel) Spaar Select 2002 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank 2001 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) 2000 Sven Nijs (Bel) 1999 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) 1998 Marc Janssens (Ned) 1997 Adrie van der Poel (Ned) 1996 Adrie van der Poel (Ned) 1995 Paul Herygers (Bel) 1994 Radomir Simunek (Cze) 1993 Marc Janssens (Ned) 1992 Adrie van der Poel (Ned) 1991 Danny De Bie (Bel) 1990 Danny De Bie (Bel) 1989 Danny De Bie (Bel) 1988 Roland Liboton (Bel) 1987 Hennie Stamsnijder (Ned) 1986 Hennie Stamsnijder (Ned) 1985 Roland Liboton (Bel) 1984 Roland Liboton (Bel) Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com
