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Cyclo-Cross World Cup #4 - CDM
Treviso, Italy, November 4, 2006
French surprise in Italy: Mourey sprints home men's winner in Treviso;
Vos victorious in women's 'cross
By Tim Maloney-European Editor in Treviso
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As the late afternoon winter sun bathed Le Bandie sports center near Treviso, Italy, on a crisp Saturday afternoon, it shown brightest on diminutive 26-year-old Frenchman Francis Mourey (Francaise Des Jeux), who surprisingly outsprinted World Cup leader Sven Nys (Rabobank) and World Champion Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) with a superb move at the end of a hotly contested fourth race in the 2006-07 UCI World Cup cyclo-cross series. On the steep final ramp to the finish, petit powerhouse Mourey made the perfect move up the right side of the uphill gravel track in the final 20 meters to turn the tables on Nys, who had beaten the French rider in Round Two of the cyclo-cross World Cup two weeks ago in Kalmthout, Belgium.
"It was a very hard race today, very fast", explained Mourey after the finish in Treviso. "I had a good position in the sprint, and I was able to come around Nys to win. I'm very happy with my result." Despite his second cyclo-cross defeat in two days, Sven Nys already has won two of four World Cup 'Crosses and maintains the lead in the 2006-07 UCI World Cup cyclo-cross series. World Champ big guy Erwin Vervecken made the split and made the podium today, but didn't have the legs to crack other front runners Mourey and Nys.
Today's race was held at Le Bandie sports center, formerly a gravel quarry that was converted by local entrepeneur Remo Mosole into a purpose-built cyclo-cross center that will host the 2008 World cyclo-cross championships in January 2008. After the race, UCI cyclo-cross coordinator Melanie Leveau told Cyclingnews, "The event went well today; it was well organized and it's a good venue for a World Cup event. But the course is too straight and too fast for a World Championship, so we will change the parcours for the Worlds and add more hairpin turns and perhaps some barriers."
The race in Treviso marked the return to cycling event sponsorship of legendary cycling sponsor Mapei, the Italian chemical firm that sponsored one of the greatest ever Italian pro cycling squads. Dr. Aldo Sassi, chief of the Mapei Cycling Center told Cyclingnews that "after a great success as principal sponsor of the Italian Soccer team, winner of the World Cup this summer, Mapei is sponsoring cycling events. We are the principal sponsor here today in Treviso, and of the World cyclo-cross championships in 2008. Mapei is also principal sponsor of the 2008 World Road Championship in Varese, Italy, as well as following year, 2009 in Mendrisio, Switzerland."
How It Unfolded
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At 3:00 PM, 61 riders took the start whistle out of the starting grid to the strains of U2's "How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," and it was Czech rider Kamil Ausbuher who was fastest up the steep ramp to the finish line, followed by Rabobankers De Knegt and Nys. For the first half of the one hour race, there were constant changes up front as Lampre-Fondital's local lad Enrico Franzoi from nearby Mogliano Veneto kept his Italian champions tricolore to the fore, along with World Cup Round Three winner Rad Simunek Jr. (Palmans) and Swiss powerhouse Christian Heule (Stevens). In the meantime, the Belgians hung back eyeing each other to see who would be the first to make a move from the 30 strong group.
After 30 minutes of racing and eight laps to go, the complexion of the race change, as on the first steep run-up, Fidea's Bart Wellens slipped and allowed a gap to open on a trio of World Cup leader Nys, World Champ Vervecken, and french rider Mourey. Their gap stayed under 10 seconds for the next few laps, but with four laps to go, the front trio had gained almost almost 20 seconds on the lead on the 11 man chase group, mostly led by Swiss rider Heule.
Crash man Wellens recognized the danger and went full gas for the next two laps, closing the gap down to 8 seconds at one point, but he blew up and with two laps to go, the leaders were back to a 20 second lead. On the bell lap, both Mourey and Vervecken kept the pressure on Nys but the Belgian hung tough. As the trio swung onto the finishing straight with 250m to go, Vervecken led out from Nys, but it was Morey who had the super sprint in the last 30 meters to take the winner's bouquet in Treviso.
Women's Race
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It seems that Dutch world cylco-cross (and Road Race) champion Mariannne Vos may be unbeatable. The 19-year-old Dutch phenom easily marked the other riders who made up the lead group in the Women's World Cup 'cross, with British rider Helen Wyman smoothly and solidly leading through most of the difficult sections. But in the end, it was the inexorable sprint of Vos that easily brought the Dutch woman the win ahead of Women's World Cup leader Hanka Kupfernagel and another German rider, Birgit Hollman.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- World U23 Champion Zdenek powers up the hill
- Czech power, Zdenek Stybar and Lukas Kloucek drive up a hill
- World U23 Champion Zdenek Stybar wins in front of compatriot Lukes Kloucek
- Frenchman Thomas Girard pushes along before winning the race
- Frenchman Girard takes the winnings after the Italian race
- Girard lets the bubbly flow after winning Juniors race
- Girard tops Juniors podium (L-R) Allessandro Calderon, Thomas Girard, Matthias Rupp
- Juniors podium (L-R) Allessandro Calderon, Thomas Girard, Matthias Rupp
- The womens' filed start in Treviso for the World Cup, likeside
- The women ride under sunny conditions in Treviso, Italy
- A nice day for the women in Treviso, Italy
- Marianne Vos (Ned) and Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) run up Treviso's steep climb
- Marianne Vos (Ned) sprints and wins the Treviso World Cup
- Marianne Vos (Ned) wins the Treviso World Cup
- Marianne Vos (Ned) tops podium (L-R) Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger), Marianne Vos (Ned), Birgit Hollmann (Ger)
- Riders and press enjoyed the day in northern Italy
- Treviso proved a good course ... It will be the location of the 2008 Worlds
- Bart Wellens (Fidea Cycling Team) is always strong, and managed fifth
- Petr Dlask (Fidea Cycling Team) navigates the course
- World Champ Erwin Vervecken (Fidea Cycling Team) negotiates the Treviso course
- World Champ Erwin Vervecken (Fidea Cycling Team) negotiates the Treviso course
- World Champ Erwin Vervecken (Fidea Cycling Team) running with his machine in Treviso
- Erwin Vervecken (Fidea Cycling Team) made the final cut to finish third
- Simon Zahner (Swi) in a little bit of difficulty
- Riders faced darkening skies as the day wore on
- Enrico Franzoi (Lampre-Fondital) was one of the few Italian favourites
- Christian Heule (Stevens Racing Team) racing in the Swiss colours
- Zdenek Mlynar (Ac Sparta Praha) keeps racing under darkening Treviso skies
- Riders dismount to run-up a section of the Treviso course
- Francis Mourey (Française Des Jeux) looked strong and went on to win
- Sven Nijs (Rabobank) looked strong all day but could only manage second
- The top three face a run-up
- Enrico Franzoi, the Italian CX Champion went on to finish 8th in his home race.
- A tight sprint won by Francis Mourey (Fra) in Treviso World Cup
- Francis Mourey (Fra) celebrates his win in Treviso
Results
Elite Men
1 Francis Mourey (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux 1.06.10
2 Sven Nijs (Bel) Rabobank
3 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
4 Simon Zahner (Swi) 0.18
5 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
6 Christian Heule (Swi) Stevens Racing Team
7 Klaas Vamtornout (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
8 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
9 Steve Chainel (Fra)
10 John Gadret (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 0.46
11 Radomir Simunek (Cze) Palmans Collstrop
12 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank 0.49
13 Maarten Nijland (Ned) Procomm-Van-Hemert 0.54
14 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
15 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Rabobank
16 Thijs Al (Ned) B&E Cycling Team
17 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Palmans Collstrop 1.03
18 Milan Barenyi (Svk)
19 Arnaud Labbe (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
20 Maros Kovac (Svk) Dukla Trencin
21 Alexandre Moos (Swi) Phonak Hearing System
22 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita)
23 Petr Dlask (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team 1.18
24 Wilant Van Gils (Ned) 1.28
25 Ondrej Lukes (Cze) 1.52
26 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank 2.03
27 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) 2.06
28 Jan Chrobak (Cze)
29 Robert Glajza (Svk)
30 Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) Stevens Racing Team
31 David Derepas (Fra) Jartazi-7 Mobile 2.09
32 Marco Bianco (Ita) 2.11
33 Malte Urban (Ger) Heinz Von Heiden Hannov 3.05
34 Zdenek Mlynar (Cze) Ac Sparta Praha 3.06
35 Andreas Moser (Swi)
36 Peter Presslauer (Aut) Stevens Racing Team 3.21
37 Vaclaf Metlicka (Svk) 3.29
38 Alessandro Fontana (Ita)
39 Jan Ramsauer (Swi) 3.46
40 Jean Verstraeten (Bel) Nazionale Belgio
41 Stefano Toffoletti (Ita) 4.04
42 David Rusch (Swi) 4.42
43 Camiel Van Den Bergh (Ned) Stevens Racing Team
44 Pietro Pavoni (Ita)
DNS Kamil Ausbuher (Cze)
DNS Richard Groenendaal (Ned)
DNS Claudio Astolfi (Ita)
DNS Daniel Hufnagel (Aut)
DNS Gerhard Krenn (Aut)
DNS Roland Moerx (Aut)
DNS Alessandro Grandi (Ita)
Elite Women
1 Marianne Vos (Ned) Dutch National 43.05
2 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) German National
3 Birgit Hollmann (Ger) German National
4 Laurence Leboucher (Fra) French National
5 Helen Wyman (GBr) Team Fbuk
6 Maryline Salvetat (Fra) French National
7 Reza Hormes Ravenstijn (Ned) Dutch National
8 Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) French National 0.51
9 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Dutch National 1.11
10 Nadia Triquet-Claude (Fra) French National 1.12
11 Veerke Ingels (Bel) Belgian National 1.16
12 Susanne Juranek (Ger) German National 1.43
13 Linda Van Rijen (Ned) Dutch National 2.10
14 Sanne Cant (Bel) Belgian National
15 Francesca Cucciniello (Ita) Italian National
16 Anja Nobus (Bel) Belgian National
17 Gabriella Day (GBr) Team Fbuk
18 Rosa Maria Bravo Soba (Spa) Spanish National
19 Nicole Kampeter (Ger) German National
20 Nancy Bollansee (Bel) Belgian National
21 Milena Cavani (Ita) Italian National 2.13
22 Vania Rossi (Ita) Italian National 2.59
23 Britt Jochems (Ned) Dutch National
24 Sanne Van Paassen (Ned) Dutch National 3.11
25 Suzie Godart (Lux) Team Fbuk
26 Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel) Belgian National 3.23
27 Alessandra Fatato (Ita) Italian National 3.31
28 Ilenia Lazzaro (Ita) Team Miche 3.34
29 Elke Riedl (Aut) Austrian National 3.36
30 Elisabetta Borgia (Ita) Gs Selle Italia Elite G 4.20
31 Veronica Alessio (Ita) Italian National 4.52
32 Kathy Ingels (Bel) Belgian National 4.59
33 Daniela Bresciani (Ita) Italian National 5.13
34 Claudia Seidel (Ger) German National 5.35
35 Marta Villajosana (Spa) Spanish National 5.55
36 Stephanie Wiedner (Aut) Austrian National 6.05
37 Anne Kathrin Wolf (Ger) German National 7.28
38 Verena Strohmer (Ger) German National 8.24
DNS Christine Vardaros (USA) US National
Under 23
1 Zdnek Stybar (Cze) Czech National 56.05
2 Lukas Kloucek (Cze) Czech National 0.01
3 Julian Taramarcaz (Swi) Swiss National 0.15
4 Robert Gavenda (Svk) Slovakian National 0.16
5 Romain Villa (Fra) French National 0.22
6 Jempy Drucker (Lux) Luxemburg National 0.43
7 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) Belgian National 0.57
8 Ricardo Van Der Velde (Ned) Dutch National
9 Pauli Voss (Ger) German National 1.10
10 Finn Heitmann (Ger) German National
11 Ondrej Bambula (Cze) Czech National
12 Florian Le Corre (Fra) French National 1.11
13 Frantisek Kloucek (Cze) Czech National
14 Fabio Ursi (Ita) Italian National 1.15
15 Maxim Debusschere (Bel) Belgian National 1.41
16 Kim Michely (Lux) Luxemburg National
17 Jan Field (GBr) English National 1.48
18 Rob Peeters (Bel) Belgian National 1.51
19 Romain Lejeune (Fra) French National 1.58
20 Jonathan Lopez (Fra) French National 2.43
21 Rene' Lang (Swi) Swiss National 2.54
22 Daan De Jonge (Ned) Dutch National 3.02
23 Rafael Visinelli (Ita) Italian National 3.17
24 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) German National 3.22
25 Yves Corminboeuf (Swi) Swiss National 3.30
26 Wim Leemans (Bel) Belgian National
27 Sascha Weber (Ger) German National
28 Mitchell Huenders (Ned) Dutch National
29 Stephen Adams (GBr) English National
30 Tom Meeusen (Bel) Belgian National 4.04
31 Eddy Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) Dutch National 4.21
32 David Menger (Cze) Czech National 4.34
33 Gabriele Giuntoli (Ita) Italian National 4.50
34 Tom Van Den Bosch (Bel) Belgian National 6.02
35 Gabriele Mercante (Ita) Italian National 6.19
36 Andrea Bassani (Ita) Italian National 7.34
DNS Boy Van Poppel (Ned) Dutch National
DNS Vincenzo Di Rella (Ita) Italian National
DNS Nathanael Rother (Swi) Swiss National
Junior Men
1 Thomas Girard (Fra) French National 38.55
2 Alessandro Calderan (Ita) Italian National
3 Matthias Rupp (Swi) Swiss National
4 Jiri Polnicky (Cze) Czech National 0.01
5 Lubomir Petrus (Cze) Czech National
6 Ole Quast (Ger) German National 0.02
7 Joeri Adams (Bel) Belgian National
8 Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Dutch National
9 Jonathan Mcevoy (GBr) English National
10 Massimo Coledan (Ita) Italian National 0.11
11 Filip Adel (Cze) Czech National 0.14
12 Scott Thwaites (GBr) English National 0.23
13 Sven Verboven (Bel) Belgian National
14 Peter Sagan (Svk) Slovakian National 0.33
15 Amaud Grand (Swi) Swiss National 0.43
16 Kevin Leveghi (Ita) Italian National B 0.54
17 Jan Wolf (Cze) Czech National 0.57
18 Elia Silvestri (Ita) Italian National 1.06
19 Alex Paton (GBr) English National 1.11
20 Kevin Baestaens (Bel) Belgian National 1.12
21 Marek Benda (Cze) Czech National 1.14
22 Valentin Scherz (Swi) Swiss National 1.15
23 Boris Zimine (Fra) French National
24 Jordy Beuker (Ned) Dutch National
25 Stef Boden (Bel) Belgian National
26 Gregor Lendenmamm (Swi) Swiss National 1.25
27 Radovan Ramsik (Svk) Slovakian National 1.28
28 Josef Rauber (Ger) German National 1.36
29 Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) French National 1.46
30 Giuseppe Michieletto (Ita) UC Mogliano 85 Colori S
31 Eric Brungger (Swi) Swiss National
32 Oliver Hofstetter (Swi) Swiss National 1.57
33 Kevin Eeckhout (Bel) Belgian National 2.11
34 Jim Aernouts (Bel) Belgian National 2.26
35 Max Walsleben (Ger) German National 2.47
36 Sam Webster (GBr) English National 3.07
37 Erik Paccagnella (Ita) Italian National
38 Luc Hammer (Lux) Luxemburg National 3.41
39 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Italian National 3.51
40 Yezid Tabotta (Ita) Italian National B 3.53
41 Marcel Meisen (Ger) German National 4.58
42 Thomas Pinaglia (Ita) Italian National B
43 Marek Farkas (Cze) Czech National 5.41
At One Lap
44 Florian Danner (Ger) German National
