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Superprestige #7 - C1
Hoogstraten, Belgium, February 4, 2007
2006 Results Results Past winners
Cannibal Nys unbeatable in Superprestige series
UCI-leader not eager to play mister nice guy
By Brecht Decaluwé
After grabbing the overall win in the Belgian GvA-trophy during yesterday's race in Lille, Sven Nys (Rabobank) concluded his strong weekend by claiming the overall win in the Superprestige series with a victory in Hoogstraten. Nys has won all seven events in the oldest cyclo-cross regularity competition and with one event to go the Belgian has a massive lead over injured Belgian champion Bart Wellens (Fidea). World Champion Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) will probably overtake Wellens in the final race in Vorselaar within two weeks.
UCI-leader Nys beat teammate Groenendaal in a two-man sprint after surprisingly coming back on the Dutch veteran. "I came back [on Groenendaal] because I want to win all events in the Superprestige series. With my seventh victory I'm already doing better than Roland Liboton," Nys said with a smile. "Groenendaal will be disappointed but he has to realize that thanks to me he could create the gap; I always served the team's interests and from then on I felt the best should win."
Groenendaal was disappointed as he was spotted using his middle finger while crossing the finish line. "We are the mice and Nys is the cat. Everybody saw it once again, Nys is the strongest around," Groenendaal said dryly. "Nys likes this game and I'm playing along. Of course he's allowed to come back on us as we're all fighting each other. There should be another competition for him, but I'm afraid that he'll race with the 125cc motor bikes then."
Fellow Rabobank rider De Knegt finished third, the same result like in Saturday's race. "I took for granted the win would be for Groenendaal as he is leaving the team and he could use a victory. Nys ultimately came back on him, I think that was sad," De Knegt said. "We've got four chances left on a win and I'm willing to grab one of them."
World Champion Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) performed better than Saturday, bringing everybody back to the front halfway the race, in the end he had to settle for sixth place. "It was strange to notice that Nys waited for us. My back was hurting again by the end of the race and when I crashed again it was over," Vervecken said.
Nys sat in the wheels of the pursuers of his teammates and the last rider who tried to come back on them was Jonathan Page (Morgan Blue). The Vice World Champion was the best of the rest in his first race after the Worlds and the incident with his mechanic. The American withstood the strong Czech champion Petr Dlask (Fidea), and with his fourth place Page proves his second place at the Worlds was more than just luck.
How it unfolded
Rabobank played it tactically strong when the race got away as Gerben De Knegt sprinted away from the bunch right away. Halfway through the race he was joined by teammate Richard Groenendaal while team leader Nys controlled the race in the wheels of the pursuers.
World Champion Erwin Vervecken didn't give in and brought everybody back on the two leaders. Nys then decided to have a go on the front but suddenly he allowed Groenendaal and De Knegt to sneak away. Vervecken, Dlask and Page couldn't close the gap and then Nys decided to turn on his engine.
The UCI-leader bridged the gap to his teammates and continued his effort. De Knegt couldn't hold on while the two teammates Nys and Groenendaal sprinted for victory. Groenendaal started in front and when Nys came around he forced him to the side but Nys was way to fast and grabbed his 28th victory of the season. Groenendaal was disappointed with his second place, expressing that by flying his middle finger towards Nys.
De Knegt cruised towards third place while Page grabbed a strong fourth place before Dlask and World Champion Vervecken.
Results
Elite
1 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank 59.39
2 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank
3 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank 0.10
4 Jonathan Page (USA) Morgan Blue 0.20
5 Petr Dlask (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team 0.27
6 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 0.35
7 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob
8 Thijs Al (Ned) BeOne 0.47
9 Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
10 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank 0.50
11 Christian Heule (Swi) Stevens Racing Team 1.07
12 David Willemsens (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 1.12
13 Maarten Nijland (Ned) Ruiter Dakkapellen 1.24
14 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
15 Radomir Simunek (Cze) Palmans Collstrop Sapim
16 Jan Verstraeten (Bel) Sunweb-Projob
17 Wilant van Gils (Ned) ZZPR.nl 1.51
18 Arne Daelmans (Bel) Klaipeda Splendid Cycling Team 2.01
19 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) Sunwe-Projob 2.29
20 Kamil Ausbuher (Cze)
21 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) G.S. Selle Italia Guerciotti 2.49
22 Ben Berden (Bel) Webking.be 3.42
23 Mike Thielemans (Bel) Cycling Team-Thielemans & Co - Reynaers
24 Jimmy Tielens (Bel) 4.02
25 Stijn Penne (Bel) VZW Wielerclub Onder Ons - Parike 4.12
26 Jorn Van Der Veken (Bel) Profel-Ziegler CT 4.40
27 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) ZZPR.nl 4.47
28 Johannes Sickmüller (Ger) 5.07
29 Joachim Parbo (Den) CK Aarhus 5.27
30 Nico Clarysse (Bel) Cyclingteam Oost-West
One lap down
31 Isaac Suarez (Spa)
32 Guy Bertels (Bel) K.S.W. De Demerspurters Haacht-Betekom
33 Stig Geerts (Bel)
Superprestige Standings elite men
1 Sven Nys (Ned) Rabobank 135 pts
2 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 103
3 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 97
4 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 88
5 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank 83
U23
1 Niels Albert (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop 48.03
2 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team 0.26
3 Rob Peeters (Bel) Kon. Balen B.C. V.Z.W. 0.32
4 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) CK Podborany 1.01
5 Eddy Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) Palmans - Collstrop 1.50
6 Maxim Debusschere (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 2.17
7 Tom Meeusen (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
8 Kenny Geluykens (Bel) Sunweb-Projob
9 Tom Van Den Bosch (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
10 Stijn Huys (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop 2.41
11 Jempy Drucker (Lux) Fidea Cycling Team 2.42
12 Quentin Bertholet (Bel) A.W.S. Cycling Team Kasterlee 2.53
13 Bart Verschueren (Bel) Koninlijke Stoempersclub - Leuven 3.04
14 Rafael Visinelli (Ita) C.C.V. Cyclocross Team Bologna 3.13
15 Wim Leemans (Bel) A.W.S. Cycling Team Kasterlee 3.21
16 Mitchell Huenders (Ned) 3.32
17 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 3.34
18 Davy De Scheemaeker (Bel) A.W.S. Cycling Team Kasterlee 4.25
19 Ivar Hartogs (Ned) WV Eemland 4.31
20 Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) 4.36
21 Kevin Cant (Bel) A.W.S. Cycling Team Kasterlee 4.39
22 Thomas Vernaeckt (Bel) Asfra Racing Team 5.10
23 Dennis Verhoeven (Bel) 5.34
24 Gianni Denolf (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop 5.38
25 Jerry Kallenfels (Ned) 6.15
26 Edwin Arts (Ned) Buitenlust
27 Jeroen Dekkers (Ned) Buitenlust
28 Dieter Schol (Bel)
29 Dries Dewit (Bel) Scott USA Cycling Team
30 Dylan Esmans (Fra) ESEG Douai
31 Wim Thijs (Bel) Edegem Bicycle Club V.Z.W.
32 Steven Schol (Bel) K.S.W. De Demerspurters Haacht-Betekom
33 Gregory Franckaert (Bel) Asfra Racing Team
34 Dries Pauwels (Bel) Empella Czech Team
35 Kenneth Verdickt (Bel)
36 Koen van Grootel (Ned) Buitenlust
37 Bart Wouters (Bel)
38 Hans Van Den Bogaert (Bel) Kon. W.C. De Rupelspurters Boom
39 Tom Lambrechts (Bel)
40 Dave De Cleyn (Bel) Scott USA Cycling Team
41 Nicolas Guillot (Fra)
42 Dave Schuurmans (Bel)
43 Tom Decock (Bel)
Superprestige Standings U23
1 Niels Albert (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop 134 pts
2 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team 127
3 Rob Peeters (Bel) Kon. Balen B.C. V.Z.W. 103
Juniors
1 Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Baal-Tremelo 38.20
2 Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) 0.01
3 Joeri Adams (Bel) 0.12
4 Kristof Cop (Bel) 0.33
5 Stef Boden (Bel) 0.46
6 Jim Aernouts (Bel) 1.00
7 Twan van den Brand (Ned) 1.01
8 Marcel Meisen (Ger)
9 Zeb Willems (Bel) 1.32
10 Sven Verboven (Bel)
11 Geert Van der Horst (Ned) 1.34
12 Kevin Eeckhout (Bel) 1.46
13 Ricardo van der Velde (Ned) Rabobank 2.03
14 Nick De Proost (Bel) 2.06
15 Jordy Beuker (Ned) 2.26
16 Ruben Veestraeten (Bel) 2.51
17 Sven Beelen (Bel) 2.54
18 Jasper Ockeloen (Ned)
19 Bert Vermeiren (Bel) 3.13
20 Jarno Van de Casteele (Bel) 3.23
21 Simon Geets (Bel) 3.39
22 Kristof Scheirs (Bel) 3.47
23 Michiel Dieleman (Bel) 3.53
24 Kobus Hereijgers (Ned) 4.01
25 Bart Barkhuis (Ned)
26 Dimitri Stevens (Bel) 4.07
27 Sam Van Hemelen (Bel) 4.10
28 Tommy van Beem (Ned)
29 Julien Ertveldt (Bel) 4.35
30 Kenny Maes (Bel) 4.57
31 Dany Lacroix (Bel) 5.32
32 Dimi Diels (Bel) 5.38
33 Yannick Pauwels (Bel) 5.44
34 Kim Goethals (Bel) 5.53
35 Ferdi Gerritse (Ned) 6.33
36 Jonathan Bervoets (Bel)
37 Vincent Van Hooste
38 Glen Leyers (Bel)
39 Lorenzo Messine (Bel)
40 Pieter Van Echelpoel (Bel)
41 Joachim Janssens (Bel)
Superprestige Standings - Juniors
1 Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) 116 pts
2 Vincent Baestaens 114
3 Joeri Adams 110
Novices
1 Daan Meiers (Ned) 27.59
2 Robin De Cnodder (Bel)
3 Hendrik Sweeck (Bel)
4 Zeb Veestraeten (Bel)
5 Bart De Vocht (Bel)
6 Niels Koyen (Bel)
7 Wietse Bosmans (Bel)
8 Ruben Scheire (Bel)
9 Sieën Veestraeten (Bel)
10 Milan van den Ende (Ned)
11 Valentijn Van de Velde (Bel)
12 Frederik Geerts (Bel)
13 Maxim Danckers (Bel)
14 Jens Adams (Bel)
15 Robin Wennekens (Ned)
16 Croné van Kessel (Ned)
17 Zico Waeytens (Bel)
18 Renzo van Ree (Ned)
19 Michael Peeters (Bel)
20 Laudelino Lammens (Bel)
21 Raf Risbourg (Bel)
22 Thomas Verbeek (Bel)
23 Gert-Jan Opsomer (Bel)
24 Simon Declercq (Bel)
25 Dieter Eyskens (Bel)
26 Tijs Van Aert (Bel)
27 David van der Poel (Ned)
28 Dion Vanhommerig (Ned)
29 Lennerd Van den Bleeken (Bel)
30 Rinze De Proost (Bel)
31 Ritchie Denolf (Bel)
32 Sonny Volders (Bel)
33 Jelle Storms (Bel)
34 Sem Lambrechts (Bel)
35 Jordy Van Staeyen (Bel)
36 Bert Noterman (Bel)
37 Gianni Vermeersch (Bel)
38 Robin Poelvoorde (Bel)
39 Ingmar Uytdewilligen (Bel)
40 Clint Van Droogenbroeck (Bel)
41 Martijn Pastoors (Ned)
42 Nick van Dijke (Ned)
43 Rutger La Haye (Bel)
44 Alois Mus (Bel)
45 Nick Van den Eynde (Bel)
46 Ken Ansloos (Bel)
47 Djago Smits (Ned)
48 Wim Allary (Bel)
49 Katrien Vermeiren (Bel)
50 Jeffrey Mellemans (Bel)
51 Dimitri Michielsen (Bel)
52 Koen Vandeput (Bel)
53 Giovanni Jacobs (Bel)
54 Niels Van Gysegem (Bel)
55 Bart van Dongen (Ned)
56 Kris Vermeir (Bel)
57 Manuel Timmerman (Ned)
Past winners
Men 2006 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank
2005 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) 2004 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) 2003 Sven Nijs (Bel) 2001 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) 2000 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) 1999 Sven Nijs (Bel) 1998 Bart Wellens (Bel) 1997 Peter Willemsens (Bel) 1995 Paul Herijgers (Bel) 1994 Peter Willemsens (Bel) 1993 Paul Herijgers (Bel) 1992 Gustaaf Van Bouwel (Bel) 1991 Dirk Pauwels (Bel) 1990 Wim Lambrechts (Bel) 1989 Kurt De Roose (Bel) Women 2000 Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned)
