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Cyclo-cross World Cup #10 - CDM
Nommay, France, January 14, 2007
Nys is back in control
Mourey gave the locals hope but faded away
By Brecht Decaluwé in Nommay
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Sven Nys (Rabobank) did it the other way around and started like an escargot, but from the third lap on, Nys was in total control of the race. Bart Wellens (Fidea) was the last rider that could keep up with the 'cannibal of cyclo-cross', but nevertheless the Belgian champion had to admit Nys was the best today. "I was good but not good enough, I still felt the Champs in my legs," Wellens said. The Belgian champion was expected to start in the C1 cross around the track of Roubaix, but he didn't start as he suffered dental sores the night before.
Nys held Wellens to more than ten seconds, winning his sixth world cup this season. "Bart [Wellens] is really strong these days but I put him under pressure a whole lap long, eventually I could ride away from him...he cracked," Nys said. Gerben De Knegt showed that he's back after some lesser performances around Christmas, including the loss of his Dutch champion's jersey. "I'm happy that's it's going all right again; it was frustrating to finish around tenth place every time, but back then I couldn't do any better. It's sad I lost my title, but that can't be changed now," De Knegt said.
Richard Groenendaal (Rabobank) got beaten in the sprint by his team mate for third place, but was happy to see the Rabobank team dominate the race. Their rivals from the Fidea team struggled, despite the second place from Wellens and the fifth place from Petr Dlask (Fidea). The latter rode alone in front during the third lap. "I didn't see any Belgian riders - only some French - that's why I attacked, nobody followed me. By the end of the third lap Nys overtook me and from then on it was difficult to battle against Rabobank. In the end this was a good race but the result was not so good," Dlask explained to Cyclingnews.
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With five nationalities in the top-10, cyclo-cross seemed more international than ever in Nommay. Local boy Mourey started off well but only managed a 13th place. "I lacked the jus, the power to continue my efforts; I'm disappointed now, but I need to look at the future and make sure I'm recovered for the world championships," Mourey explained.
While everybody expected Mourey on the podium for the best local rider's price, it was John Gadret (AG2R) who stepped forward. "I didn't start too well, but then I just followed Nys throughout the race... he's hard to follow," Gadret said. No US-riders featured in the top-10; Jonathan Page's (Morgan Blue) preparation got disrupted and he had to start from the fourth row again, eventually Page finished 15th, his best result in a World Cup race this season. "I tried my hardest but I made a bad tyre selection at the beginning. I've come from a long way back, but I'm thankful that this is hopefully the last race where I need to start from way back," Page said.
How it unfolded
Christian Heule (Stevens) got away very well while the Belgians suffered a joint bad start. Mourey took over in that first lap taking a few seconds on the bunch. The French crowds were on fire but soon after Dlask caught the French champion. Dlask gained a few seconds during the third lap, but by then Nys had recovered from his bad start and bridged up with a big group towards Dlask.
Halfway through the race Nys, De Knegt and Groenendaal had a gap on a group with Gadret, Dlask and Wellens. Behind them were seven riders containing Heule, Vervecken, Mourey, Thijs Al (BeOne) and Sven Vanthourenhout (Sunweb). Going into the ultimate laps a group of six riders was formed: Nys, Wellens, De Knegt, Groenendaal, Gadret and Dlask. They had a half a minute Vervecken, Heule and Al.
With two laps to go Nys and Wellens were alone in front with 15" on the other four riders, after them the gap grew bigger than one minute. Just before the last lap Nys was able to ride away from Wellens, a gap he could maintain until the finish in Nommay. Behind Wellens, De Knegt won the sprint for third place while Dlask grabbed fifth in front of Gadret. One and a half minutes later, Vervecken was faster than Heule and Al, while Kevin Pauwels (Fidea) completed the top-10.
French delighted for women's double
Current world champion Marianne Vos set a high pace during the opening laps but halfway through the French women took over command at the head of affairs. Laurence Leboucher and Maryline Salvetat tried to play out their favourite role and received enormous support from the French crowd. Thriving on this excitement they were in control of the race, only bothered by the appearance of German Hanka Kupfernagel.
Going into the last lap, Kupfernagel attacked at the stairs but couldn't get away; from then on Leboucher and Salvetat alternated their attacks, supported by the spectators and an excited race announcer. Kupfernagel withstood four attacks but cracked when Leboucher tried for a fifth time. At the finish, Leboucher was welcomed by an ecstatic crowd, Salvetat then completed the French women's success by beating the German champion in a long sprint.
At the finish, Leboucher told Cyclingnews she expects herself to battle for the victory at the world's in Hooglede-Gits as well. Today she enjoyed the support of compatriot Salvetat to grab a well deserved win in front of a supportive crowd. "We didn't have special tactics, we just went flat out," Leboucher said. Kupfernagel's friend and coach, former cyclo-cross world champion Mike Kluge said to Cyclingnews this was a race where Hanka had tested an alternative tactic. "She didn't win but this gives us confidence for the world's," Kluge said.
US-riders Deidre Winfield, Rhonda Mazza and Christine Vardaros suffered on the French course and finished together at 18th place; Canadian Tara Ross was 26th.
Albert nets another espoir victory
Three national champions featured on the podium at the U23 world cup in Nommay with the Belgian, Dutch and Italian champions taking the top three spots. Belgian Niels Albert was clearly stronger than his rival Lars Boom on the heavy French course. Both riders will battle it out for the world title within two weeks, but meanwhile they are playing a mental game on each other.
Dutch champion Boom didn't admit he was beaten by Albert, as he wasn't fighting with equal weapons. "I caught a cold and have been ill since the Dutch championships," Boom said. The Belgian champion made clear that he didn't have to work hard to get the win. "I didn't feel good while warming up in Nommay and that feeling remained there during the first half of the race," Albert said. Despite those sensations, Albert attacked and enjoyed a lone race in front. "Halfway through the race I started feeling better; this was a good race."
Despite the subpar performance from Boom, Albert made it clear that he expected Boom to be his main rival at the world championships. "It will be a battle between Boom and myself," Albert said. Italian Rafael Visinelli managed a great third place behind the two protagonists of the U23 category. "This is my best performance in a World Cup race up until now, I'm very pleased with this." The Italian acknowledges that Albert and Boom are riding strong; "they are on a high level, but it's not impossible. I was riding in third place with Boom, but after a bike change I lost ten seconds on him; that gap remained the same until the finish," Visinelli explained to Cyclingnews.
Adams most persistent junior
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Belgian Joeri Adams proved to be the most persistent rider of all juniors. Halfway through the race, a group of eleven riders were still riding together. A leading group of three, with Adams and the Czech riders Lubomir Petrus and Jiri Polnicky, looked to battle for victory; only Belgian Kevin Eeckhout managed to come back on this group going into the ultimate lap.
Eventually Adams got rid of his two Czech companions and arrived at the finish solo. Polnicky grabbed the second place ahead of Petrus. Eeckhout finished fourth in front of Italian Alessandro Calderan. Adams wasn't able to celebrate his victory, because he thought he was chasing the Italian. "Actually I didn't know that I had won the race," Adams said to Cyclingnews at the finish line. "Calderan had a gap in the second lap and I didn't see him again, so... yeah, apparently I did get past him," Adams explained while waiting for the medical control.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Brecht Decaluwe/Cyclingnews.com
- Bart Wellens, Sven Nys and Gerben de Knegt on the podium in Nommay
- One of the main obstacles in Nommay
- Joeri Adams (Bel) first in the Junior race, didn't know that he was the winner.
- Junior podium (l-r): Jiri Polnicky, Joeri Adams and Lubomir Petrus
- Junior winner in Nommay, Belgian Joeri Adams
- Belgian Rob Peeters gets the hole shot in the U23 race
- Niels Albert was a class above the others in the U23 race in Nommay
- Lars Boom decending in Nommay
- Niels Albert wins the U23 race in Nommay
- The U23 podium (l-r): Lars Boom, Niels Albert and Rafael Visinelli
- Niels Albert is the new leader in the U23 World Cup overall classification
- The women enter the ultimate lap in Nommay with world champion Marianne Vos chasing
- The leading group hitting the stairs in Nommay
- Laurence Leboucher wins the women's race in Nommay
- Maryline Salvetat pops just ahead of Hanka Kupfernagel to grab second place
- Maryline Salvetat with lovely hat
- The women's podium with supporter, Mike Kluge
- Sven Nys ready to rumble
- Czech giant Petr Dlask preparing for the race
- John Gadret daydreaming
- Belgian champion Bart Wellens relaxed before the race
- World champion Erwin Vervecken doens't look comfortable right before the start
- Gerben De Knegt loves the camera
- Swiss champion Christian Heule was ready for a good race (8th)
- Local hero Francis Mourey looked cool just ahead of the start
- Everybody lined up...
- ... and off they go!
- UCI-leader Sven Nys in total control
- Sven Nys searching for the best line behind John Gadret
- Erwin Vervecken and Bart Wellens searching their own line
- Local boy Francis Mourey enjoys the support of his fans
- World champion and Belgian champion as seen from behind
- Jonathan Page had to fight his way forward from the last starting line
- The die-hard fans from the Wellens-clan
- Mechanics were cleaning bikes at the conveyor belt
- Halfway through the race the leading group is hitting the stairs
- Sven Nys at the finish for another World Cup win
- Bart Wellens cracked during the penultimate lap
- Francis Mourey was unable to threat the Belgian army... a reaction please!
- John Gadret post-race what happened son?!
- The elite men podium in Nommay (l-r): Bart Wellens, Sven Nys and Gerben De Knegt; now raise the other arm please!
- Winner Sven Nys listening to the Belgian national anthem... focusing to infinity
Results
Elite Men 1 Sven Nys (Ned) Rabobank 1.04.18 2 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 0.13 3 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank 0.20 4 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank 5 Petr Dlask (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team 0.27 6 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R Prévoyance 0.35 7 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 8 Christian Heule (Swi) Stevens Racing Team 1.40 9 Thijs Al (Ned) BeOne 1.52 10 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 2.17 11 Maarten Nijland (Ned) Ruiter Dakkapellen 2.20 12 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 13 Francis Mourey (Fra) Française des Jeux 2.47 14 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) G.S. Selle Italia Guerciotti 3.06 15 Jonathan Page (USA) Morgan Blue 3.09 16 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop 3.15 17 David Willemsens (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 3.22 18 Arnaud Labbe (Fra) Bouygues Télécom 3.35 19 Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) Stevens Racing Team 3.44 20 Steve Chainel (Fra) Auber 93 4.07 21 Wilant van Gils (Ned) ZZPR.nl 4.27 22 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank 4.46 23 Jan Verstraeten (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 4.50 24 David Derepas (Fra) Roubaix Lille Métropole 4.54 25 Maros Kovac (SVk) Slovakian National Team 5.13 26 Nicolas Bazin (Fra) US Domont cyclisme 5.18 27 Joachim Parbo (Den) CK Aarhus 5.35 28 Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Athleticum MTB Team 5.40 29 Johannes Sickmueller (Ger) Harvestehuder RSV v. 1909 6.52 30 René Birkenfeld (Ger) Harvestehuder RSV v. 1909 7.36 One lap down
31 Dariusz Gil (Pol) LKS Pom Strzelce Krajenskie 32 Vaclaf Metlicka (Svk) Slovakian National Team 33 Jan Ramsauer (Swi) Team Campione Celeste-Haba 34 Robert Glajza (Svk) CK ZP Sport A.S. Podbrezová 35 Jan Chrobak (Cze) Johnson Controls AS MB 36 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) ZZPR.nl 37 Thorsten Struch (Ger) German National Team 38 Marco Bianco (Ita) L Arcobaleno Carraro Team 39 Stefano Boggia (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia 40 Mariusz Gil (Pol) LKS Pom Strzelce Krajenskie DNF Camiel Van Den Bergh (Ned) Stevens Racing Team DNF Milan Barenyi (Svk) Slovakian National Team DNF Simon Zahner (Swi) Bürgis Cycling Team DNF Greg Reain (Can) Stevens Racing Team
Women 1 Laurence Leboucher (Fra) 36.51 2 Maryline Salvetat (Fra) 0.03 3 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) 4 Marianne Vos (Ned) Team Dsb Bank 0.13 5 Birgit Hollmann (Ger) Team Getränkehoffmann 0.49 6 Helen Wyman (GBr) Global Racing Team 2.01 7 Vania Rossi (Ita) 2.16 8 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) 9 Veerle Ingels (Bel) 2.29 10 Reza Hormesravenstein (Ned) 2.33 11 Christelle Ferrierbruneau (Fra) 2.36 12 Nadia Triquetclaude (Fra) 2.41 13 Caroline Mani (Fra) 2.57 14 Daniela Bresciani (Ita) 15 Rosa Maria Bravo Soba (Spa) 3.23 16 Alessandra Fatato (Ita) 3.25 17 Linda Van Rijen (Ned) Team Dsb Bank 3.35 18 Deidre Winfield (USA) 3.46 19 Rhonda Mazza (USA) 3.54 20 Christine Vardaros (USA) 4.00 21 Lucie Lefevre (Fra) 4.05 22 Sanne Cant (Bel) 4.41 23 Claudia Seidel (Ger) 4.44 24 Stefanie Pohl (Ger) 5.16 25 Milena Cavani (Ita) 5.34 26 Tara Ross (Can) 5.40 27 Katrien Pauwels (Bel) 6.55 28 Ivonne Kraft (Ger) 7.02 29 Britt Jochems (Ned) 7.05 30 Francesca Cucciniello (Ita) 31 Susanne Juranek (Ger) 7.31 One lap down 32 Stéphanie Denuit (Fra) DNF Suzie Godart (Lux) Fenixs Hpb U23 1 Niels Albert (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop 49.54 2 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank 0.55 3 Rafael Visinelli (Ita) C.C.V. Cyclocross Team Bologna 1.12 4 Romain Villa (Fra) 1.39 5 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) CK Podborany 1.49 6 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) Heinz von Heiden Team Hannover 1.53 7 Ricardo van der Velde (Ned) Rabobank 1.55 8 Lukas Kloucek (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor 2.03 9 Frantisek Kloucek (Cze) Author Team Praha 2.12 10 Finn Heitmann (Ger) Heinz von Heiden Team Hannover 2.20 11 Tom Van Den Bosch (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop 2.30 12 Quentin Bertholet (Bel) A.W.S. Cycling Team Kasterlee 2.31 13 Aurelien Duval (Fra) 14 Mathias Fluckiger (Swi) 15 René Lang (Swi) Delta Elite Team 2.51 16 Maxim Debusschere (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 2.56 17 Romain Lejeune (Fra) 2.58 18 Yves Corminboeuf (Swi) Team Scott-PRO Cycles-SRM-Le Maréchal 3.12 19 Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Van Vliet - EBH Advocaten 3.28 20 Florian Le Corre (Fra) 4.22 21 Rob Peeters (Bel) Kon. Balen B.C. V.Z.W. 5.11 22 Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Tower Sports 23 David Menger (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor 24 Boy van Poppel (Ned) Rabobank 5.51 25 Damien Mougel (Fra) 5.56 26 Karl Schoknecht (Ger) RC Kleinmachnow 6.18 27 Cristian Cominelli (Ita) Gewiss Bianchi 6.23 28 Jonathan Lopez (Fra) V.C. La Pomme Marseille 7.28 One lap down 29 Geoffrey Corniau (Fra) UV Aube 30 Lukas Winterberg (Swi) Campione Celeste 31 Aaron Schooler (Can) E.R.T.C. 32 Kyle Douglas (Can) 3 Rox Racing 33 Shaun Adamson (Can) Team Alberta DNF Davide Malacarne (Ita) G.S. Zalf Desiree Fior DNF Paul Voss (Ger) Team 3Cgruppe Lamonta DNF Robert Gavenda (Svk) Selle Italia Guerciotti Juniors 1 Joeri Adams (Bel) 39.15 2 Jiri Polnicky (Cze) 0.08 3 Lubomir Petrus (Cze) 0.12 4 Kevin Eeckhout (Bel) 0.16 5 Alessandro Calderan (Ita) 0.17 6 Thomas Girard (Fra) 0.43 7 Ole Quast (Ger) 0.45 8 Max Walsleben (Ger) 9 Thomas Boulo (Fra) 0.49 10 Sven Verboven (Bel) 11 Jim Aernouts (Bel) 0.57 12 Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) 1.01 13 Filip Adel (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor (Cze) 1.34 14 Matthias Rupp (Swi) 1.45 15 Josef Rauber (Ger) 1.54 16 Elia Silvestri (Ita) 2.04 17 Florian Danner (Ger) 18 Thomas Lemaitre (Fra) 2.13 19 Marcel Meisen (Ger) 2.23 20 Mickaël Jacquot (Fra) 2.27 21 Matteo Trentin (Ita) 2.45 22 Peter Sagan (Svk) 2.57 23 Thibault Taboury (Fra) 3.12 24 Vincent Baestaens (Bel) 25 Arnaud Grand (Swi) 26 Freddie Guilloux (Fra) 27 Jérémy Grimal (Fra) 3.22 28 Valentin Scherz (Swi) 29 Jérémie Duperron (Fra) 30 Romain Mottier (Fra) 4.20 31 Petr Marvan (Cze) 4.35 32 Peter Frei (Swi) 4.43 33 Marian Simora (Svk) 5.01 34 Kevin Feushe (Ger) 5.31 35 Pierre Kaeslin (Swi) 5.46 36 Tim Debusschere (Bel) 6.09 37 Alain Page (Swi) 7.46 38 Thomas Pinaglia (Ita) DNF Jean Pierre Prudentino (Fra)
