Superprestige #6 - Diegem - C1

Diegem, Belgium, December 28, 2008

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Race 3 - December 28: Under 23

Walsleben in form of his life

By Brecht Decaluwé

Germany's Philipp Walsleben is building on the form that brought him to the overall victory in the World Cup. Two days later the European champion used his excellent form to develop his lead in the Superprestige Series by winning in Diegem. The 21-year-old maneuvered himself past the surprisingly strong French youngster Arnaud Jouffroy and Mitchell Huenders in the last corner.

The extremely fast frozen course in the center of Diegem, near Brussels, didn't allow any mistakes. That's why the selection was made at the back of the race and lap after lap the leader's group dropped some riders, like Daniel Summerhill who finished as first American in Diegem. "Philipp [Walsleben] kicked on one climb and that busted it up for a lot of us," Summerhill said.

Halfway through the race there were still about seven riders left in contention for the victory, with a chasing group trailing at only 10 seconds. American Danny Summerhill featured in the next chasing group.

In the final laps minor gaps were created between the leaders where Huenders and Jouffroy tried to give favorite Walsleben a hard time. When Kenneth Van Compernolle, second in the Superprestige standings, got dropped in the final lap Walsleben had the opportunity to extend his lead.

"I knew I had to be in front on the last corner but I was riding in third position just before that. Somehow I got past the others and came out of the corner in the lead," Walsleben said. "This was a very fast course and so it was hard to create gaps. Apparently I can win a tactical race as well," the German and European champion said, referring to the two tactical wins he grabbed in the last three days. "I don't know where it's going to end but for me it shouldn't end at all," Walsleben smiled.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Cyclingnews

Philipp Walsleben (Palmans Cras) rides on the frozen terrain in Diegem.
Vincent Bastaens (Fidea Cycling Team) rides to an 11th place finish in the U23 Superprestige event in Diegem.
Philipp Walsleben (Palmans Cras) won the U23 race in Diegem and remains undefeated in the Superprestige series.

Images by Niels De Wit/www.nielsdewit.be

Arnaud Jouffroy took a super start at the U23' men race.
Nobody wanted to close the gap.
In the second lap they joined Arnaud Jouffroy. Mitchell Huenders at the front.
Arnaud Jouffroy attacked several times, but would finish in second.
Mitchell Huenders tried it in the last lap, but his attack finished with 200 meters to go.
Daniel Summerhill finished in 14th place.

Results

1 Philipp Walsleben (Ger)         48.54
2 Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra)                
3 Mitchell Huenders (Ned)          0.02
4 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel)    0.10
5 Quentin Bertholet (Bel)              
6 Lukas Kloucek (Cze)              0.30
7 Marcel Meisen (Ger)                  
8 Pawel Szczepaniak (Pol)              
9 Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned)                
10 Marek Konwa (Pol)                   
11 Vincent Baestaens (Bel)         0.47
12 Sascha Weber (Ger)                  
13 Jan Denuwelaere (Bel)               
14 Daniel Summerhill (USA)             
15 Micki van Empel (Ned)               
16 Lubomir Petrus (Cze)            0.58
17 Sylvester Janiszewski (Pol)     1.15
18 Jan Van Dael (Bel)                  
19 Sven Verboven (Bel)                 
20 Jim Aernouts (Bel)                  
21 Bjorn Selander (USA)                
22 Ivar Hartogs (Ned)              1.22
23 Joeri Adams (Bel)                   
24 David Fletche (GBr)             1.25
25 Julien Taramarcaz (Swi)             
26 Dries Dewit (Bel)               1.40
27 Kevin Eeckhout (Bel)                
28 Jasper Ockeloen (Ned)               
29 Bart Bruyndonckx (Bel)              
30 Dave De Cleyn (Bel)             1.50
31 Dany Lacroix (Bel)              1.52
32 Twan van den Brand (Ned)        1.56
33 Kobus Hereijgers (Ned)          2.00
34 Jan Van Zeebroeck (Bel)             
35 Matthias Onghena (Bel)          2.10
36 Simon Geets (Bel)                   
37 Geert van der Horst (Ned)       2.20
38 Kaj Slenter (Ned)               2.22
39 Gianni Denolf (Bel)                 
40 Marco Minnaard (Ned)            2.28
41 Mark Thaites (GBr)                  
42 Jelle Brackman (Bel)                
43 Kristof Cop (Bel)                   
44 Jeremy Ferguson (USA)               
45 Zeb Willems (Bel)               2.32
46 Jonathan McEvoy (GBr)           3.00
47 Max Walsleben (Ger)             3.10
48 Kristof Zegers (Bel)                
49 Wim Thijs (Bel)                     
50 Alexander Forst (Ger)           3.20
51 Jens Gys (Bel)                      
52 Ruben Veestraeten (Bel)         4.00
53 Thomas Vernaeckt (Bel)              
54 William Dragon (USA)                
55 Kacper Szczepaniak (Pol)        4.40
56 Dave Hackworthy (USA)           4.50
57 Bart Barkhuis (Ned)             5.10
58 Valentin Scherz (Swi)           5.26
59 Andrew Llewellyn (USA)              
60 Arnaud Van den Abeele (Bel)         
61 Piotr Antkowiak (Pol)           5.38
62 Edwin Arts (Ned)                    
63 Brian Robinson (Can)                
 
One lap behind
64 Jean-Baptiste Taleux (Fra)          
65 Kenneth Speltinck (Bel)             
66 Laurent Moulin (Bel)                
67 Joachim Janssens (Bel)              
 
Standings Superprestige series
 
1 Philipp Walsleben (Ger)            69 pts
2 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel)      64
3 Mitchell Huenders (Ned)            52
4 Tom Meeusen (Bel)                  48
5 Mark Konwa (Pol)                   41
6 Joeri Adams (Bel)                  40
7 Lukas Kloucek (Cze)                39
8 Quentin Bertholet (Bel)            37
9 Vincent Baestaens (Bel)            30
10 Stef Boden (Bel)                  24
11 Jim Aernouts (Bel)                24
12 Jan Van Dael (Bel)                21
13 Lubomir Petrus (Cze)              19
14 Marcel Meisen (Ger)               17
15 Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra)             17
16 Wim Leemans (Bel)                 16
17 Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned)             16
18 Twan van den Brand (Ned)          15
19 Dave De Cleyn (Bel)               13
20 Rik van IJzendoorn (Ned)          12
21 Geert van der Horst (Ned)         10
22 Kevin Cant (Bel)                   9
23 Robert Gavenda (Svk)               9
24 Jan Denuwelaere (Bel)              9
25 Davy De Scheemaeker (Bel)          8
26 Pawel Czczepaniak (Pol)            8
27 Julian van Dijk (Ned)              7
28 Sascha Weber (Ger)                 7
29 Ruben Veestraeten (Bel)            6
30 Jasper Ockeloen (Ned)              6
31 Kaj Slenter (Ned)                  5
32 Bart Barkhuis (Ned)                4
33 Marco Minnaard (Ned)               3
34 Gianni Denolf (Bel)                3
35 Kevin Eeckhout (Bel)               2
36 Dennis Verhoeven (Ned)             2
37 Ivar Hartogs (Ned)                 2
38 Micki van Empel (Ned)              2
39 Daniel Summerhill (USA)            2
40 Kevin Smit (Ned)                   1
41 Kristof Zegers (Bel)               1