Sylvester Cyclo-Cross - C2

Torhout-Wijnendale, Belgium, December 27, 2006

2005 Results Results Past winners

Vanthourenhout best of the rest

Absence of UCI top-3 delivers a great race

By Brecht Decaluwé

The lack of UCI-points in Torhout meant the top-3 of the UCI cyclo-cross rankings stayed away from 'domain Aertrycke'; so neither Sven Nys (Rabobank), world champion Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) nor Bart Wellens (Fidea) were on the startline. Due to their absence it was difficult to predict today's winner but the remaining riders from the UCI top-10 certainly had the best cards.

Gerben De Knegt (Rabobank), Sven Vanthourenhout (Rabobank) and Klaas Vantornout (Fidea) were the main favourites and they enjoyed ideal cross weather; temperatures just above zero degrees and little showers; the coldness must've hurt the riders a lot as the course through the forest was very fast. Spectators apparently took the day off as well, no big crowds today around the castle of Aertrycke.

The first half of the race nobody really knew what to do as the regular initiative-takers were absent. Eventually local hero Sven Vanthourenhout profited most from the Rabobank presence in the front group; with two laps to go he attacked and was able to solo to his fourth victory of the season (after previous wins in Dudzele, Eernegem and Knokke-Heist).

"An attack at the right moment delivered me the victory, and Gerben De Knegt must've done great work behind me so I could complete my solo," the winner explained. Yesterday Vanthourenhout only managed a tenth place at the world cup event in Hofstade.

"Actually it was my best result ever over there; it's a course where I never could perform to my best," Vanthourenhout said. "So it's great to win again and hopefully I will get even stronger for the national championships next week," the winner concluded.

Third at the finish was Davy Commeyne (Palmans); the Belgian recently extended his contract with Palmans for another year and could celebrate that deal with a podium finish. "I didn't know Vanthourenhout had attacked in front; I only saw that some riders crashed while I was bridging up to De Knegt," Commeyne explained.

The riders who were involved in that crash were Tom Vannoppen (Palmans) and Klaas Vantornout. Vannoppen was able to continue his race and eventually finished seventh, but Vantornout was taken to the hospital. Cyclo-cross.info reported that no fractures were found and Vantornout should be back in competition at Diegem on Sunday. Tom Vannoppen explained to Sporza that the crash wasn't a real surprise, "What do you expect with such a fast course?"

How it unfolded

Radomir Simunek Jr (Palmans) had the best start but Klaas Vantornout (Fidea) took over immediately but was not able to get away. After that some riders like Kamil Ausbuher (Style & Concept) took initiative but halfway through the race there was still a big bunch of twenty riders together.

Vantornout and Tom Vannoppen (Palmans) attacked the group, the Rabobank duo Sven Vanthourenhout and Gerben De Knegt were able to get back on them with some delay. With two laps to go local hero Vanthourenhout attacked the leading group with De Knegt being a loyal teammate. Soon after that attack Vannoppen and Vantornout collided; the first could continue his race and finished seventh but the latter was taken to the hospital.

Meanwhile Davy Commeyne (Palmans) was able to bridge up to Dutch champion De Knegt. The race situation didn't change and Sven Vanthourenhout grabbed his fourth victory of the season; team mate De Knegt easily beat Commeyne for second place and behind them there was a surprisingly good result for Frantisek Kloucek (Budvar Tabor). Zdenek Mlynar (AC Sparta Praha) won the bunch sprint before Kamil Ausbuher and Tom Vannoppen.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews.com

Matteo Trentin wins the U23 race in Torhout
Matteo Trentin concludes his solo and wins in Torhout.
The elite bunch gets away in Torhout with Simunek and Vantornout in front
Dutch champion Gerben De Knegt had a bad start but finished second
Sven Vanthourenhout checks to see if anybody is coming back
Sven Vanthourenhout (Rabobank) wins the Sylvestercross near Torhout
Mlynar easily wins the bunch sprint for fifth place in the Sylvestercross.
Frantisek Cloucek managed a surprising fourth place in the Sylvestercross.
Alessandro Calderan makes it an Italian 1-2 in Torhout

Results

Elite men
 
1 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Rabobank                                            57.17
2 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank                                                 0.04
3 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Palmans Collstrop                                          0.06
4 Frantisek Kloucek (Cze) Cyclo Budvar                                           0.11
5 Zdenek Mlynár (Cze) AC Sparta Praha                                            0.23
6 Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) Cykloklub Podborany
7 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) Palmans Collstrop
8 Maxime Lefebvre (Fra) Josan
9 Wesley Van Der Linden (Bel) Chocolade Jacques Topsport Vlaanderen
10 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) Team Notebooksbilliger.de
11 Davide Malacarne (Ita) GS Zalf
12 Stijn Huys (Bel) Palmans Collstrop
13 David Collins (GBr) Team Scott UK                                             0.33
14 Pedro Baelen (Bel) John Saey Cycling Team                                     0.53
15 Jean-Baptiste Beraud (Fra) AS Corbiel                                         1.06
16 Radomir Simunek (Cze) Palmans Collstrop                                       1.57
17 Rafael Visinelli (Ita) CCV Ciaponi
18 Sebastien Minard (Fra) CC Nogent
19 Thorsten Struch (Ger) RSV Stuttgart
20 Bjorn Rondelez (Bel) Lingier-Versluys                                         2.04
21 Karl Schoknecht (Ger) Team Notebooksbilliger                                  2.26
22 Bjorn Traen (Bel) John Saey Cycling Team                                      2.30
23 Sten Raeymakers (Bel) A.W.S. Cycling Team Kasterlee                           2.35
24 Nico Clarysse (Bel) Cyclo Crossvrienden Knesselare                            2.40
25 Steven De Decker (Bel) WC Soenens-Germond Ingelmunster                        2.46
26 Lionel Calvez (Fra) Quimperons                                                3.03
27 David Menger (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor                                    3.23
28 Torsten Wittig (Ger) BRC Zugvogel Berlin
29 Molly Cameron (USA) Vanilla Bicycles                                          3.30
30 Christophe Le Bouedec (Fra) Quimperons                                        3.33
31 Stuart Bowers (GBr) Team Scott UK                                             4.06
32 Gabriele Giuntoli (Ita) Bedogni                                               4.16
33 Ian Legg (GBr) Red Kite Cycles/Torq Bar
34 Robin Seymour (Irl) Sugarlove
35 Sebastien Le Naour (Fra) Quimperons                                           4.33
36 Valentijn Ponseele (Bel) WC De Molenspurters Meulebeke                        5.01
37 Stefan Freudenberg (Ger) Sv Aufbach                                           5.09
38 Joeri Clauwaert (Bel) WC Soenens-Germond Ingelmunster                         5.23
39 Jan Van Zeebroeck (Ned) Wk Noord West Brabant                                 6.10
40 Mark Cotton (GBr) VC Lincoln
41 Scott Weekley (GBr) VC Lincoln
42 Henrik Quillien (Fra) Quimperons
43 Cyrille Prise (Fra) VC Saulceen
44 Johan Myngheer (Bel) VC De Zilverbergvrienden Rumbeke
45 Pieter-Jan Van De Walle (Bel) WC Soenens-Germond Ingelmunster
46 Erik Myngheer (Bel) VC De Zilverbergvrienden Rumbeke
47 David Gill (Irl) Rathfahrnam
48 David Chemille (Fra) Quimperois
49 Lode Naert (Bel) WC Soenens-Germond Ingelmunster
50 James Goossens (Bel) WC Soenens-Germond Ingelmunster
51 Yannick Laurent (Fra) Quimperons
52 Dries Cauwelier (Bel) (Bel) Prov. Afd. West-Vlaanderen WBV
 
Junior men/Elite women
 
1 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Ind.Form.Moro                                     38.15
2 Alessandro Calderan (Ita) Rinascita Ormelle                             0.21
3 Max Walsleben (Ger) RC Kleinmachnow                                     0.27
4 Simon Geets (Bel) WK Noord West Brabant
5 Frederick Catrysse (Bel) KVC De Verenigde Vr. S.G.Maes Koksijde         0.55
6 Sylvester Sioen (Bel) Jonge Renners Roeselare                           1.47
7 Birgit Hollmann (Ger) BRC Zugvogel Berlin                               2.50
8 Christian Weitermann (Ger) RC Kleinmachnow                              2.59
9 Veerle Ingels (Bel) Vlaanderen Capri-Sonne T-Interim                    3.02
10 Lorenzo Messine (Bel) VC De Lievespurters - Zomergem                   3.10
11 Alessandra Fatato (Ita) Polisportiva Cicli                             3.12
12 Vania Rossi (Ita) Italiana Carburanti                                  3.39
13 Susanne Juranek (Ger) RSC Oldenburg                                    3.42
14 Jeffrey Depuydt (Bel) Jonge Renners Roeselare                          5.09
15 Stephanie Pohl (Ger) RSC Cottbus                                       5.52
16 Daniela Bresciani (Ita) Colnago Filago
17 Andrews Leigh (GBr) Fat Birds Cycling Club
 
Novices
 
1 Zico Waeytens (Bel) C.T.- Dj.Matic-Kortrijk                            28.15
2 Matthias Bossuyt (Bel) Velosport Reigerlo Beernem VZW
3 Simon Declercq (Bel) Avia Wielerteam Waasland - VZW                     0.04
4 Vinnie Braet (Bel) Cyclingteam Oost-West
5 Bart De Bondt (Bel) WK Noord West Brabant                               1.09
6 Tom Devriendt (Bel) Cycling Team Wervik                                 1.15
7 Dylan Desruelle (Bel) KVC De Zeemeeuw Oostende
8 Jelle Dejonghe (Bel) WC De Molenspurters Meulebeke                      1.22
9 Thomas Verbeek (Bel) Kempens Wielerverbond- Turnhout V.Z.W.             1.33
10 Jasper Baert (Bel) KSV Deerlijk Gaverzicht                             2.14
11 Gert-Jan Opsomer (Bel) Velosport Reigerlo Beernem VZW                  2.20
12 Alois Mus (Bel) Velosport Reigerlo Beernem VZW                         3.47
13 Mathias Couckuyt (Bel) Tieltse Rennersclub                             4.15
14 Jens Tylleman (Bel) Wielerclub Oostende Noordzee                       5.18
15 Tim Deceuninck (Bel) Koninklijke Brugse Velosport VZW                  5.24
16 Florient Delmay (Bel) VC Haut Pays                                     6.30
17 Kenny Verplancke (Bel) Ostend Cycling Team VZW

Courtesy of wielerbondvlaanderen.be

Past winners

2005 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) AA drink-Bejan
2004 Mario de Clercq (Bel) MrBookmaker.com - Palmans
2003 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon
2002 Mario De Clercq (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
2001 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites
2000 Bart Wellens (Bel) Spaar Select
1999 Bart Wellens (Bel)
 
Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com