Home Cyclingnews TV   News  Tech   Features   Road   MTB   BMX   Cyclo-cross   Track    Photos    Fitness    Letters   Search   Forum  

Recently on Cyclingnews.com


Giro finale
Photo ©: Bettini

 UCI codes explained

GP Rouwmoer - C2

Essen, Belgium, December 15, 2007

2006 Results     Results    Past winners

Nys plays with his competition in Essen

Sven Nys (Rabobank) tops the day
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

Sven Nys won the fourth round of the Gazet van Antwerpen trophy held in Essen over the weekend in dramatic style which emphasised his class when it comes to 'cross. The win was his 26th in the series and 14th of the season.

Vervecken showed early in the race that he is once again regaining the kind of form that has won him three world titles as he blasted away from the start to take the early lead. But by the end of the first lap the World champion was relegated to chasing as Nys hit the gas pedal chasing the points on offer at the end of the second lap.

Weather conditions and tyre choice played a major factor in the race as the frozen ground made the conditions tough going. Nys who opted for tyres with bigger tread seemed to have no problems with the conditions and easily rode away from the competition. After passing the finish line on the second lap taking the three points on offer in the process, Nys sat up and let his chasers, Zdenek Stybar (Fidea), Richard Groenendaal (AA Drink) and Klaas Vantornout (Fidea) latch back onto his wheel. A little later in the lap, Wellens had also joined the front of the race.

Nys, however, was merely playing with his rivals. After another attack later in the race, only Stybar was able to stay with the Belgian, but one acceleration was all he needed to get rid of the Czech. Nys soloed to the win as team-mate Lars Boom out sprinted Stybar for the second step on the podium.

Shortly after the race Nys reflected on his perfect race "I had to attack early in the race to go for the three points at the preme sprint and the win sorted out the extra points. I did both, I won the preme sprint and the overall win," he said.

"I am now eleven points ahead. That is not much. One bad day and it could all end up in the water. The final classification will be sorted out after the 'cross in Oostmalle, and that race is still far away. I rode a tactical correct race today, I made the right tyre," he concluded.

Stybar, who calls Essen his home, made a somewhat questionable move in out-sprinting his team-mate Bart Wellens, who sits second to Nys in the GvA series, depriving Wellens of two points toward the overall classification. Stybar, in his excitement to get on the podium in front of his adopted home town, hoped his team-mate understood.

"I didn't speak with Bart at all in the finale of the race. I hope that he is not angry with me that I took a few extra points from him, but I wanted to be on the podium here in my home town. This has to be the beginning of my return to form that I had in the beginning of the season. The past few weeks I have been struggling, but after a good week of training my condition is improving. The plan is to be on top form again for the championships. Following Nys was a little above me. Above all I am no longer riding with Rhino's, losing time in each corner."

Wellens was obviously disappointed with his fourth place. Before the race Wellens had a one point lead over Nys, now he has an eleven point deficient to make up on Nys.

 

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by AFP Photo

Results

Elite and Under 23
 
1 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank                                         1.03.17
2 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank                                           0.16
3 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                                 
4 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                                  
5 Niels Albert (Bel) Palmans-Cras                                    0.17
6 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) AA Sport Drinks                          0.21
7 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                           1.00
8 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) Easypay Cyclocross Team                    
9 Wilant Van Gils (Ned) ZZPR.nl                                      1.31
10 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank                                      1.55
11 Thijs Al (Ned) BeOne CRC Team                                     2.03
12 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                          2.28
13 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                            2.37
14 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank                                    2.42
15 Rob Peeters (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner                  2.47
16 Jempy Drucker (Lux) Fidea Cycling Team                                
17 Tom Meeusen (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                              3.13
18 Ben Berden (Bel) Revor Cycling Team                               3.25
19 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                                3.32
20 Marius Gil (Pol)                                                  3.55
21 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) Heinz von Heiden Focus                        
22 Jim Aernouts (Bel) Edegem BC                                      4.08
23 Arne Daelmans (Bel) Klaipeda - Splendid Cycling Team              4.12
24 Tom Van Den Bosch (Bel) Palmans-Cras                              5.10
25 Maxim Debusschere (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                                
26 Stijn Huys (Bel) Palmans-Cras                                     5.23
27 Bjorn De Decker (Bel) Scott USA Cycling Team                      5.32
28 Joeri Adams (Bel) Avia Team Waasland                              6.09
29 Geert Van Crombruggen (Bel) Royal Cureghem Sportif - Brussel      6.12
30 Mitchell Huenders (Ned) Team Löwik Meubelen                       6.21
31 Quentin Bertholet (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                        6.36
32 Wim Leemans (Bel) AWS Cycling Team Kasterlee                          
 
One lap down
 
33 Rafael Visinelli (Ita) GS Forestale                                   
34 Dries Pauwels (Bel)                                                   
35 Dries Dewit (Bel) Scott USA Cycling Team                              
 
Juniors
 
1 Jasper Ockeloen (Ned)                                             43.18
2 Wietse Bosmans (Bel)                                               0.08
3 Max Walsleben (Ger)                                                1.13
4 Corné van Kessel (Ned)                                                 
5 Sven Beelen (Bel)                                                  1.40
6 Moreno Hofland (Ned)                                                   
7 Bert Vermeiren (Bel)                                                   
8 Michaël Peeters (Bel)                                              2.20
9 Maxim Danckers (Bel)                                                   
10 Niels Koyen (Bel)                                                 3.19
11 Jens Joosen (Bel)                                                 3.30
12 Steven Galens (Bel)                                               3.40
13 Christian Weitermann (Ger)                                        4.07
14 Raf Risbourg (Bel)                                                4.46
15 Jurrin Bosters (Ned)                                              5.59
16 Maikel Elsten (Ned)                                               6.55
 
One lap down
 
17 Dimitri Michielsen (Bel)                                              
18 Ingmar Uytdewilligen (Bel)                                            
19 Berten De Meyer (Bel)                                                 
20 Pieter Molenberghs (Bel)                                              
 
Beginners
 
1 David van der Poel (Ned)                                          30.40
2 Mike Teunissen (Ned)                                               0.25
3 Jelle Cant (Bel)                                                   0.38
4 Jeroen Meijers (Ned)                                               0.55
5 Jens Adams (Bel)                                                       
6 Jeroen Eyskens (Bel)                                               1.49
7 Christophe Ysenbaardt (Bel)                                        2.10
8 Tijs Van Aert (Bel)                                                2.16
9 Maarten van Tryp (Ned)                                             2.20
10 Michiel Van Looveren (Bel)                                        3.30
11 Jens Saey (Bel)                                                   3.38
12 Leander Bertels (Bel)                                             3.50
13 Wannes Cauwenbergh (Bel)                                              
14 Jordy de Rijck (Ned)                                                  
15 Rob Leemans (Bel)                                                 5.29
16 Fausto Hofland (Ned)                                                  
17 Bart van Dongen (Ned)                                                 
18 Mike Mutsaerts (Bel)                                                  
19 Matthias Van Walle (Bel)                                          5.50
20 Joeri Vermeiren (Bel)                                             7.20
 
One lap down
 
21 Dylan Galens (Bel)                                                    
22 Klaas Vermetten (Bel)                                                 
 
Tussenspurten
 
Elite
 
1 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank                                               3 pts
2 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) AA Sport Drinks                             2
3 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                                1
 
Tussenspurten classification
 
Elite
 
1 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank                                               6 pts
2 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank                                              6
3 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                                 5
4 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) AA Sport Drinks                             3
5 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                              3
6 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                                1
 
Under 23
 
1 Tom Meeusen (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                                  6 pts
2 Quentin Bertholet (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                            2
3 Kevin Cant (Bel) AWS Cycling Team Kasterlee                           2
4 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) Heinz von Heiden Focus                        1
5 Lukás Kloucek (Cze) Selle Italia Guerciotti                           1
 
 
General classification Gazet van Antwerpen Trofee Veldrijden (after four events)
 
Elite
 
1 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank                                             143 pts
2 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                               132
3 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank                                            114
4 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                              105
5 Niels Albert (Bel) Palmans-Cras                                     104
6 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) AA Sport Drinks                            98
7 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                             96
8 Wilant Van Gils (Ned) ZZPR.nl                                        80
9 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank                                         78
10 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                            77
11 Thijs Al (Ned) BeOne CRC Team                                       75
12 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                              73
13 Petr Dlask (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                                 70
14 Rob Peeters (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner                    70
15 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank                                      67
16 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) Easypay Cyclocross Team                 61
17 Ben Berden (Bel) Revor Cycling Team                                 47
18 Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                           46
19 Jan Verstraeten (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                                40
20 Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) Easypay Cyclocross Team                        32
21 Tom Van Den Bosch (Bel) Palmans-Cras                                27
22 Jan Soetens (Bel)                                                   19
23 Arne Daelmans (Bel) Klaipeda - Splendid Cycling Team                18
24 Wesley Van Der Linden (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                          17
25 Marius Gil (Pol)                                                    17
26 Wim Jacobs (Bel) Van der Vorst CT                                   16
27 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                                  16
28 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Palmans-Cras                                    14
29 Marek Cichosz (Bel)                                                 11
30 Roy Van Heeswijk (Ned)                                              11
31 Jimmy Tielens (Bel) 2 Mega Saeco - Heist o/d berg                    9
32 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita)                                          7
33 Rafael Visinelli (Ita) GS Forestale                                  6
34 Isaac Suarez (Bel)                                                   4
35 Nico Berckmans (Bel) DCM-GB Vorselaar Cycling Team vzw               4
36 Kay Van Den Brande (Bel) Palmans-Cras                                2
37 Jonathan Baker                                                       2
38 Geert Van Crombruggen (Bel) Royal Cureghem Sportif - Brussel         2
39 Gusty Bausch (Lux)                                                   1
 
Under 23
 
1 Tom Meeusen (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                                 76 pts
2 Jempy Drucker (Lux) Fidea Cycling Team                               55
3 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) Heinz von Heiden Focus                       48
4 Quentin Bertholet (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                           47
5 Kevin Cant (Bel) AWS Cycling Team Kasterlee                          35
6 Maxim Debusschere (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                               33
7 Wim Leemans (Bel) AWS Cycling Team Kasterlee                         30
8 Dries Govaerts (Bel) Scott USA Cycling Team                          26
9 Jim Aernouts (Bel) Edegem BC                                         26
10 Gianni Denolf (Bel) Palmans-Cras                                    20
11 Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) CT Van Vliet EBH Advocaten                19
12 Sven Verboven (Bel) Wielerclub Galmaarden Sportief                  14
13 Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                          14
14 Mitchell Huenders (Ned) Team Löwik Meubelen                         14
15 Lukás Kloucek (Cze) Selle Italia Guerciotti                         12
16 Kenny Geluykens (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                                11
17 Jan Van Dael (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                                   11
18 Stijn Huys (Bel) Palmans-Cras                                       11
19 Rob Van Der Velde (Ned) Willebrord Wil Vooruit                      10
20 Dave De Cleyn (Bel) Scott USA Cycling Team                           9
21 Dries Dewit (Bel) Scott USA Cycling Team                             8
22 Bart Verschueren (Bel)                                               6
23 Robert Gavenda (Svk) Selle Italia Guerciotti                         5
24 Hugo Ruiz Marinez                                                    4
25 Bjorn De Decker (Bel) Scott USA Cycling Team                         4
26 Hans Becking (Ned)                                                   3
27 Bart Hermans (Bel) Balen BC                                          3
28 Joeri Adams (Bel)                                                    3
29 Thomas Vernaeckt (Bel) Asfra Racing Team                             2
30 Rob Vangenechten                                                     2
31 Ivar Hartogs (Ned) Jan Van Arckel                                    1
31 Marcel Meisen (Ger)                                                  1

Past winners

2006 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank