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Bayern Rundfahrt
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 UCI codes explained

Azencross Loenhout (Gazet van Antwerpen Trofee Veldrijden #5) - C1

Loenhout, Belgium, December 30, 2008

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Race 4 - December 30: Elite Men

Stybar stars on ice

By Brecht Decaluwé in Loenhout, Belgium

Zdenek Stybar (Fidea)
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(Click for larger image)

Two days after winning the evening 'cross race in Diegem, 23-year-old Zdenek Stybar has won the 'Spadescross' in Loenhout. The frozen course in Loenhout didn't bother the Czech and he got away with Sven Nys on the penultimate lap. Stybar led the last lap, led out the sprint and managed to hold on to that position until the finish line. One week before the national championships and one month prior to the world championships Stybar seems to be back in form at the right time.

"Halfway through the race I tested my legs to see who could follow. I didn't continue the attack because it was too early, but that was the moment where I knew I was good," Stybar said to Cyclingnews. "In the last lap there were no more tactics. It was full out. I didn't want the others to come up so I kept pulling. I led the whole lap and started the sprint. It was special to beat Nys but also the fact that he couldn't take over when I asked him gave me a lot of morale," Stybar added.

Belgian champion Nys was beaten in the sprint by Stybar. The leader in the Gazet van Antwerpen Trophy didn't search for excuses, though. "It wasn't possible to do much against Stybar today. The whole race long he showed initiative and in the last lap I wasn't even comfortable on his wheel," Nys said. "I gambled on my sprint and managed to come beside him, but not further than that."

Thanks to his victory Stybar moved up to third place in the classification of the GvA-trophy. Leader Nys did a good job in the classification since second placed Bart Wellens only managed a fourth place in Loenhout, thus losing five more points to Nys; the latter now leads Wellens by 25 points. "This was a dangerous race with risks to my overall classification so I rode attentively," Nys said.

Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet)
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Just behind Stybar and Nys there was another duo battling hard to get back to the leaders but they fell two seconds short at the finish line. Stybar's compatriot Radomir Simunek held off Bart Wellens for the remaining podium spot, showing that there's not only competition coming from The Netherlands for the Belgians.

"Stybar is clearly in good shape. This is good for Czech cyclo-cross," Simunek said before thanking his sponsor. It was the last race that the blue kits of the Palmans team would be spotted in cyclo-cross. "With this result I'm thanking Charles Palmans for the four nice years he offered me in his team. Hopefully the next era at the new BKCP - Power Plus team will be just as good," Simunek said.

All race long the speed had been very high, making it impossible for riders to get away in front. As a result the gaps were created at the back of the group. About 20 riders were still in touch with the front halfway the race, among them all the favorites but also American stars Ryan Trebon and Jeremy Powers. With two laps to go a surprisingly strong Eddy Van Ijzendoorn played all or nothing with a blistering attack. The 23-year-old Dutchman was brought back by Stybar and Nys, a duo who were able to up the tempo even more and battle for the victory.

Lars Boom (Rabobank) on the attack
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The start of the race had been marred by a crash that included the national champion from Luxembourg, Jempy Drucker, who had to be brought to a hospital with a broken collarbone. Three laps later World Champion Lars Boom had a nasty crash when entering the street towards the finish line. One lap earlier the Dutchman had grabbed the three bonus points at the intermediate sprint but this time his chain jammed, causing him to lose control and slip out of his pedals before crashing to the ground.

Boom didn't sustain any serious injuries though continuing the race wasn't possible. "I've got a deep wound in my elbow and that ought to be stitched. I've also got some scrapes on my knee. I don't think anything is broken but I'll have some photos taken to make sure about that," Boom said to Sporza.

Photography

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Images by Cyclingnews.com

Results

Elite Men (76 riders)
 
1 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                        1.01.07
2 Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner                          
3 Radomír Šimunek (Cze) Palmans - Cras                             0.02
4 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                                
5 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                         0.12
6 Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink - BeOne                                  0.17
7 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                               
8 Niels Albert (Bel) Palmans - Cras                                    
9 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank                                         
10 Eddy van Ijzendoorn (Ned) AA Drink - BeOne                      0.18
11 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) Palmans - Cras                          
12 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank                                  0.19
13 Jeremy Powers (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com                  
14 Christian Heule (Swi) Rendementhypo Cycling Team                    
15 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb Projob Cycling Team            0.23
16 Wesley Van der Linden (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                      0.48
17 Wilant van Gils (Ned) Pro Cycling Team ZZPR.nl-Destil-Merida    0.52
18 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Liquigas                                   1.27
19 René Birkenfeld (Ger) Stevens Racing Team                           
20 Jan Verstraeten (Bel) Sunweb Projob Cycling Team                    
21 Mariusz Gil (Pol)                                               1.29
22 Roger Hammond (GBr) Team Columbia                               1.58
23 Jody Crawforth (GBr) Arctic Premier                             2.01
24 Ben Berden (Bel) Revor Cycling Team                             2.07
25 Roy Van Heeswijk (Ned)                                              
26 Tom Van den Bosch (Bel) Rendementhypo Cycling Team              2.08
27 Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) Exe Jeans                                  2.09
28 Rob Peeters (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner                    
29 Stijn Huys (Bel) Palmans Cras                                   2.10
30 Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) Easypay Cyclocross Team                    2.12
31 Keiichi Tsujiura (Jpn)                                          2.16
32 Roman Barenyi (Svk)                                             2.20
33 Paul Voss (Ger)                                                 2.25
34 Johannes Sickmueller (Ger)                                      2.54
35 Bart Verschueren (Bel) Revor Cycling Team                       2.55
36 Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles                                2.57
37 Christian Poulsen (Swi)                                         2.58
38 Gusty Bausch (Lux) VC Diekirch                                  2.59
39 Brian Matter (USA)                                              3.03
40 Santiago Armero Sanchez (Spa)                                   3.39
41 Unai Yus Kerejeta (Spa)                                             
42 Martin Haring (Svk) Ck Žp Šport Podbrezová                          
43 Troy Wells (USA) Clif Bar                                       3.40
44 Sven Renders (Bel)                                              3.43
45 Florian Le Corre (Fra) Super Sport 35 ACNC                      3.44
46 Marco Bianco (Ita) L´Arcobaleno Carraro Team                    4.08
47 Derrick St John (Can)                                           4.27
48 Tim Heemskerk (Ned)                                                 
49 Cyrille Prise (Fra)                                             4.28
50 Jerry Kallenfels (Ned) Easypay Cyclocross Team                  4.29
51 Christophe Le Bouedec (Fra)                                     4.45
52 Matt Shriver (USA)                                                  

One lap behind
53 David Toullec (Fra)                                                 
54 Aaron Schooler (Can)                                                
55 Michael Bleuzen (Fra)                                               

Two laps behind
56 Andre Sutton (Can) Hardcore Cycling Club                            
57 Sébastien Le Naour (Fra)                                            
 
Intermediate sprint
 
1 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                              3 pts
2 Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink - BeOne                                     2
3 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank                                      1
 
Gazet van Antwerpen Trofee standings after six races
 
1 Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner                       167 pts
2 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                             142
3 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                            129
4 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank                                         
5 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                            123 pts
6 Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink - BeOne                                   114
7 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank                                          100
8 Rob Peeters (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner                   99
9 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank                                     98
10 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) Palmans - Cras                        91
11 Niels Albert (Bel) Palmans - Cras                                 87
12 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) AA Drink - Be One                       83
13 Radomír Šimunek (Cze) Palmans - Cras                              75
14 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb Projob Cycling Team              66
15 Wilant van Gils (Ned) Pro Cycling Team ZZPR.nl-Destil-Merida      61
16 Petr Dlask (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                               60
17 Tom Van den Bosch (Bel) Rendementhypo Cycling Team                  
18 Ben Berden (Bel) Revor Cycling Team                               59 pts
19 Jan Verstraeten (Bel) Sunweb Projob Cycling Team                  55
20 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                          53
21 Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Van Vliet EBH Elshof                    39
22 Jan Soetens (Bel) Revor Cycling Team                                
23 David Willemsens (Bel) Revor Cycling Team                           
24 Christian Heule (Swi) Rendementhypo Cycling Team                  35 pts
25 Mariusz Gil (Pol)                                                 34
26 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Liquigas                                     33
27 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Revor Cycling Team                              
28 Marco Bianco (Ita) L´Arcobaleno Carraro Team                      30 pts
29 Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb Projob Cycling Team                 27
30 Wesley Van der Linden (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                        26
31 Nico Berckmans (Bel) DCM-GB Vorselaar Cycling Team                24
32 Eddy van Ijzendoorn (Ned) AA Drink - BeOne                        21
33 Jeremy Powers (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com                18
34 Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) Easypay Cyclocross Team                      17
35 Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike                                   14
36 Marek Cichosz (Pol)                                                 
37 René Birkenfeld (Ger) Stevens Racing Team                         12 pts
38 Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Het Snelle Wiel                           
39 Roy Van Heeswijk (Ned)                                            11 pts
40 Roger Hammond (GBr) Team Columbia                                  9
41 Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles                                    
42 Jody Crawforth (GBr) Arctic Premier                                8 pts
43 Oscar Vazquez (Spa)                                                 
44 Jimmy Tielens (Bel) Team Mega Saeco - Heist o/d berg               7 pts
45 Martin Zlámalík (Cze) Prodoli Racing Team                           
46 Steven De Schoesitter (Bel) Rudyco Cycling Team                     
47 Andre Sutton (Can) Hardcore Cycling Club                            
48 Tim Heemskerk (Ned)                                                6 pts
49 Gusty Bausch (Lux) VC Diekirch                                      
50 Stijn Huys (Bel) Palmans Cras                                      5 pts
51 Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                         
52 Magnus Darvell (Swe) Rietumu Bank-Riga                              
53 Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) Exe Jeans                                     4 pts
54 Carlos Hernandez (Spa)                                              
55 Freddy De Meester (Bel) Rijschool AH - Gentse VS                   3 pts
56 Jerry Kallenfels (Ned) Easypay Cyclocross Team                     2
57 Ken Smets (Bel)                                                    1
 
Intermediate sprint classification
 

1 Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner                         8 pts
2 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank                                            7 
3 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                              6
4 Niels Albert (Bel) Palmans - Cras                                   3
5 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                              2
6 Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink - BeOne                                     
7 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                               1
8 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank