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2007 Cyclo-cross World Championships - CM
Hooglede-Gits, Belgium, January 27-28, 2007
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Race 4 - January 28: Elite men
Vervecken takes third world title in fascinating race
Page surprises cylco-cross world with second place
By Brecht Decaluwé in Hooglede-Gits
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About 30,000 spectators witnessed a tumultuous world championship at the "Domenico Savio" park in Hooglede-Gits. Defending world champion Erwin Vervecken extended his world title this afternoon. After taking third in 1994, he managed five more podium results since then and now is on top of the world again.
"It was a very, very special race as so many things happened; to me, it was just like a movie or a dream," Vervecken said.
With this win, the 34-year-old Belgian makes up for a troubled season where he grabbed only one major victory at the World Cup in Hofstade. He has again proved himself a great championship rider. "I don't like that term, but I can understand it; I don't win a lot, but I can't help it that the favourites often fail at the championships," Vervecken said.
"This is the most hard-won title of the three, winning it at home adds to that of course. It was a very special atmosphere today; during the ultimate hundred metres I couldn't hear anything like being in a disco! I didn't have a clue where Page was," Vervecken described the hectic final and his rival there. "He had a troubled season but he's fresh. I did 40 races and that makes a big difference."
Big favourites Sven Nys (Bel) and Bart Wellens (Bel) were set back by pure bad luck. While riding in the lead, the duo were brought down by a plastic block that was touched and knocked over by the TV quad. Both continued the race, but while Wellens fought back to reach fourth, Nys' bad luck continued; he finished eleventh.
With many favourites out of contention for the world title, the outsiders stepped up. At first, it was former world champion Richard Groenendaal (Ned) who took the initiative, but he crashed out as well. Italian champion Franzoi then stormed forward together with former US national champion Jonathan Page (USA). While Franzoi couldn't keep the pace of the American, Vervecken pushed ahead.
In a tense final lap, it was Vervecken who entered the final straight with a little gap. Page took the silver medal and headed for the arms of wife Cori and young daughter Emma. The 30-year-old American, who lives in Belgium near Oudenaarde, was delighted although he started off cynical when describing his performance.
"I thought I was okay today," Page smiled. "This is the start of my future today, so I'll be around for a few more years." The US rider battled for victory, but came a little short in the end. "I hoped to win gold, but it all came down to the last little hill where he had a good run and I didn't."
With this result Page completes his remarkable comeback from a serious shoulder injury which has been described to Cyclingnews in a recent interview. "I don't know if it [the recovery and free time] helped me to be good today but it definitely helped me to be motivated," Page said.
Already during the race Page's mechanic was commenting on his current performance. "Jonathan deserves a team for next season, after all the work he's done he showed he's good enough," Frankie Van Haesebroucke said. By bringing home the first ever US medal in the elite men's race, Page shouldn't have much trouble finding a team now.
"The US-team grabbed three medals over here so that's great, hopefully it continues," Page said, referring to the other silver medals from junior Danny Summerhill and Katie Compton. US-champion Ryan Trebon was disappointed with his 21st place as he hoped for at least a top15 result. "It's great what Jonathan did, he did well enough for both of us," Trebon said to Cyclingnews.
Another surprise on the podium was Italian champion Enrico Franzoi. "It was a tough year for me with little time to recover as I did the Vuelta a Espana. The federation supported me a lot to focus on these worlds. I had to start far behind and that makes this third place even more special," Franzoi said.
UCI-leader Sven Nys once again couldn't convert his dominance during the season into a world title. "I fell three times, and only the last time it was my own fault. From then on, I gave up for the win. Still you continue the race but you wonder why it happens again with us [Nys and Wellens]. I'm happy that I already did a great season. We were putting everybody under pressure, even Vervecken who was a few metres down and then it happens. I realize that tomorrow it's Monday, and next weekend we start in another race," said Nys.
His arch rival Wellens found it more difficult to deal with the loss. "Even though I had the best legs of the season I couldn't do much more than what I did. The jersey went to the wrong person, he shouldn't have won it even though he's a teammate. He deserves to be on the podium but the other guys don't," Wellens said. He described the crash as inevitable and said how he felt afterwards. "The quad touched that block, and I couldn't get away anymore. Afterwards I had a lot of pain in my neck and couldn't throw my bike," Wellens explained.
During the race, a fence fell on the course under the weight of the huge crowd almost crashing on Wellens, which when added to the crash of Wellens and Nys with the plastic block, things weren't running that smooth today. The organizers had placed a double fence and stewards around the course but their efforts proved to be in vain.
Cyclingnews asked Mélanie Leveau from the UCI about the problems with the fencing. "There were too many people around the course," she said. With this knowledge the organizers from next year’s worlds in Treviso know what they will have work on, as they expect 80,000 people in bella Italia!
How it unfolded
One of the crowds' heroes Bart Wellens (Bel) managed the best start, followed by Gerben De Knegt and defending world champion Erwin Vervecken. Favourite Sven Nys started off in tenth position. Camiel Van Den Bergh used all his energy to get some advantage but then disappeared from the front as Gerben De Knegt moved forward.
Things really started in the second lap when Nys, Vervecken, and Wellens gained some ground. Then the crashes started. De Knegt started with a slip, but then there was a major crash at the front near the finish line. Reportedly, a motorbike knocked a ballustrade into the course in front of Wellens, who crashed. Nys hit Wellen's downed bike and crashed, too.
Nys recovered quickly and joined Vervecken, Jonathan Page (USA), Radomir Simunek, Jr. (Cze), Richard Groenendaal (Ned) and Christian Heule (Stevens) in the lead. The pace dropped a bit as nobody seemed to know what was happening today. Another Belgian Davy Commeyne (Bel) crashed hard by hitting a post; he had to abandon the race.
Groenendaal didn't wonder about the bizarre development and attacked the front group, quickly gathering a few seconds on Nys, Vervecken, Page, and Simunek. The defending world champion slipped coming out of a corner, and again Nys went down after someone else's mistake. A few moments later, the UCI-leader crashed hard on a hidden root and went over the handlebars. Groenendaal extended his lead after these crashes.
Groenendaal had seven seconds on Page and Enrico Franzoi (Ita) who came back from nowhere.
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Groenendaal was joined in the lead during the fourth lap by Franzoi, Page, and Simunek. The world champion from 2000 got away again but after a crash by Groenendaal in the fifth lap, he was caught by Page and Franzoi. A few moments later, he dropped off the pace after switching bikes in the pit. Defending champion Vervecken was 15 seconds down on the lead by then.
While Wellens kept moving forward through the bunch Nys was lost.
With three laps to go Vervecken, Page, and Franzoi were together in the lead, but when Franzoi got stuck in the sand, the lead group was down to two riders: Vervecken and Page.
With two laps to go, the two leaders had a gap of five seconds on Franzoi, Groenendaal, and Kevin Pauwels (Bel). De Knegt and Wellens were 19 seconds down.
Page and Vervecken hit the ultimate lap with five seconds on Franzoi and seventeen on Wellens. Vervecken slipped a bit early on this lap, but he bridged up to the American again. Page attacked on the climb using a little gear, surprising Vervecken but he didn't get away.
Finally, it was Vervecken who attacked the former US national champion on the last climb. Page lost a few metres and was unable to bridge back up to the two-time world champion. Vervecken had three seconds coming into the final straight, and even though Page did all he could to close the gap, Vervecken grabbed his third world title.
Page claimed the first-ever medal in the elite men's race for the US, and Italian champion Franzoi was extremely happy with the bronze medal. Favourite Wellens finished fourth while a disappointed Nys finished eleventh two minutes back from winner Vervecken.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP
- Belgian Erwin Vervecken celebrates on the finish line after winning
- Italian Enrico Franzoi celebrates on the finish line after winning third place
- US rider Jonathan Page celebrates on the podium after after winning second place
- Men's elite podium (L to R): Second placed US Jonathan Page, winner new world champion Belgian Erwin Vervecken and third placed Italian Enrico Franzoi
Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com
- Gerben De Knegt (Ned) leads the Belgians into the sand on the first lap
- Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) lets the sand fly
- Erwin Vervecken (Bel) in the sand
- Jonathan Page (USA) & Simon Zahner try to occupy the same space leaving the sand pit
- Tshabalala Nqobizitha Of Zimbabwe was a crowd favorite and got lots of encouragement in the sand pit
- Klass Vantornout (Bel)
- Richard Groenendall (Ned) With Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Not Far Behind
- Erwin Vervecken (Bel)
- Enrico Franzoi (Ita)
- Ryan Trebon (USA)
- Podium Boys
Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews.com
- Barry Wicks warming up.
- Petr Dlask warming up.
- Sven Nys warming up.
- Ryan Trebon warming up.
- Sven Vanthourenhout warming up.
- Bart Wellens looks relaxed.
- Bart Wellens smiling before the start.
- Nys and Vanthourenhout warming up.
- Nys gets some advice from former world champion Paul Herijgers.
- Jonathan Page reflecting on what has happened today...
Images by Russ and Nancy Wright/www.abbiorca.com
- Cross Crusade of Oregon visits Belgium.
- A Sven Nys fan.
- Rad Racing made the trip from Washington to Hooglede-Gits for the Worlds.
- Bart Wellens' fans.
- First time down the drop-off for the elite men.
- Huge crowds watching the men's field.
- Coming and going for the elite men.
- A string of riders.
- Tristan Scholten (USA).
- Bart Wellens (Belgium).
- Erwin Vervecken (Belgium) winner of the elite men's championship, again!.
- Jonathan Page churning up the sand.
- Jonathan Page would bring home the third silver medal for the USA this weekend.
- Eric Tonkin (USA).
- Barry Wicks (USA).
- Erwin Vervecken (Beligum) flies through the sand pit.
- Vervecken rides past an unlucky Enrico Franzoi (Italy).
- Richard Groenendaal (Netherlands).
- Jonathan Page leads Erwin Vervecken past the pits.
- Keiichi Tsujiura, multi-time national champion of Japan.
- Enrico Franzoi (Italy), heading for third after a 20th place start.
- Jonathan Page leads Erwin Vervecken up the hill past a huge crowd.
- Vervecken double-stepping the stairs.
- Massive Belgian crowds - the way a cross race should be.
- Big boys having fun with champagne (l-r): Jonathan Page, Erwin Vervecken and Enrico Franzoi.
- World champion Erwin Vervecken pours a very happy Jonathan Page a drink.
- The crowds and the media.
Images by Ben Atkins/Cyclingnews
- In Flanders Fields...
- Zimbabwean riders Mohamed Conway and Tshabalala Nqobizitha
- Johan Museeuw - still very popular, signs some autographs
- Recent Events have not left Museeuw a ver happy man.
- The view from the hill as the medals are presented
- A disappointed Richard Groenendaal explains to his team how a crash cost him victory
- Sven Nys explains his disappointment to Belgian TV after crashing three times effectively ended his race
- This was not an entirely unpopular victory!
Images by John Pierce/PhotoSport International
- Erwin Vervecken (Belgium) wins.
- Erwin Vervecken (Belgium) celebrates his win.
- Erwin Vervecken (Belgium) on the run
- Enrico Franzoi (Italy)
- Crowds on the climb during the elite men's race
- Bart Wellens (Belgium)
- Sven Nys (Belgium)
- Sven Nys (Belgium)
- Ryan Trebon (USA)
- Ron Jebb (Great Britian)
- Richard Groenendaal (Netherlands)
- Richard Groenendaal (Netherlands)
- Richard Groenendaal (Netherlands) passes through the crowds.
- Philip Dixon (Great Britain)
- Sven Nys (Belgium)
- Elite men's podium
- Elite men's peloton featured lots of Belgian jerseys.
- Elite men's peloton
- Kevin Pauwels (Belgium)
- Jonathan Page (USA)
- Jonathan Page (USA) carries his bike.
- Enrico Franzoi (Italy)
- Crowds lined the course throughout the men's race.
Images by Mark Legg
- Barry Wicks warmsup on the trainer next to his twin tower mate Ryan Trebon
- USA staff are happy with the results at this years Worlds
- USA team mechanic Stu Thorne tops off Eric Tonkin’s Dugast Rhino
- The crowd awaits the start of the mens race
Results
1 Erwin Vervecken (Belgium) 1.05.35 2 Jonathan Page (USA) 0.03 3 Enrico Franzoi (Italy) 0.16 4 Bart Wellens (Belgium) 0.25 5 Kevin Pauwels (Belgium) 0.32 6 Richard Groenendaal (Netherlands) 0.35 7 Gerben de Knegt (Netherlands) 1.12 8 John Gadret (France) 1.26 9 Christian Heule (Switzerland) 1.35 10 Thijs Al (Netherlands) 1.40 11 Sven Nys (Belgium) 2.04 12 Sven Vanthourenhout (Belgium) 2.22 13 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Italy) 2.46 14 Maarten Nijland (Netherlands) 2.57 15 Klaas Vantornout (Belgium) 2.57 16 David Derepas (France) 3.02 17 José Antonio Hermida (Spain) 3.04 18 Lukas Flückiger (Switzerland) 3.25 19 Arnaud Labbe (France) 3.27 20 Marek Cichosz (Poland) 3.31 21 Simon Zahner (Switzerland) 3.43 22 Maros Kovác (Slovakia) 3.54 23 Ryan Trebon (USA) 3.59 24 Petr Dlask (Czech Republic) 4.05 25 Bart Aernouts (Belgium) 4.22 26 Alessandro Fontana (Italy) 4.34 27 Robert Glajza (Slovakia) 4.46 28 Rene Birkenfeld (Germany) 4.56 29 Steve Chainel (France) 5.42 30 Milan Barenyi (Slovakia) 5.49 31 Davide Frattini (Italy) 6.01 32 Joachim Parbo (Denmark) 6.16 33 Unai Yus (Spain) 6.33 34 Philip Dixon (Great Britain) 6.39 35 Keiiti Tsujiura (Japan) 6.47 36 Marco Bianco (Italy) 6.51 37 Rob Jebb (Great Britain) 7.17 38 Gusty Bausch (Luxembourg) 7.29 39 Kashy Leuchs (New Zealand) 7.34 40 Wilant van Gils (Netherlands) 7.41 41 Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spain) 7.58 42 Frederick Ericsson (Sweden) 8.16 43 Erik Tonkin (USA) 8.25 44 Vaclaf Metlicka (Slovakia) 8.36 45 Mariusz Gil (Poland) 9.06 One lap down 46 Dariusz Gil (Poland) 47 Andrzej Kaiser (Poland) 48 Greg Reain (Canada) 49 Oscar Vazquez (Spain) 50 Peter Presslauer (Austria) 51 Masanori Kosaka (Japan) 52 Mike Garrigan (Canada) 53 Atsushi Maruyama (Japan) 54 Barry Wicks (USA) 55 Jan Chrobak (Czech Republic) 56 Thorsten Struch (Germany) 57 Tristan Schouten (USA)
