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2009 Cyclo-cross World Championships - CM
Hoogerheide, The Netherlands, January 31-February 1, 2009
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Stage 2 - January 31: U23 Men, 50 minutes
Germans waltz away with medals
By Brecht Decaluwé in Hoogerheide, Netherlands
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Philipp Walsleben and Christoph Pfingsten made history in Hoogerheide by taking first and second for Germany. The nation placed three riders in the top five of the Under 23 category. With an aggressive race, Walsleben became the first Under 23 cyclo-cross World Championship gold medal winner from Germany.
Cyclo-cross specialist Walsleben was the first to start the waltz on the Brabant Wall. Walsleben, who is also German champion in the elite men's category, got away during the third lap and was never caught.
Twenty seconds behind him compatriot Christoph Pfingsten joined the party by sprinting past Poland's Pawel Szczepaniak for the silver medal. Another German compatriot, Sascha Weber, surely would have preferred to be on the podium, although his fifth place performance was nothing to be ashamed of; he provided the essential third tone of the German waltz.
Pre-race favorite Walsleben, who lives in Belgium, was pleased with his win even though it didn't come as a huge surprise. He has won everything there is to win in his category and will turn professional as a member of the same team as Niels Albert. "I missed on winning only three races in the U23 category," Walsleben said, reflecting on his results.
Walsleben had attacked with the intention of shrinking the lead group. "I only realized that my gap was big enough for the win during the last two laps because my attack originally was meant to make the [lead] group smaller. It was hard to get away with the wind, but once I had the gap, the wind was probably my advantage. Probably nobody wanted to ride into the wind so that they would maintain their own chances."
During the first lap, a French coalition cornered Walsleben into a defensive position, but last year's Junior World Champion Arnaud Jouffroy and Aurelien Duval were unable to create a gap. One lap later, Walsleben moved to the front and accelerated for the first time. "The two French guys weren't co-operating on the road section, so I waited for another opportunity to attack. I could only create a gap within the field," Walsleben explained.
A group of more than twenty riders hit the third lap, with Belgium's Kenneth Van Compernolle and Italy's Matteo Trentin setting the pace. Walsleben seized the moment and attacked again with local Boy Van Poppel and Trentin trying to stick on his wheel. Both the Dutchman and Italian blew their engines and Walsleben was gone solo.
"I figured I had to be in the front as long as I could. When Philipp attacked I couldn't react. He's too strong," Trentin said.
Jouffroy took over from a gasping Van Poppel and he closed in on Walsleben. "We did what we could. Duval had just come back from the front. I led the chase and almost closed the gap to Philipp. Then I sat back to have the others close the final metres, but that didn't happen. Then he was gone," Jouffroy said.
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Meanwhile Walsleben put the hammer down and rolled over the course. The German quickly gathered more than ten seconds. Duval had a hard time dealing with this blow. "Once Philipp was gone, my race was over as I only came here for the victory, not a medal," Duval said.
Other riders thought differently and battled hard for the remaining podium spots. During the fifth lap, Italy's Christian Cominelli and Belgium's only Walloon cyclo-cross rider Quentin Bertholet attacked and got away.
"It was a good opportunity but the Belgian didn't co-operate too well. I gave all I had in the attack, but we were caught back anyway. Then I had nothing left for the sprint," Cominelli said.
The accused Bertholet burst into tears after crossing the finish line. "I was super today. I couldn't follow Walsleben, but I was able to keep up with that Italian guy. He was going very hard, I could barely stay on his wheel. During the last lap, I was out of gas. This was my last race as U23 rider, and I've thrown away all my chances," a devastated Bertholet said.
During that last lap, three guys bridged up towards Cominelli and Bertholet. Pfingsten eventually won the final sprint and grabbed silver. At first the German thought he had finished third, which was the same result he claimed four years ago in the junior category at the World Championships in Sankt-Wendel. When Pfingsten climbed the podium and was told to stand on top of number two he realized he did one place better this year. "I thought that the Polish rider was still ahead of our group. My goal was to finish in the top-10 but this is much more than I had hoped. I had a bad start and was able to bridge up with the chasing group when Philipp was already gone. I defended his lead. This course was perfect for me as it was almost like a road race," Pfingsten said.
Third placed Szczepaniak pulled off the fastest lap of the race in the finale and that brought him the bronze medal. "I was nervous early on as I didn't know how to deal with the tactics in the big group. I worked near the front, but two laps before the end I had a mechanical. I had to hurry to get back to the leaders, but I realized third place was possible. I'm happy with that," Szczepaniak said.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Riccardo Scanferla
- Walsleben celebrated the World Championship title in Hoogerheide.
- Walsleben during the medal test
- The podium with (l-r) Christoph Pfingsten (Germany, second), Philippe Walsleben and Pawel Szczepaniak (Poland).
Images by Cyclingnews.com
- Walsleben won solo like so many times this season
- Walsleben looks ready to turn pro.
- He finished way ahead of his competitors, as most of the season.
- Walsleben celebrates his win to cap a perfect season.
- The podium of the U23 was filled with two Germans and a Polish rider.
- Walsleben proudly presents his medal.
- A happy Walsleben shows his gold
- The U23 riders had fun on the podium.
- Bon appetit
- The podium in Hoogerheide
- Walsleben smiles under the baking Dutch sun
- The Germans Christoph Pfingsten and Philippe Walsleben made it a successful day at the Worlds for the neighbouring country
- Tom Meeusen (Belgium) rolls to the start
- Vincent Baestaens ready to get going
- Quentin Bertholet looked ready but shed some tears after his sixth-place finish.
- The Dutch fans blew away the cold with trumpets and everything.
- Nicholas Weighall (USA) powers along
- The Belgian fans know how to celebrate.
- Kenneth Van Compernolle runs up the stairs.
- Quentin Bertholet on the stairs
- Jim Aernouts carries his bike
- The chase group
- Christian Cominelli (Ita), Matteo Trentin (Ita) and Quentin Bertholet (Bel) from left to right in action in the Worlds.
- Bertholet was chasing hard
- Vincent Baestaens attacks
- Cominelli and Bertholet chase the leader.
- Van Compernolle leads a group behind
- It was a fast course on a sunny day.
- Baestaens led early on
- The Belgians tried to put the pressure on Walsleben in the opening laps.
- Walsleben was a bit nervous when he couldn't quickly gain ground as usual.
- Tom Meeusen rode hard
- Van Compernolle chases
- Nicholas Keough (USA) on the fast parcours.
- Walsleben on the attack
- Arnaud Jouffroy (France) leads the chase
- The Walsleben chase express all lined up
- Walsleben rode hard but most of the time by himself.
- Belgium and the Netherlands chased all day.
- Mattias Nilsson of Sweden had visible gloves.
- Walsleben on the front
- The chase followed in respectful distance.
- Walsleben storms up the hill.
- Pfingsten celebrates his second place
- Quentin Bertholet was disappointed with his sixth place.
- Kenneth van Compernolle admitted that it wasn't his race at the Worlds.
Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net
- Arnoud Jouffroy (France) gets the hole shot at the start of the U23 race.
- The U23 start traveled a long distance on pavement with two turns.
- Bjorn Selander (USA) gets a good start.
- Nick Weighall (USA) on the first lap.
- Tom Meesen (Belgium) on a long straightaway.
- Phillipp Walsleben (Germany) leads early in the race.
- Matteo Trenton (Italy) finishes a steep climb.
- A long line of racers will face a steep, uphill pitch.
- Aurelien Duval (France) runs the set up steps.
- Sascha Weber (Germany) runs the steps on his way to a fifth place finish.
- Cristian Cominelli (Italy) runs the stairs on his way to a fourth place finish.
- Bjorn Selander (USA) will finish as top American.
- Nick Keough (USA) runs the stairs.
- Fans from many countries were out to support their favorite riders.
- Arnoud Jouffroy (France) descends a steep section.
- Twan Van den Brand (Netherlands) descends.
- Wil Dugan (USA) checks for riders behind him while climbing.
- Phillipp Walsleben (Germany) all alone in the lead.
- Keneth Van Compernolle (Belgium) at the bottom of a U-Turn.
- Danny Summerhill (USA) corners before the next climb.
- Bjorn Selander (USA) follows behind Summerhill.
- Phillipp Walsleben (Germany) with one lap to go.
- Ramar Sinkeldam (Netherlands) leads a group of riders with one lap to go.
- Phillipp Walsleben (Germany) rides to victory all alone.
- Christoph Pfingsten (Germany) takes second place over Pawel Szczepaniak (Poland).
- U23 Podium (L to R) Christoph Pfingsten (German) second, Phillip Walsleben (Germany) first, Pawel Szczepaniak (Poland) third
- Phillipp Walsleben (Germany) enjoys his gold medal and world championship jersey.
Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com
- The U23 men's race gets underway with (l-r) Pawel Szczepaniak (Pol), Philipp Walsleben (Ger), Aurelien Duval (Fra) leading the pace line.
- Philipp Walsleben (Ger) bides his time outside the pace line, looking for the opportunity to attack.
- Tom Meeusen (Bel) finished back in 29th.
- Philipp Walsleben (Ger) was sensational on his way to the win in the U23 men's race.
- The U23 men's podium (l-r): Christoph Pfingsten (Germany), Philipp Walsleben (Germany) and Pawel Szczepaniak (Poland)
Images by Tom de Meyer
- Walsleben likes to go out off the front.
- Ramon Sinkeldam (Netherlands)
- Twan Van Den Brand (Netherlands)
- Elia Silvestri (Italy)
- Mitchell Huenders (Netherlands)
- Micki Van Empel (Netherlands) rides on the back of his group.
- Walsleben had company in the beginning but then used his second gear...
- Sinkeldam rode strongly early on
- The podium around winner Walsleben
- Walsleben with gold
- The Germans received some typical Dutch clogs.
- Pawel Szczepaniak (Poland) was happy with bronze
Results
1 Philipp Walsleben (Germany) 52.48 2 Christoph Pfingsten (Germany) 0.21 3 Pawel Szczepaniak (Poland) 4 Cristian Cominelli (Italy) 5 Sascha Weber (Germany) 0.24 6 Quentin Bertholet (Belgium) 0.25 7 Guillaume Perrot (France) 0.29 8 Ramon Sinkeldam (Netherlands) 0.30 9 Clément Bourgoin (France) 10 Marek Konwa (Poland) 0.33 11 Aurelien Duval (France) 0.34 12 Matteo Trentin (Italy) 0.41 13 Matthieu Boulo (France) 0.42 14 Vincent Baestaens (Belgium) 0.43 15 Arnaud Jouffroy (France) 0.44 16 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Belgium) 0.45 17 David Fletcher (Great Britain) 0.59 18 Marcel Meisen (Germany) 1.09 19 Mitchell Huenders (Netherlands) 1.11 20 Robert Gavenda (Slovenia) 1.20 21 Jiri Polnicky (Czech Republic) 22 Twan Van Den Brand (Netherlands) 1.25 23 Ole Quast (Germany) 1.29 24 Micki Van Empel (Netherlands) 1.33 25 Arnaud Grand (Switzerland) 26 Sylwester Janiszewski (Poland) 1.35 27 Bjorn Selander (United States of America) 1.36 28 Marco Ponta (Italy) 1.41 29 Tom Meeusen (Belgium) 1.43 30 Boy Van Poppel (Netherlands) 1.44 31 Jim Aernouts (Belgium) 2.01 32 Daniel Summerhill (United States of America) 2.09 33 Mattias Nilsson (Sweden) 2.10 34 Alessandro Calderan (Italy) 2.21 35 Jonathan Mcevoy (Great Britain) 2.26 36 Yu Takenouchi (Japan) 2.42 37 Ondrej Bambula (Czech Republic) 2.54 38 Julien Taramarcaz (Switzerland) 3.04 39 Nicholas Keough (United States of America) 3.09 40 Kacper Szczepaniak (Poland) 3.12 41 Pit Schlechter (Luxembourg) 3.26 42 William Dugan (United States of America) 3.41 43 Hikaru Kosaka (Japan) 3.42 44 Lukas Prihoda (Czech Republic) 3.55 45 Elia Silvestri (Italy) 4.03 46 Tomasz Repinski (Poland) 4.05 47 Andrew Thomas (Canada) 4.06 48 Mauro Gonzalez Fontan (Spain) 49 Nicholas Weighall (United States of America) 5.08 50 Romain Beney (Switzerland) 5.15 51 Lucian Logigan (Romania) 5.26 52 Robert Bachraty (Slovenia) 5.30 Behind one lap 53 Brian Robinson (Canada) Behind two laps 54 Timofey Ivanov (Russian Federation) 55 Kyle Fry (Canada) DNF David Lozano Riba (Spain)
