Cyclo-Cross World Cup #9 - CDM

Milan, Italy, January 25, 2009

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Race 2 - January 25: Elite Men, 65 minutes

Nys sprints to victory

By Peter Hymas

Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet - Colnago)
Photo ©: Riccardo Scanferla

Sven Nys won the final round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Milan with an emphatic sprint victory over Lars Boom and Zdenek Stybar. Boom led Nys through the last corner onto the short finishing stretch but Nys powered his way around the world champion in the closing meters. A group of six, including Niels Albert, Sven Vanthourenhout and Bart Wellens in addition to Nys, Boom and Stybar, contested the final sprint, having separated themselves from a larger leading group of 10 that emerged half way through the event.

The Milan World Cup's tenor resembled that of a previous international cyclo-cross event held on Italian soil, the 2008 world championships in Treviso, with the fast circuit contributing to a large group of riders together at the front, reminiscent of a road race. In fact, the very riders who finished on the podium at last year's world championships, Boom, Nys and Stybar, duplicated the feat in Milan, albeit with a different finishing order today.

Members of the leading group's Belgian contingent, Nys, Wellens, Vanthourenhout, Albert and Vantornout, repeatedly attacked in an effort to reduce the numbers, but to no avail. World Champion Lars Boom remained comfortably tucked in the group biding his time. Frenchman Steve Chainel, one of the surprise members of the leading contingent, also proved aggressive and threw in an attack of his own, showing he's on form approaching next weekend's world championships.

Boom surged strongly at the beginning of the final lap, mirroring his move which won him a world title one year ago, but was marked by an attentive Nys and Niels Albert. Boom momentarily had to clip out of his pedals on one of the venue's short, steep power climbs and Nys powered past into the lead. Boom regained the lead later in the lap, entering the technical finishing sequence of barriers and quick turns, and seemingly had the race under control as he emerged from the final corner in first ahead of Nys and Stybar. Nys, however, proved conventional wisdom incorrect and managed to out-sprint the world champion in the final 200 meter section of pavement, winning his third World Cup of the series.

While Enrico Franzoi carried the hopes of the Italian tifosi, a crash on the fifth lap removed him from overall contention. However, compatriot Marco Aurelio Fontana, a former Italian 'cross champion and fifth place finisher in the Beijing Olympic's mountain bike cross country event, rode strongly in the leading group contesting for victory. Fontana even made some attacks of his own late in the race in an attempt to catch the favorites off guard.

Fontana was caught up in a crash in the race's opening 200 meters that saw Bart Aernouts hit the pavement, but put his bike handling skills to good use on the twisting circuit to ride from the back of the field through to the front.

Nys already clinched the World Cup title at the previous weekend's race in Roubaix, France, but sent a message to his competitors with his victory in Milan that he's on form to win a world championship in one week's time. A trio of Fidea Cycling team riders, Bart Wellens, Zdenek Stybar and Kevin Pauwels, finished second through fourth overall while Lars Boom moved into fifth overall with his second place finish in Milan.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Riccardo Scanferla

Zdenek Štybar (Fidea Cycling Team) had to settle for third place.
Bart Wellens (Fidea Cycling Team) re-mounts his bicycle.
Lars Boom (Rabobank) was able to hold off Zdenek Štybar (Fidea Cycling Team) for second place.
Enrico Franzoi (Liquigas) was 13th.
Marco Aurelio Fontana (Selle Italia Guerciotti A.S.D.) was 11 seconds back in eighth.
Niels Albert (BKCP - Powerplus) had to sprint to the finish, but just missed out on third place.
Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) on his way back down.
Belgian Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) hoists his trophy high.
Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet - Colnago) sprints to victory in the World Cup's final round.
The men's podium (l-r) Lars Boom (Rabobank, 2nd), Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago, 1st) and Zdenek Stybar (Fidea Cycling Team, 3rd)

Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Neils Albert's supporters preparing for the race.
Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet - Colnago) rolling up to the start.
Men's start on the pavement.
Men's start is evenly contested.
Bart Aernouts (Rabobank) crashes at the start and drops his chain.
Thijs Al leading near the end of the first lap.
Thijs Al running over the barriers in first place.
Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb - Projob) riding in the top 10.
Erwin Vervecken (Revor - Jartazi) re-mounting after the barriers.
Joachim Parbo riding away from the barrier section.
Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet - Colnago) handling an uphill easily.
Jonathan Lopez (France) chasing the leaders.
The Sven Nys fans had a lot to cheer about.
Gerben de Knegt (Rabobank) running the steps.
World Champion Lars Boom (Rabobank) riding in 6th position at the steps.
Petr Dlask (Fidea Cycling Team) riding in the top 20 on the pavement.
Sven Vanthourenhout (Sunweb - Projob) heading down a steep pitch.
Bart Wellens (Fidea Cycling Team) descending with Stybar close behind.
Radomir Simunek Jr. (BKCP - Powerplus) successfully riding a steep climb.
Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet - Colnago) leading the race at the s-turns.
Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb - Projob) heading for a descent.
Lars Boom (Rabobank) follows Niels Albert through the s-turns.
Marco Aurelio Fontana eyeing the next descent.
The second race group stays together for most of the race.
David Derepas riding to a 24th place finish.
The lead group still had six riders with 1.5 laps to go.
Lars Boom (Rabobank) cornering while leading the race.
Bart Aernouts (Rabobank) riding to 16th place.
Lars Boom (Rabobank) attacked the lead group on the pavement with one lap to go.
Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet - Colnago) taking the win with Boom close behind.
Men's podium (l-r) Lars Boom (Rabobank, 2nd), Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet/Colnago, 1st), Zdenek Stybar (Fidea Cycling Team, 3rd)

Results

1 Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                        1.05.42
2 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank                                         0.01
3 Zdenek Štybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                           0.03
4 Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus                                  
5 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob                              
6 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                            0.04
7 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                           0.10
8 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti A.S.D.       0.11
9 Steve Chainel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                             0.12
10 Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob                            0.14
11 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank                                  0.28
12 Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team                            0.37
13 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Liquigas                                   0.39
14 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus                        
15 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team                 1.01
16 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank                                    1.23
17 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Revor-Jartazi Continental Team            1.24
18 Eddy van IJzendoorn (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team                     
19 Marco Bianco (Ita) L Arcobaleno Carraro Team                    1.25
20 Jonathan Lopez (Fra) VC La Pomme Marseille                      1.26
21 Petr Dlask (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                             1.27
22 Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Us Domont Cyclisme                          2.07
23 Simon Zahner (Swi) Rendementhypo Cycling Team                   2.10
24 David Derepas (Fra) UVCA Troyes                                 2.15
25 Rafael Visinelli (Ita) Gruppo Sportivo Forestale                2.29
26 Christian Heule (Swi) RendementhypoCycling Team                 2.32
27 Alessandro Gambino (Ita) Centro Sportivo Esercito               2.35
28 Martin Zlámalík (Cze) Prodoli Racing Team                       2.38
29 Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Van Vliet EBH Elshof                  2.39
30 Mariusz Gil (Pol) LKS Pom Strzelce Krajenskie                   2.43
31 Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott-Swisspower Mountainbike-Team       2.49
32 Fabio Ursi (Ita) Centro Sportivo Esercito                       2.52
33 Wilant van Gils (Ned) Pro Cycling Team ZZPR.nl-Destil-Merida    4.01
34 Roy Van Heeswijk (Ned) Sint Oedenrode                               
35 Cristian Cominelli (Ita) Tx Active Bianchi                      4.13
36 Milan Barenyi (Svk)                                             4.17
37 Gusty Bausch (Lux) LC Kayl                                      4.48
38 Joachim Parbo (Den) CCV Cyclo crosss Team                       5.12
39 Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Het Snelle Wiel                       5.51
40 Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita Sutter Home                         5.54
 
One lap behind
41 Derrick St John (Can) Stevens                                       
42 Vaclav Metlicka (Svk) Team Král                                     
 
Three laps behind
43 Vladimír Kyzivát (Cze) Johnson Controls AS MB                       
DNF Aaron Schooler (Can) Team H & R Block-Louis Garneau                
DNF Robert Bachraty (Svk)                                              
DNF Robert Glajza (Svk)                                                
DNF Andre Sutton (Can) Hardcore Cycling Club                           
DNF Martin Haring (Svk)                                                
DNF Francis Mourey (Fra) Française des Jeux                            
DNF Radomír Šimunek Jr. (Cze) BKCP - Power Plus                        
 
Final World Cup standings
 
1 Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                            620 pts
2 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                             502
3 Zdenek Štybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                            497
4 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                            472
5 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank                                          426
6 Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team                              402
7 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Revor-Jartazi Continental Team              400
8 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob                           386
9 Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus                               375
10 Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob                             373
11 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank                                     353
12 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank                                   350
13 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team                  341
14 Radomír Šimunek Jr. (Cze) BKCP - Power Plus                      304
15 Petr Dlask (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                              280
16 Francis Mourey (Fra) Française des Jeux                          272
17 Christian Heule (Swi) RendementhypoCycling Team                  260
18 Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Us Domont Cyclisme                           237
19 Martin Bína (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor                        236
20 Simon Zahner (Swi) Rendementhypo Cycling Team                    232
21 Wilant van Gils (Ned) Pro Cycling Team ZZPR.nl-Destil-Merida     231
22 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti A.S.D.       210
23 Marco Bianco (Ita) L Arcobaleno Carraro Team                     210
24 Steve Chainel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                             206
25 Martin Zlámalík (Cze) Prodoli Racing Team                        206
26 Jonathan Lopez (Fra) VC La Pomme Marseille                       197
27 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Liquigas                                    194
28 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus                     194
29 Eddy van IJzendoorn (Ned) AA Drink - BeOne                       190
30 Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) Exe Jeans                                   184
31 Rob Peeters (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                        178
32 Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Van Vliet EBH Elshof                   145
33 Mariusz Gil (Pol) LKS Pom Strzelce Krajenskie                    133
34 Fabio Ursi (Ita) Centro Sportivo Esercito                        125
35 Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Het Snelle Wiel                        111
36 Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike                                  103
37 Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott-Swisspower Mountainbike-Team        102
38 David Derepas (Fra) UVCA Troyes                                   99
39 Milan Barenyi (Svk)                                               97
40 Vladimír Kyzivát (Cze) Johnson Controls AS MB                     87
41 Joachim Parbo (Den) CCV Cyclo crosss Team                         86
42 Rafael Visinelli (Ita) Gruppo Sportivo Forestale                  85
43 Roy Van Heeswijk (Ned) Sint Oedenrode                             85
44 Johannes Sickmüller (Ger) Stevens Cyclocross Team Hamburg         73
45 Julien Belgy (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               72
46 Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze)                                            70
47 Vaclav Metlicka (Svk) Team Král                                   70
48 Gusty Bausch (Lux) LC Kayl                                        68
49 David Kášek (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor                         62
50 Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez (Spa)                               60
51 Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona Cyclocross Team                            58
52 Aurélien Duval (Fra) UV Aube                                      56
53 René Birkenfeld (Ger) Stevens Cyclocross Team Hamburg             53
54 Alessandro Gambino (Ita) Centro Sportivo Esercito                 50
55 Pirmin Lang (Swi) VC Bützberg / Delta Elite Team                  49
56 Robert Glajza (Svk)                                               42
57 Oscar Vazquez Crespo (Spa)                                        35
58 Jempy Drucker (Lux)                                               33
59 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) Team BKCP-Power Plus                      32
60 Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/GSI                   32
61 Peter Presslauer (Aut) Team Volksbank                             31
62 Martin Haring (Svk)                                               29
63 Geoffrey Clochez (Fra)                                            28
64 Marek Cichosz (Pol) Legia 192                                     27
65 Paul Voß (Ger) Team Milram                                        27
66 James Driscoll (USA) Cyclocrossworld.com / Cannondale             27
67 Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spa)                                      25
68 Julien Roussel (Fra) Flers Cyclisme 61                            23
69 Egoitz Murgoitio Rekalde (Spa)                                    22
70 Laurent Colombatto (Fra) AC Besançon                              21
71 Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa)                             21
72 Bram Schmitz (Ned) Van Vliet - EBH Advocaten - Elshof             19
73 Magnus Darvell (Swe)                                              18
74 Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita Sutter Home                           18
75 Jan Chrobák (Cze) Johnson Controls AS MB                          17
76 Cristian Cominelli (Ita) Tx Active Bianchi                        16
77 Troy Wells (USA) TIAA CREF/Clif Bar                               16
78 Jose Antonio Diez Arriola                                         16
79 Jeremy Powers (USA) Cyclocrossworld.com / Cannondale              15
80 Lukáš Kloucek (Cze) Sunweb - Projob Cycling Team                  15
81 Derrick St John (Can) Stevens                                     15
82 Andre Sutton (Can) Hardcore Cycling Club                          15
83 David Juarez Alday (Spa)                                          14
84 Florian Le Corre (Fra) Super Sport 35                             13
85 Martin Gujan (Swi) Cannondale                                     12
86 Matt Shriver (USA)                                                10
87 Jody Crawforth (GBr) Arctic - Premier RT                          10
88 Aaron Schooler (Can) Team H & R Block-Louis Garneau                9
89 Gerald Hauer (Aut) Sportunion MTB Team                             6
90 Ian Bibby (GBr) Science in Sport/Trek                              5
91 Brian Matter (USA)                                                 5
92 Adam Myerson (USA)                                                 5
93 Julien Pion (Fra) Charvieu Chavagneux IC                           4
94 Claude Wolter (Lux) Differdange Apiflo Vacances                    3
95 Keiichi Tsujiura (Jpn)                                             3
96 Andreas Moser (Swi) Bürgis Cycling Team                            3
97 Thomas Puhmer (Aut) Team Sport Nora                                3
98 Stefano Boggia (Ita) Daccordi Team                                 2
99 Tommy Nielsen (Den)                                                1
100 Julien Laidoun (Fra)                                              1