Cyclo-cross World Cup #3 - CDM

Wortegem-Petegem, Belgian, December 16, 2001

2000 Results Results World Cup standings Past winners

A day for the Belgians as De Clercq triumphs

Mario De Clercq
Photo: © AFP

The decision to enter two Belgian teams for the Belgian round of the Cyclo-cross World Cup in Wortegem-Petegem paid off in spades, as the home side claimed the first 10 positions. The race was won by favourite Mario De Clercq, who backed up after winning yesterday in Essen to take his first World Cup victory this season. De Clercq had just announced that he would be staying in the sport for at least another year, and he certainly put his money where his mouth was this weekend.

In second place was the ever dependable Sven Nys, who won the two previous rounds of the World Cup this season and continues to hold his position at the top of the leader board. Third place went to Ben Berden, and from then on it was a Belgian party all the way down to 10th spot.

The race was quite quick (30 km/h) due to the fast parcours. By halfway, a large leading group of 10 riders had formed, containing both Belgian and Dutch riders, but no Jiri Pospisil (Cze). Hometown favourite Mario De Clercq (who also had a hand in the course design) launched three attacks, but he couldn't quite escape.

On the fourth last lap, Sven Nys attacked but he also could not get away. Then De Clercq went for the final time, gaining 11 seconds on a hard chasing following group. He maintained his advantage until the end and finished a popular winner. Second placed Nijs is still the man to beat in the World Cup, and it will take a remarkable effort to dethrone him.

The women's race was won by World Champion Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) who beat two Dutch riders, Daphny van den Brand and Debby Mansveld.

Photography

These photos have been very kindly supplied by Patrick Nijs.

During the first lap - and the group all stay together on the fast course.
Still early in the race - and the riders stay together
Sven Nys leads - Mario De Clercq as they pass some other competitors
Midway into lap 5 - and the pace is starting to tell
Lap 10 and Sven Nys - attempts to make a break
Mario De Clercq - hammers on the flat section, establishing the break
Mario De Clercq and Sven Nys - have left the rest of the field behind
Sven Nys showing the form - and concentration that has him at the top of the WC standings

Results

Elite Men

1 Mario De Clercq (Bel)             1.01.15
2 Sven Nys (Bel)                       0.08
3 Ben Berden (Bel)                     0.17
4 Erwin Vervecken (Bel)
5 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel)            0.18
6 Tom Vannoppen (Bel)
7 Peter Van Santvliet (Bel)            0.21
8 Bart Wellens (Bel)                   0.29
9 Bjorn Rondelez (Bel)                 0.36
10 Arne Daelmans (Bel)                 1.02
11 Jiri Pospisil (Cze)                 1.10
12 Wim de Vos (Ned)                    1.19
13 Richard Groenendaal (Ned)           1.22
14 Jan Ramsauer (Swi)                  1.30
15 Thomas Frischknecht (Swi)           1.35
16 Vaclav Jezek (Cze)                  1.43
17 Kamil Ausbuher (Cze)
18 John Gadret (Fra)                   1.48
19 Gerben de Knegt (Ned)
20 Maarten Nijland (Ned)
21 David Seco (Spa)                    1.53
22 Matthew Ellis (GBr)                 2.10
23 Tadeusz Korzeniewski (Pol)          2.15
24 Arnaud Labbe (Fra)                  2.18
25 Vaclav Metlicka (Svk)               2.20
26 Ales Mudroch (Cze)
27 Tomas Trunschka (Cze)               3.30
28 Thijs Verhagen (Ned)
29 Roger Hammond (GBr)                 3.39
30 Camiel van den Bergh (Ned)          4.00
31 Shaun Snodden (GBr)                 4.02
32 Michael Muller (Swi)
33 Robert Glajza (Svk)
34 Christian Heule (Swi)
35 Christophe Hérisset (Fra)           4.07
36 Tobias Nestle (Ger)                 4.10
37 Kim Petersen (Den)
38 Pawel Cierpikowski (Pol)
39 Jens Reuker (Ger)                   4.18
40 Christian Wasmer (Ger)              5.30
41 Thomas Bonne (Den)                  5.39
42 Radoslaw Czapla (Pol)               5.56
43 Leo Karstens (Ger)                  6.02

1 lap behind

44 Isaac Suarez (Spa)
45 Krzysztof Reca (Pol)
46 James Bryan (GBr)
47 BartolomiejGierczak (Pol)
48 Pavel Medved (Svk)
49 David Bowater (GBr)
50 Tommy Nielsen (Den)

61 starters

Elite Women

1 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger)
2 Daphny van den Brand (Ned)
3 Debby Mansveld (Ned)
4 Anja Nobus (Bel)

Junior Men

1 Kristof Kuzniak (Pol)
...
3 Nick Sels (Bel)

World Cup standings after round 3

1 Sven Nys (Bel)                     170 pts
2 Bart Wellens (Bel)                 126
3 Mario De Clercq (Bel)              120
4 Richard Groenendaal (Ned)           93
5 Erwin Vervecken (Bel)               85
6 Tom Vannoppen (Bel)                 77
7 Jiri Pospisil (Cze)                 76
8 Wim de Vos (Ned)                    65
9 Arnaud Labbe (Fra)                  59
10 Gerben de Knegt (Ned)              59
11 Vaclav Jezek (Cze)                 58
12 Maarten Nijland (Ned)              55
13 Daniele Pontoni (Ita)              45
14 Kamil Ausbuher (Cze)               45
15 Ben Berden (Bel)                   45
16 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel)          35
17 Tadeusz Korzeniewski (Pol)         33
18 Jan Ramsauer (Swi)                 30
19 David Derepas (Fra)                29
20 David Seco (Spa)                   29
21 John Gadret (Fra)                  28
22 Peter Van Santvliet (Bel)          28
23 Bjorn Rondelez (Bel)               24
24 Beat Wabel (Swi)                   22
25 Enrico Franzoi (Ita)               22
26 Tomas Trunschka (Cze)              22
27 Arne Daelmans (Bel)                22
28 Vaclav Metlicka (Svk)              18
29 Thomas Frischknecht (Swi)          16
30 Michael Baumgartner (Swi)          14
31 Igor Tavella (Ita)                 14
32 Françis Mourey (Fra)               13
33 Ondrej Lukes (Cze)                 12
34 Stefano Toffoletti (Ita)           10
35 Matthew Ellis (GBr)                 9
36 Jonathan Page (VSt)                 8
37 Martino Fruet (Ita)                 7
38 Valeriano Vandelli (Ita)            6
39 David Kasek (Cze)                   5
40 Ales Mudroch (Cze)                  5
41 Robert Glajza (Svk)                 4
42 Pawel Cierpikowski (Pol)            3
43 Thijs Verhagen (Ned)                3
44 Piotr Wysmyk (Pol)                  2
45 Roger Hammond (GBr)                 2
46 David Collins (GBr)                 1
47 Camiel van den Bergh (Ned)          1

Nations

1 Belgium                             36 pts
2 Netherlands                         25
3 Czech Republic                      24
4 France                              19
5 Switzerland                         15
6 Belgium 2                            9
7 Poland                               8
8 Italie                               6
9 Slovakia                             6
10 Great Britain                       6
11 Germany                             1

Past winners

Elite Men

2000 Sven Nijs (Bel) Rabobank 

Elite Women

2000 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger)