World Cyclo-Cross Championships - CMZolder, Belgium, February 2-3, 2002 |
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Elite Men - February 3: 14:00
Belgians dominate as De Clercq sprints to third title
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The World Cyclocross Championships have been won for a third time by 35 year old Mario De Clercq (Belgium). In front of 50,000 screaming fans around the circuit in Zolder, the experienced campaigner was at the front of the race all day, using his superior sprint to hold off his compatriots Tom Vannoppen and Sven Nijs for the win. It was a Belgian 1-2-3, with Richard Groenendaal (Netherlands) in fourth as the best placed foreigner.
The 2002 World's were fought out in comparatively warm (16 C) winter weather in Belgium, a stark contrast to last year's snow in Tabor, Czech Republic. The parcours was dry and that made for some fast racing, with the average speed approaching 27 km/h by the finish. However that didn't change the pre-race predictions, with the Belgian team producing a dominant display to ensure the others were racing for fourth place.
Dutch hopeful Richard Groenendaal was delayed on the first lap, and spent most of the rest of the race chasing. The leading group was constantly changing, but it was clear that Mario De Clercq, Sven Nijs and defending champion Erwin Vervecken were all having good days, as they were never far from the lead. Unfortunately for Vervecken, problems with his bike meant that he had to pull out with two laps to go.
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Meanwhile, Sven Nijs had put in another strong attack and only De Clercq could follow. The two would not work together, despite being from the same country, and were caught by 23 year old Tom Vannoppen before the final lap. The chasing group at this point included Groenendaal, Gerben De Knegt (Ned), Wim De Vos (Ned), Dominique Arnould (Fra), and Bart Wellens (Bel).
Nijs and Vannoppen both tried to attack on the final lap, but De Clercq was onto them each time. They knew he was the best sprinter and could do nothing at the finish when he powered away to win his third World's title, after wins in 1998 (Denmark) and 1999 (Slovakia). Vannoppen finished second and Nijs third, a few seconds behind.
Afterwards, De Clercq said that he was motivated by the criticism made by former World Champions Paul Herijgers and Roger De Vlaeminck. "I did not like at all the criticisms of the former cyclocross champions. Herijgers for example. That motivated me enormously. Now, I am so happy."
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Second placed Vannoppen was also happy with the way he finished, as he never believed he had a chance of winning. "I am still young and I do not have the necessary strength," he said.
Finally, third placed Sven Nijs seems destined to wait some more for a World Championship, but he has another 10 years before he reaches De Clercq's age. "I am not disappointed. I lost a lot of strength to come back to the lead group after the first two laps. But Mario is a true World Champion. He deserves this title. To ride in front of this public was fantastic. There was so much noise that it was impossible to hear what Eric De Vlaeminck (coach) was saying to us."
Footnote: Mario De Clercq (also the Belgian champion) had considered retiring after these races, but is continuing for another year, leaving his Domo squad and signing for Collstrop-Palmans.
Lap by Lap
Lap 3 time: 20.31 (26.741 km/h)
Leaders: 5 Belgians (Vervecken, Nijs, Wellens, De Clerq, Berden) and
Wim de Vos (Ned).
At 8 seconds: Groenendaal, De Knegt, Arnould.
Lap 4 time: 27.14 (26.861 km/h)
3 leaders: Nijs, De Clercq And Vervecken.
At 14 seconds: Groenendaal, De Knegt, De Vos, Arnould, Vannoppen, Berden
At 26 seconds: Wellens
Groenendaal fell in the sand, but he came back
Lap 5 - time: ?
Leader: Vanoppen Lap 6 time: 40.53 (26.839 km/h)
4 leaders (Bel): Vannoppen, Vervecken, De Clercq, Nijs Lap 7 time: 47.31 (26.941 km/h)
2 leaders: Mario De Clercq and Sven Nijs Lap 8 time: 54.28 (26.861 km/h)
1 lap to go. Mario and Sven are not working together (as in previous
years). Now three leaders, as Vannoppen could come back to front two because
they are not cooperating Lap 9 time: 1.01.11 (26.901 km/h)
In the last lap Vannoppen and (in the last few 100m) Nijs attacked,
but without result.
Photo's by Rob
Karman/www.mtnbikephotos.com. Photos by AFP Results, 27.432km
Attack by Sven Nijs, and a new group of 6 leaders: Nijs, Groenendaal,
Vannoppen, De Clercq, De Knegt and Arnould. An attack by Vannoppen
At 9 seconds the group of five
At 16 seconds De Vos, Berden
At 5 seconds: Groenendaal
At 13 seconds: De Knegt and Berden
At 15 seconds: De Vos and Arnould
6 seconds: vannoppen
13 seconds: Vervecken (again troubles with his bike)
20 seconds: Wellens, De Knegt And Berden
27 seconds: Groenendaal, De Vos, Arnould
Abandon: Vervecken because of troubles with his derailleur.
At 20 seconds: Groenendaal, De Knegt, De Vos, Arnould, Wellens
Mario was the best sprinter, and takes his third World Championship.
Photography
1 Mario De Clercq (Bel) 1.01.11 (26.901 km/h)
2 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) 0.03
3 Sven Nijs (Bel) 0.06
4 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) 0.10
5 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) 0.14
6 Dominique Arnould (Fra) 0.21
7 Wim De Vos (Ned) 0.22
8 Bart Wellens (Bel) 0.26
9 Ben Berden (Bel) 1.19
10 Thomas Frischknecht (Swi) 1.38
11 Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) 1.57
12 Roger Hammond (GBr) 2.03
13 Timothy Johnson (USA) 2.11
14 Beat Wabel (Swi) 2.34
15 Luca Bramati (Ita) 2.38
16 Arnaud Labbe (Fra) 2.41
17 Maarten Nijland (Ned) 3.25
18 Robert Glajza (Svk) 3.25
19 John Gadret (Fra) 3.25
20 Jens Schwedler (Ger) 3.25
21 David Pagnier (Fra) 3.25
22 Marc Gullickson (USA) 3.25
23 Todd Wells (USA) 3.25
24 Vaclav Jezek (Cze) 3.38
25 Christian Heule (Swi) 3.40
26 Valeriano Vandelli (Ita) 3.59
27 David Derepas (Fra) 4.07
28 Tadeusz Korzeniewski (Pol) 4.07
29 Peter Presslauer (Aut) 4.07
30 Jan Ramsauer (Swi) 4.15
31 David Seco (Spa) 4.15
32 Radek Tichy (Cze) 4.17
33 Igor Tavella (Ita) 4.18
34 Jonathan Page (USA) 4.24
35 Radoslaw Czapla (Pol) 4.41
36 David Collins (GBr) 4.44
37 Lorenzo Perotti (Ita) 5.06
38 Marco Paludetti (Ita) 5.06
39 Ellis Matthew (GBr) 5.09
40 Jiri Pospisil (Cze) 5.10
41 Isaac Saurez (Spa) 5.16
42 Israel Nuņez (Spa) 5.24
43 Stephen Knight (GBr) 5.29
44 Pascal Triebel (Lux) 5.41
45 David Rusch (Swi) 6.08
46 Vaclav Metlicka (Svk) 6.08
47 Masahiko Mifune (Jpn) 7.14
One lap behind
48 Stuart Wearmouth (GBr)
49 Pavel Medved (Svk)
50 Fernando Fernandez (Spa)
51 Maik Muller (Ger)
DNF Erwin Vervecken (Bel)
DNF Camiel Van Den Bergh (Ned)
DNF Zugaitz Ayuso (Spa)
DNF Fukaya Yukihiko (Jpn)
DNF Kodaira Yukinaga (Jpn)
DNF Jozsef Otto (Hun)
DNF Zsolt Vinczeffy (Hun)
DNF Matthew Decore (Can)
DNF Ion Pripa (Mda)
DNF Mark robert Legg (NZl)
DNF Kyrylo Krasov (Ukr)
DNS Jens Reuker (Ger)
DNS Christian Wasmer (Ger)