News for February 3, 1997

Preview of World Championships

This weekend, the Dutchman, 37, returns to the Bavarian capital, where it all began for him, determined to keep his world Elite championship, or, if fate rules otherwise, ensure that the title remains in the Netherlands.

The Olympic Park course is remembered by van der Poel not so much for the 1972 Olympics but for his medal breakthrough in world cyclocross in 1985.

Then he lost the battle for gold by two seconds to German Klaus Peter Thaler, and from 1988 added four more silvers and a bronze to his collection, before finally snatching that elusive gold in a Paris suburban park a year ago.

There is nothing second-class about van der Poel particularly this season. He has already won two major cyclocross honours, the World Cup and the Super Prestige series, ahead of compatriot Richard Groenendaal, 25.

Twelve years back van der Poel was the team mate of Richard's father, Reiner, in Munich. In Sunday's championship his team includes Richard.

Van der Poel said: ``If I realise that the gold is not to be mine then I will help Richard to win. We are adversaries, but also friends.''

The threats should emerge from Italy, Switzerland, and Belgium.

Daniele Pontoni and Luca Bramati took the other medals behind van der Poel last year and the Italians are among those rarities to have beaten the Dutchmen this season.

Mario de Clercq and Marc Janssens too have headed the favourites, but fellow Belgian, Paul Herijgers, the 1994 world champion, is rated higher for this championship than de Clercq who has lost some form.

The circuit of 3.8 kilometres, starting and finishing in the Olympic Stadium, is tricky -- not so much for its short sharp climbs over ground hardened by sub-zero temperatures, but rather the adverse camber of some riding sections where speeding wheels are likely to slip.

The best from 24 nations contest three titles on Saturday and Sunday, but realistic contenders come from only a handful of countries.

Miguel Martinez defends his under-23 championship on Saturday against challengers, mainly Swiss, Czech, and Dutch.

Since the 1996 victory, the Frenchman has underlined his talents as a cross-country racer with Olympic and world mountain-bike bronze and silver medals.

The junior title to be decided on Sunday, before the Elite championship, is vacant as the champion, Switzerland's Roman Peter is now an under-23 contender.

Medal table (gold, silver, bronze, total):

 1. Italy            1  1  1  3
 2. Belgium          1  1  0  2
 3. Switzerland      1  1  0  2
 4. Germany          0  0  1  1
 5. France           0  0  1  1

Elite Men's Results, Olympic Park, Munich, 24.9 kms:

 1. Daniele Pontoni (Italy)           	     1.00.40
 2. Thomas Frischknecht (Switzerland)        	0.23 
 3. Luca Bramati (Italy)                      	s.t.
 4. Adrie van der Poel (Netherlands)          	0.35
 5. Wim de Vos (Netherlands)                  	0.53
 6. Erwin Vervecken (Belgium)               	1:13
 7. Franz-Jozef Nieberding (Germany)        	1:25
 8. Beat Wabel (Switzerland)                	1:39
 9. Dieter Runkel (Switzerland)             	s.t. 
10. Petervan Santvliet (Belgium)          	2:04
11. Henrik Djernis (Denmark)               	2:16
12. Radomir Simunek (Czech Republic)       	2:19
13. Dariusz Gil (Poland)                   	2:24
14. Marc Janssens (Belgium)                	2:37
15. Mario de Clercq (Belgium)              	2:44
16. Christophe Mengin (France)             	3:01
17. Richard Groenendaal (Netherlands)      	3:30
18. Fabrizio Margon (Italy)                	3:41
19. Joerg Arenz (Germany)                  	s.t.
20. Erik Boezewinkel (Netherlands)         	3:57

Elite Race Report

Pontoni finished 23 seconds ahead of Switzerland's Thomas Frischknecht who spoiled an Italian one-two by outsprinting Luca Bramati for the silver.

Pontoni and Bramati, who came second and third behind Dutchman Adrie van der Poel last year in Paris, left nothing to chance. They attacked from the gun to build a lead of 10 seconds.

Pontoni, world amateur champion in 1992, shook off Bramati on the second of the seven laps, but forcing the pace also meant taking chances.

With the sun softening a surface that had been frozen overnight, crashes were spectacular and frequent over the 24.9 km race.

On his third fall, the Italian pulled himself out from underneath an advertising hoarding to restart the race half a minute ahead of the pack.

Van der Poel's hopes of a repeat triumph vanished after the first seven kilometres. The World Cup and Super Prestige series winner was a strong favourite but trailed by a minute by the start of the third lap.

He fought back to finish fourth and only 12 seconds short of medal contention.

Under-23 event, 21.4 kms:

 1. Sven Nijs (Belgium)        		       53.25
 2. Bart Wellens (Belgium)              	0.22
 3. Christophe Morel (France)           	0.38
 4. Miguel Martinez (France)              	0.58
 5. Gretenius Gommers (Netherlands)     	1:27
 6. Elvis Zucchi (Italy)                	1:33
 7. Guillaume Benoist (France)          	1:37
 8. Gerben de Knegt (Netherlands)       	1:45
 9. Zdenek Mlynar (Czech Republic)      	1:46
10. David Willemsens (Belgium)         		1:47
11. Christian Heule (Switzerland)      		1:50
12. Petr Dlask (Czech Republic)        		1:51
13. Tobias Nestle (Germany)            		1:53
14. Beat Blum (Switzerland)            		2:04
15. Jader Zoli (Italy)                 		2:28
16. David Derepas (France)             		2:30
17. Rafal Chmiel (Poland)              		2:38
18. Ben Berden (Belgium)               		2:44
19. Jesper Agergaard (Denmark)         		2:46
20. Jan Ramsauer (Switzerland)         		2:49

Under 23 Report

The 20-year-old from Antwerp outstripped his rivals over a tricky 21.4 kms to beat compatriot Bart Wellens by 22 seconds with Frenchman Christophe Morel taking the bronze.

Although he has had five victories this season, Nijs had lacked the killer-touch when it came to winning medals.

After finishing fifth when Wellens won the Belgian under-23 championship, Nijs was ordered to consult a psychologist.

He was given breathing exercises to help him relax and improve his confidence for the big occasion.

The Belgian put himself to the test early on Saturday by taking the lead after the first of six laps then shrugged off the challenge of Wellens and the shock of a fall before racing home to the gold.

Defending champion, Miguel Martinez, of France, finished fourth, 58 seconds in arrears on a slippery circuit that caused many crashes.

Sunday sees the junior race followed by the main event for elites, the class that combines professionals and top amateurs.

Juniors:

 1. David Rusch (Swi)                  46:14 
 2. Stefano Toffoletti (Ita)  		0.05 
 3. Steffen Weigold (Ger)           	0.06 
 4. Nicolas Dieudonni (Fra)         	0.08 
 5. Torsten Heickmann (Ger)        	0.11 
 6. John Gadret (Fra)              	0.12 
 7. Thomas Lecuyer (Bretagne)      	0.25 
 8. Andrew Vancoillie (Bel)      	1:14 
 9. Davy Commeyne (Bel)          	1:22 
10. Wilant Van Gils (Ned)        	1:30