This weekend’s Superprestige series saw familiar faces atop the podium after a muddy Asper-Gavere Superprestige race. For the fifth straight year, Sven Nys reigned supreme, while American Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) took her second career Asper-Gavere race and first European win of the season. Jonathan Page, after a fifth place earlier in the week, finished a 16th after a crash, two mechanicals, and a flat tire. Full report below by Bart Hazen of Daily Peloton.
Belgian Champion Sven Nys took his fifth win in a row in the Asper-Gavere Superprestige cross. Nys was challenged by his all-time rival Bart Wellens who finished second. Klaas Vantornout completed the podium.
The race started without Niels Albert. The young Belgian crashed during the warm-up and was not able to start. The young Belgian had an abdominal problem and had problems with breathing.
During the race both Sven Vanthourenhout and French Champion Francis Mourey dropped out after serious crashes but it seems they both will be able to start again in next weekend’s races.
Nys had the best start and was followed by his team mate Rob Peeters, Fidea’s Bart Wellens, World Champion Lars Boom and Sunweb rider Klaas Vantornout. After the fast start, Rob Peeters was first to drop back after a crash, and on the second lap, World Champion Lars Boom crashed as well. Both were gone from the lead for good.
Three riders remained in front halfway the race with Vantornout struggling to follow the pace of the arch rivals Nys and Wellens. With three laps remaining Nys was setting the pace. Vantornout was the first to drop off after getting stuck in the mud, and later Wellens dropped after a shifting problem. While it looked like Nys would ride away, he couldn’t hold the lead and going into the penultimate lap both Vantornout and Wellens rejoined the Belgian Champion in front.
Going into the final lap, Nys attacked his compatriots on the long climb on the course. Wellens did everything he could to stay on Nys’ wheel but like Vantornout, was eventually dropped. In the end Wellens finished 10 seconds down on Nys to finish as second. Vantornout finished 40 seconds down as third.
American Jonathan Page had terrible luck. He was riding in the top 10 on the first lap but then crashed into a down rider. Later, he flatted. After pitting to get a new bike, he got a pebble stuck in his rear dérailleur pulley and ripped the dérailleur off the bike. He didn’t quit though, and ended up finishing in 16th.
With Albert gaining zero points on the day, Nys is now the new leader in the Superprestige series. Vantornout is second and Wellens moved up to third.
The Americans had more luck in the women’s race. Katie Compton was very impressive by winning once again in Gavere. Daphny Van Den Brand finished as second and Sanne Cant as third respectively at 1.09 and 1.22 from the American Champion.
For Compton it was her first season win on European soil despite a slow start. During the race, Compton was able to move to the front with lots of girls struggling to stay on their bike on the muddy and tough course.
Belgian Veerle Ingels who finished as fourth was disqualified after the race due to an illegal pit entrance. Therefore Pavla Havlikova finished as fourth with Helen Wyman completing the top five. Christine Vardaros showed her health is back with a tenth place.
The victories in the other categories went to Phillip Walsleben (U23) and Tijmen Eising (Juniors). Walsleben won the race after a close sprint from Belgian Champion Tom Meeusen. Meeusen thought he won and raised his arms too early as the German defeated him with a final jump.
Result Elite Men
1 Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner
2 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 0.10
3 Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb Projob Cycling Team 0.40
4 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 1.56
5 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 2.06
6 Petr Dlask (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team
7 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank
8 Wilant van Gils (Ned) Pro Cycling Team ZZPR.nl-Destil-Merida 2.44
9 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank
10 Christian Heule (Swi) Stevens Racing Team 3.22
11 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) AA Cycling Team 3.27
12 Thijs Al (Ned) Be-One Team
13 Radomir Simunek (Bel) Palmans – Cras 3.42
14 Rob Peeters (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner
15 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank
16 Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike
17 Jan Verstraeten (Bel) Sunweb Projob Cycling Team 5.40
18 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Revor Cycling Team 6.23
19 Jempy Drucker (Lux) Fidea Cycling Team
20 Thijs van Amerongen
21 Marco Fontana
22 Tom Van den Bosch
23 Ben Berden (Bel) Revor Cycling Team
24 Martin Zlámalík (Cze) Prodoli Racing Team + 1 lap
25 Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen
26 Javier Ruiz (Spa)
27 Magnus Darvell (Swe)
28 Geert Wellens (Bel) AVB-USSspa Cycling Team Kasterlee + 4 laps
29 Steven De Schoesitter (Bel) Rudyco Cycling Team + 5 laps
30 Vijarona Jackson (Zim)
31 Freddy De Meester (Bel)
Result Women
1 Katherine Compton (USA) 44.37
2 Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned) 1.09
3 Sanne Cant (Bel) 1.22
4 Pavla Havlikova (Cze) 2.20
5 Helen Wyman (GBr) 2.39
6 Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel) 4.29
7 Nikki Harris (GBr)
8 Reza Hormes-Ravenstijn (Ned) 5.37
9 Sophie de Boer (Ned) 6.52
10 Christine Vardaros (USA) 7.05
11 Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) 7.28
12 Anne Arnouts (Bel)
13 Patsy Larno (Bel) 7.35
14 Nancy Bober (Bel) 7.47
15 Nicolle De Bie-Leyten (Bel) 8.51
16 Tessa van Nieuwpoort (Ned) 9.16
17 Mika Ogishima (Jpn) 9.20
18 Katrien Pauwels (Bel) + 1 lap
19 Lana Verberne (Ned)
20 Sophie Borra (Ned)
21 Iris Ockeloen (Ned)
22 Kim Van Renterghem (Bel)
23 Jo Blanchaert (Bel)
24 Dorien Raeymaekers (Bel)
25 Sharon Defoor (Bel)
26 Tamara Pijpers (Ned)
Result U23 Men (top 20)
1 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) 0.54.08
2 Tom Meeusen (Bel)
3 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) 2.20
4 Joerie Adams (Bel) 2.48
5 Quentin Bertholet (Bel) 3.01
6 Marek Konwa (Pol) 3.38
7 Robert Gavenda (Svk) 3.51
8 Stef Boden (Bel) 4.00
9 Lukas Kloucek (Cze) 4.08
10 Jan Denuwelaere (Bel) 4.11
11 Wim Leemans (Bel) 4.24
12 Marcel Meisen (Ger) 5.10
13 Gianni Denolf (Bel) 5.48
14 Ivar Hartogs (Ned) 6.25
15 Kristof Zegers (Bel)
16 Jim Aernouts (Bel) 6.35
17 Sven Verboven (Bel) 6.40
18 Thomas Vernaeckt (Bel)
19 Geert van der Horst (Ned) 7.02
20 Michiel Dieleman (Bel) 7.27
Result Juniors (top 15)
1 Tijmen Eising (Ned) Revor 39.23
2 Lars van der Haar (Ned) Revor 0.45
3 Wietse Bosmans (Bel)
4 Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) 1.45
5 Michiel van der Heijden (Ned)
6 Jelle Lugten (Ned) 2.04
7 Angelo De Clercq (Bel) 2.34
8 Ruben Scheire (Bel) 2.40
9 Matthias Bossuyt (Bel) 2.55
10 Mike Teunissen (Ned) 3.05
11 David van der Poel (Bel) 3.17
12 Joeri Adams (Bel) Rabobank
13 Niels Koyen (Bel)
14 Valentijn Van de Velde (Bel) 3.43
15 Hendrik Sweeck (Bel) 3.52
