In today’s Krawatencross GVA Trophy race in Lille, Belgium, both the newly crowned junior and U23 world champs were defeated in their first races wearing their rainbow jerseys, while elite world champ Niels Albert put on an impressive display to beat Sven Nys by millimeters in a sprint.
In the junior race, Belgian Wietse Bosmans, fourth at the world championships, soundly defeated world champ Eising, with Corne van Kessel finishing in third.
The U23 race had a bigger surprise finish, with ‘cross newbie Jan Denuwelaere beating world champ Philipp Walsleben and Tom Meeusen in a sprint finish. Denuwelaere has only been racing ‘cross for less than seven months, and spent the earlier part of the season racing smaller, non-elite races.
Niels Albert was in control for most of the elite men’s race, after Zdenek Stybar, silver medalist at the world championships in Hoogerheide, had to put a foot down, holding up the rest of the field. But Sven Nys led a determined chase, catching Albert late in the race. While Nys looked to be the strongest of the race, he was content to sit on Albert’s wheel until the finish, and ended up losing to the young World Champion.
Bart Wellens was third at 44 seconds, Stybar fourth. Canadian Andre Sutton is still in Europe, and finished 34th.
Niels Albert’s physiotherapist felt the world champ had bad legs and had little faith he would be able to finish top five today. So they bet. “Unfortunately, we only bet a pancake,” Albert lamented.
Nys wrapped up the GVA Trophy series with his second place today, his second series win of the year after his World Cup series win in Milan. Tomorrow he’ll try to retain the leadership of the Superprestige series.
In the women’s race, Daphny van den Brand ran away with the race, making up for her disappointing showing in Hoogerheide, and leaving the others to race in a close battle for second. World Champ Marianne Vos finished second, with Sanne Cant in a close third. American Christine Vardaros finished in the top half, in 12th.
Results:
Juniors:
1. Wietse Bosmans (Bel) 44:08.
2. Tijmen Eising (Ned) op 0:31.
3. Corné van Kessel (Ned) 0:53.
4. David van der Poel (Ned) 1:13;
5. Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) 1:23;
6. Jens Adams (Bel) 1:45;
7. Mike Teunissen (Ned);
8. Niels Koyen (Bel) ;
9. Valentijn Van de Velde (Bel) 2:11;
10. Hendrik Sweeck (Bel) 2:34;
U23:
1. Jan Denuwelaere (Bel)
2. Philipp Walsleben (Ger)
3. Tom Meeusen (Bel)
4. Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) 0:15;
5. Jim Aernouts 0:19 (Bel) ;
6. Jan Van Dael (Bel) ;
7. Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra);
8. Mitchell Huenders (Ned) 0:33;
9. Quentin Bertholet (Bel) ;
10. Kevin Cant (Bel) 0:52;
Elite Men:
1. Niels Albert (Bel) 59:20;
2. Sven Nys (Bel);
3. Bart Wellens (Bel) 0:44;
4. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) 1:07;
5. Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) 1:29;
6. Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) 1:29;
7. Kevin Pauwels (Bel) ;
8. Richard Groenendaal (Ned);
9. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) ;
10. Thijs Al (Ned) 2:29;
11. Marco Bianco (Ita) 2:34;
12. Gerben de Knegt (Ned) 2:40;
13. Bart Aernouts (Bel) 2:32;
14. Rob Peeters (Bel) 3:00;
15. Ben Berden (Bel) 3:05;
16. Jan Verstraeten (Bel) 3:15;
17. Christian Heule (Swi) 3:37;
18. Tom Van den Bosch (Bel) 3:46;
19. Thijs van Amerongen (Ned) 4:40;
20. Petr Dlask (Cze);
21. Patrick van Leeuwen (Ned) 5:49;
22. Jan Soetens (Bel) ;
23. Mariusz Gil (Pol) 6:03;
24. Magnus Darvell (Swe) 6:24;
25. Bjorn Rondelez (Bel) 6:35;
26. Mike Thielemans (Bel) 6:44;
27. Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) ;
28. Sten Raeymakers (Bel) 7:10;
29. Tom De Kort (Bel) 7:13;
30. Stijn Huys (Bel) at 1 lap
31. Nico Berckmans (Bel) at 2 laps
32. Jo Naert (Bel) at 3 laps
33. Ken Smets (Bel);
34. André Sutton (Can);
35. Bram Wind (Ned) at 4 laps;
36. Freddy De Meester (Bel) at 5 laps
37. Dries Cauwelier (Bel);
38. Jochen Danckaers (Bel);
39. Jan Willem Kamphof (Ned);
40. Kurt Loef (Bel) at 6 laps
Elite Women:
1. Daphny Van Den Brand (Nel)
2. Marianne Vos (Nel)
3. Sanne Cant (Bel)
4. Sanne Van Paassen (Nel)
5. Saskia Elemans (Nel)
6. Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel)
7. Reza Hormes (Nel)
8. Abke Francissen (Nel)
9. Nicolle De Bie-leyten (Bel)
10. Arenda Grimberg (Nel)
11. Katrien Pauwels (Bel)
12. Christine Vardaros(USA)
13. Lana Verberne (Nel)
14. Iris Ockeloen (Nel)
15. Karen Verhestraeten (Bel)
16. Katrien Thijs (Bel)
17. Ellen Van Loy (Bel)
18. Britt Jochems (Nel)
19. Katrien Vermeiren (Bel)
20. Gitte Van Ende (Bel)
21. Alleleijn Ten Haaf (Nel)
22. Sharon Defoor (Bel)
23. Sandie Verriest (Bel)
24. Inge Van Raemdonck (Bel)
25. Tessa De Moyer (Bel)
