The Men's Podium: Wellens, Nys and Pauwels at Baal 2012 © Bart Hazen
BAAL, BELGIUM – Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) won the race named after him, in his hometown of Baal this morning. Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Revor) took second, but at 46 seconds behind Nys, had no chance of catching the seasoned pro. Finishing third was Bart Wellens (Telenet-Fidea), followed by Zdenek Stybar (Quickstep Cycling Team) and Wellens’ teammate, Rob Peeters. Nys clearly felt emotional racing in his hometown, telling Belgian press that, “This was one hour of goose bumps … It’s been a long time since I could drive off in this way in my own GP. I came out very well out of the Christmas period.”
Pauwels, who is still leading the GvA Trofee series, said, “I’m happy with my second place. In such a course I had not expected.”
US cyclocross fans should be happy to see their own Jonathan Page (Planetbike) finish in the top ten, his best race of the season.
In the women’s race, Daphny van den Brand (AA Drink – Leontien.nl) took the win, followed by Sanne Cant (BOXX Veldritacademie), who was 17 seconds behind. Rounding out the podium was Britain’s Nikki Harris (Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team).
Galleries from Bart Hazen:
Elite Men:
Elite Women:
U23:
Elite Men’s Results:
| Place | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet |
| 2 | Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb-Revor |
| 3 | Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet-Fidea |
| 4 | Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Quickstep Cycling Team |
| 5 | Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet-Fidea |
| 6 | Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus |
| 7 | Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Landbouwkrediet |
| 8 | Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team |
| 9 | Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Revor |
| 10 | Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike-Blue Bicycles |
| 11 | Martin Zlamalik (Cze) Landbouwkrediet - KDL |
| 12 | Jan Denuwelaere (Bel) Style & Concept |
| 13 | Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Team AA Drink-Leontien.nl |
| 14 | Thijs Al (Ned) Team AA Drink-Leontien.nl |
| 15 | Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus |
| 16 | Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco |
| 17 | Patrick Gaudy (Bel) Barracuda |
| 18 | Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus |
| 19 | Kevin Cant (Bel) Van Goethem |
| 20 | Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) |
| 21 | Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) Style & Concept Cycling Team |
| 22 | Ben Berden (Bel) Ops Ale-Stoemper |
| 23 (-1 lap) | Stijn Huys (Bel) Orange Babies |
| 24 | Bart Hofman (Bel) |
| 25 | Geert Wellens (Bel) |
| 26 (-2 laps) | Jimmy Tielens (Bel) Team DW Bikes |
| 27 | Jo Pirotte (Bel) |
| 28 | Bart Verschueren (Bel) KDL-Landbouwkrediet |
| 29 (-3 laps) | Craig Richey (Can) Renner Custom - Raleigh |
| 30 (-4 laps) | Jeremy Durrin (USA) J.A.M. Fund - NCC |
| 31 (-5 laps) | Tom Dernies (Bel) |
| 32 | Wouter Been (Ned) WTOS Delft |
| DNF | Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team |
| DNF | Joeri Adams (Bel) Telenet-Fidea |
| DNF | Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet |
| DNF | Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus |
| DNF | Jim Aernouts (Bel) Sunweb-Revor |
| DNF | Marco Bianco (Ita) L«Arcobaleno Carraro Team |
| DNF | Darryn Medhurst (USA) |
| DNF | Mike Thielemans (Bel) |
| DNF | Twan Van Den Brand (Ned) WV Schijndel |
| DNF | John Spruyt (Bel) |
Elite Women’s Results:
| Place | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Daphny van den Brand (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl |
| 2 | Sanne Cant (Bel) BOXX Veldritacademie |
| 3 | Nikki Harris (GBr) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team |
| 4 | Sanne van Paassen (Ned) Brainwash |
| 5 | Sophie de Boer (Ned) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team |
| 6 | Gabriella Day (GBr) Renner Custom Cyclocross Team |
| 7 | Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Fra) |
| 8 | Pavla Havlikova (Cze) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team |
| 9 | Hilde Quintens (Bel) Van Goethem - Prorace Cycling Team |
| 10 | Reza Hormes-Ravenstijn (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team |
| 11 | Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel) Cycling Team Vermeeren |
| 12 | Arenda Grimberg (Ned) |
| 13 | Ellen Van Loy (Bel) Kriekel Cycling Team Tessenderlo |
| 14 | Christine Vardaros (USA) Baboco |
| 15 | Githa Michiels (Bel) |
| 16 | Nikoline Hansen (Den) Bov CC-Denmark |
| 17 | Evy Kuijpers (Ned) |
| 18 | Nancy Bober (Bel) Style & Concept Cycling Team |
| 19 | Katrien Thijs (Bel) K. Edegem Bicycle Club - BMX R |
| 20 (-2 laps) | Suzi Godart (Lux) |
| 21 (-3 laps) | Caitlyn La Haye (Bel) |
