Stybar, shown here in last week's GvA, had a tighter battle in Kermiscross © Bart Hazen
As the year’s first World Cup rapidly approaches – on Sunday in Aigle, Switzerland – Zdenek Stybar (Telent-Fidea) continued his impressive start to the season by claiming his fifth consecutive win today in Ardooie, Belgium. Stybar and Belgian champion Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) came into the finishing stretch together, and Nys launched his final attack a long way from the line. Stybar was able to stay on terms and provide a finishing kick of his own to claim the day’s prize.
Just under a minute back, Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Revor) led the charge to claim the final podium spot in front of Niels Albert, who looks to be steadily making his way back to top-end form.
Stybar, the reigning World Champion, will put his undefeated season to the test in Sunday’s World Cup, the most important contest to date this season.
Full Results:
| Rank | Name | Nat. | Result |
| 1 | Zdenek STYBAR | CZE | 01:01:08 |
| 2 | Sven NYS | BEL | 01:01:08 |
| 3 | Klaas VANTORNOUT | BEL | 01:02:02 |
| 4 | Niels ALBERT | BEL | 01:01:52 |
| 5 | Rob PEETERS | BEL | 01:01:44 |
| 6 | Dieter VANTHOURENHOUT | BEL | 01:01:36 |
| 7 | Jim AERNOUTS | BEL | 01:01:25 |
| 8 | Thijs VAN AMERONGEN | NED | 01:01:25 |
| 9 | Jonathan PAGE | USA | 01:01:25 |
| 10 | Sven VANTHOURENHOUT | BEL | 01:01:25 |
| 11 | Thijs AL | NED | 01:01:25 |
| 12 | Ian FIELD | GBR | 01:01:41 |
| 13 | Marco BIANCO | ITA | 01:01:41 |
| 14 | Kenneth VAN COMPERNOLLE | BEL | 01:01:41 |
| 15 | Philipp WALSLEBEN | GER | 01:02:11 |
| 16 | Tom VAN DEN BOSCH | BEL | 01:02:20 |
| 17 | Eddy VAN IJZENDOORN | NED | 01:02:32 |
| 18 | Vinnie BRAET | BEL | 01:02:36 |
| 19 | Steven DE DECKER | BEL | 01:02:39 |
| 20 | Matthieu BOULO | FRA | 01:02:39 |
| 21 | Gianni DENOLF | BEL | 01:02:52 |
| 22 | Florian LE CORRE | FRA | 01:02:57 |
| 23 | Quentin BERTHOLET | BEL | 01:03:02 |
| 24 | Wietse BOSMANS | BEL | 01:03:14 |
| 25 | Robby COBBAERT | BEL | 01:03:14 |
| 26 | Stijn PENNE | BEL | 01:03:26 |
| 27 | Tom VANNOPPEN | BEL | 01:03:46 |
| 28 | Wilant VAN GILS | NED | 01:03:53 |
| 29 | Xandro MEURISSE | BEL | 01:04:06 |
| 30 | Kendric VAN GREMBERGEN | BEL | 01:04:14 |
| 31 | Kristof COP | BEL | 01:04:24 |
| 32 | Bart HOFMAN | BEL | 01:04:33 |
| 33 | Rikke DIJKXHOORN | NED | 01:05:59 |
| 34 | Mirko TABACCHI | ITA | |
| 35 | Robin POELVOORDE | BEL | |
| 36 | Adrien PASCAL | FRA | |
| 37 | Matthias BOETENS | BEL | |
| 38 | Niki DEVOLDERE | BEL | |
| 39 | Jean-Baptiste TALEUX | FRA | |
| 40 | Brian HOSTE | BEL |
