by Bart Hazen of the Daily Peloton
The seventh round of the Superprestige in Hoogstraten was won by the leader of the UCI World Rankings and the winner of the World Cup and the Gazet van Antwerpen series, Sven Nys. One day after the heroic battle with World Champion Niels Albert in Lille, the Belgian Champion showed he is still the most consistent rider of the season. Nys attacked in the third lap of the race to win with an impressive lead over the second World Champion Niels Albert and the Fidea riders Bart Wellens and Zdenek Stybar.
World Champion Niels Albert had a great start and got away with Sven Nys, Klaas Vantornout, Kevin Pauwels, Zdenek Stybar, Sven Vanthourenhout and Thijs Al. Bart Wellens had a good start but blew his engine in the first lap and dropped back into the field. After a few laps Wellens recovered and then started his chase, finally ending up in third place.
In the second lap Sven Nys attacked the break and only World Champion Niels Albert and Silver medalist Zdenek Stybar were able to follow. Vantornout, Nys’ biggest competitor for the final win in the Superprestige, was thrown back by a flat tire.
In the third lap Sven Nys put in his second attack and was able to get rid of both Stybar and Albert. In the background Wellens was making his comeback and bridged up with Stybar and Albert in the final laps.
Lap by lap, Nys increased his lead on his rivals and won with a 47 second lead on the World Champion. Arch rival Bart Wellens finished 1.05 down as third. Zdenek Stybar and Klaas Vantornout completed the top five.
Due to his win, Sven Nys is one step closer to win the 2008-2009 Superprestige series. He leads the Superprestige series with a six points lead over Klaas Vantornout and 13 points over Bart Wellens. The final race of the series will be in Vorselaar (February 15) next week. With a win of the Superprestige series, Nys will have won all three of the major cyclocross series yet again.
U23
The U23 race in Hoogstraten was won by World Champion Phillip Walsleben. Walsleben, who dominated the whole season, won with a 15 seconds lead over surprising and talented Jan. Tom Meeusen completed the podium.
Walsleben had a bad start but recovered quickly to pass and get rid of all his competitors. Jan Denuwelaere, winner of the GVA race in Lille a day ago, was the only one able to stay close to the German for most of the race.
With his win, Walsleben is almost sure of winning the Superprestige. He already won the World Cup, the GVA and the European, German and World Championships.
Juniors
Junior Wietse Bosmans showed once again he is in top form. Bosmans, also a winner in Lille a day ago, attacked in the second lap to win with a twenty second lead over World Champion Tijmen Eising and his compatriot Michiel van der Heijden. Dutch Champion Lars van der Haar finished in fourth after a nasty crash but was removed from the results by the officials because he took off his helmet just before the finish line. Due to this decision Vinnie Braet and worlds silver medalist Corne van Kessel completed the top five.
In the Superprestige series Eising still leads with a total of 84 points. Wietse Bosmans is second with 79 points and Lars van der Haar third with 69 points. The decision will come in Vorselaar next week.
Result Elite-Men
1 Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 1.00.30
2 Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP – Powerplus 0.47
3 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 1.05
4 Zdenek Štybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team 1.39
5 Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 2.08
6 Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team 2.24
7 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team
8 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 2.59
9 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Revor-Jartazi Continental Team 3.16
10 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank 3.24
11 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 3.41
12 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank 4.30
13 Rob Peeters (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 5.00
14 Ben Berden (Bel) Revor-Jartazi Continental Team 5.18
15 Christian Heule (Swi) Rendementhypo Cycling Team 5.40
16 Petr Dlask (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team 5.57
17 Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Vacansoleil 6.24
18 David Derepas (Fra) UVCA Troyes 7.39
19 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP – Powerplus 7.48
20 Martin Zlámalík (Cze) Prodoli Racing Team 8.12
21 Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) Rendementhypo Cycling Team 8.33
22 Magnus Darvell (Swe) 8.42
23 Stijn Penne (Bel) SDC – Rogelli Cycling Team + 1 lap
24 Joachim Parbo (Den) CCV Cyclo crosss Team
25 Roy Van Heeswijk (Ned) Sint Oedenrode
26 Mariusz Gil (Pol) LKS Pom Strzelce Krajenskie
27 Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Het Snelle Wiel
28 Bart Verschueren (Bel) Revor-Jartazi Continental Team + 2 laps
29 Ken Smets (Bel) + 3 laps
30 Andre Sutton (Can) Hardcore Cycling Club
31 Freddy De Meester (Bel) Rijschool Ah – Gentse Vs + 4 laps
Result Men-U23 (top 20)
1 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Power Plus 48.05
2 Jan Denuwelaere (Bel) Rendementhypo Cycling Team 0.15
3 Tom Meeusen (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 0.25
4 Marcel Meisen (Ger) Team Kuota – Indeland 0.40
5 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 0.49
6 Mitchell Huenders (Ned) AA Cycling Team 1.32
7 Quentin Bertholet (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
8 Jim Aernouts (Bel) BKCP – Powerplus 1.53
9 Kevin Cant (Bel) AVB – Cycling Team 2.31
10 Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) Vendée U Pays de la Loire 2.41
11 Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Rabobank 2.56
12 Dave De Cleyn (Bel) AVB – Cycling Team 3.12
13 Stef Boden (Bel) AA Drink Cycling Team 4.00
14 Robert Gavenda (Svk) Fidea Cycling Team 4.25
15 Jan Van Dael (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 4.35
16 Kevin Eeckhout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 4.50
17 Gianni Denolf (Bel) BKCP – Powerplus 4.58
18 Kristof Cop (Bel) 5.08
19 Thomas Vernaeckt (Bel) Sunweb-Projob 5.20
20 Edwin Arts (Ned) 5.35
Result Juniors (top 20)
1 Wietse Bosmans (Bel) 40.02
2 Tijmen Eising (Ned) 0.20
3 Michiel van der Heijden (Ned)
4 Vinnie Braet (Bel) 1.43
5 Corné van Kessel (Ned) 1.59
6 Mike Teunissen (Ned) 2.06
7 David van der Poel (Ned) 2.40
8 Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) 2.50
9 Hendrik Sweeck (Bel) 2.57
10 Niels Koyen (Bel) 3.20
11 Xandro Meurisse (Bel) 3.22
12 Raf Risbourg (Bel) 3.40
13 Jens Adams (Bel) 4.00
14 Jesper Baelen (Bel) 4.07
15 Jelle Lugten (Ned) 4.22
16 Valentijn Van de Velde (Bel)
17 Zeb Veestraeten (Bel) 4.45
18 Rinze De Proost (Bel) 5.50
19 Wilco van Beusekom (Ned) 6.14
20 Jens Joosen (Bel) 6.25
