Sven Nys adds the 2011 Fidea Eric Vanderaerden GP to his ever-growing win list. File photo, © Bart Hazen
Sven Nys (Lanbouwkrediet) took a narrow win over compatriots Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb / Revor) and Niels Albert (BKCP / PowerPlus) in today’s UCI C2 race in Belgium, the Fidea Eric Vanderaerden Gran Prix in Neerpelt.
Kevin Pauwels, racing in the new colors of Sunweb / Revor, had a strong race and showed he’s ready to assume defending World Champ Zdenek Stybar’s position as one of the top three Elite men cyclocrossers, as Albert, Nys and Stybar were often battling at the front of most races last season.
The legendary Nys showed he’s entering the cyclocross season with great fitness from a full mountain bike campaign, and led home five other Belgians to snag the top six spots of the race for the host country. With Zdenek Stybar not racing, Radomir Simunek (BKCP / PowerPlus) did his best to represent the Czech Republic and disrupt the Belgian powerhouse, finishing in seventh.
In the women’s race, Sanne van Paasen (Brain Wash) escaped and kept a gap to the finish, finishing 15 seconds ahead of Daphny van den Brand (AA Drink). Nikki Harris (Telenet / Fidea) rounded out the podium, and Christine Vardaros (Baboco) was the lone American racer, finishing a lucky 13th.
Full Results:
| Rank | Name | Nat. | Age* | Result | Points |
| 1 | Sven NYS | BEL | 36 | 56:10:00 | 40 |
| 2 | Kevin PAUWELS | BEL | 28 | 56:14:00 | 30 |
| 3 | Niels ALBERT | BEL | 26 | 56:17:00 | 20 |
| 4 | Klaas VANTORNOUT | BEL | 30 | 56:47:00 | 15 |
| 5 | Bart AERNOUTS | BEL | 30 | 56:49:00 | 10 |
| 6 | Sven VANTHOURENHOUT | BEL | 31 | 57:04:00 | 8 |
| 7 | Radomir SIMUNEK | CZE | 29 | 57:10:00 | 6 |
| 8 | Dieter VANTHOURENHOUT | BEL | 27 | 57:15:00 | 4 |
| 9 | Philipp WALSLEBEN | GER | 25 | 57:21:00 | 2 |
| 10 | Vincent BAESTAENS | BEL | 23 | 58:00:00 | 1 |
| 11 | Marco BIANCO | ITA | 30 | 58:10:00 | |
| 12 | Wietse BOSMANS | BEL | 21 | 58:18:00 | |
| 13 | Tom MEEUSEN | BEL | 24 | 58:21:00 | |
| 14 | Joeri ADAMS | BEL | 23 | 58:30:00 | |
| 15 | Gerben DE KNEGT | NED | 37 | 58:37:00 | |
| 16 | Vinnie BRAET | BEL | 21 | 59:14:00 | |
| 17 | Kenneth VAN COMPERNOLLE | BEL | 24 | 59:49:00 | |
| 18 | Arnaud JOUFFROY | FRA | 22 | 1:00:22 | |
| 19 | Dries PAUWELS | BEL | 24 | 1:00:52 | |
| 20 | Jimmy TIELENS | BEL | 33 | 1:01:13 | |
| 21 | Gianni DENOLF | BEL | 25 | 1:01:53 | |
| 22 | Ritchie DENOLF | BEL | 21 | ||
| 23 | Yannick MAYER | GER | 21 | ||
| 24 | Bart VERSCHUEREN | BEL | 26 | ||
| 25 | Jack CLARKSON | GBR | 19 | ||
| 26 | Emil Arvid OLSEN | DEN | 19 |
| Rank | Name | Nat. | Age* | Result | Points |
| 1 | Sanne VAN PAASSEN | NED | 24 | 40:50:00 | 40 |
| 2 | Daphny VAN DEN BRAND | NED | 34 | 41:05:00 | 30 |
| 3 | Nikki HARRIS | GBR | 26 | 41:16:00 | 20 |
| 4 | Sanne CANT | BEL | 22 | 41:49:00 | 15 |
| 5 | Sophie DE BOER | NED | 22 | 41:49:00 | 10 |
| 6 | Pavla HAVLIKOVA | CZE | 29 | 42:23:00 | 8 |
| 7 | Linda VAN RIJEN | NED | 24 | 43:11:00 | 6 |
| 8 | Reza HORMES | NED | 45 | 43:30:00 | 4 |
| 9 | Nicole DE BIE – LEYTEN | BEL | 37 | 44:16:00 | 2 |
| 10 | Ellen VAN LOY | BEL | 32 | 44:21:00 | 1 |
| 11 | Hilde QUINTENS | BEL | 48 | 45:28:00 | |
| 12 | Nancy BOBER | BEL | 37 | 45:49:00 | |
| 13 | Christine VARDAROS | USA | 43 | 45:55:00 | |
| 14 | Evy KUIJPERS | NED | 17 | 47:13:00 | |
| 15 | Carmen MCNELLIS SMALL | USA | 32 | 47:30:00 | |
| 16 | Katrien THIJS | BEL | 27 | 47:48:00 | |
| 17 | Anja GELDHOF | BEL | 39 | ||
| 18 | Margriet Helena KLOPPENBURG | DEN | 24 | ||
| 19 | Valerie BOONEN | BEL | 19 | ||
| 20 | Marijke DE PAUW | BEL | 22 |
