As at Worlds, shown here, Vantornout again had to watch as Nys took the victory meters ahead of him © Meg McMahon
We asked our Euro pro reporter Robbie Carver and Euro pro and reporter Christine Vardaros to prepare a crib sheet for all of you who may have missed the Euro action throughout the season. He’s made a list of who you should keep your eye on, and why, for the Elite Men’s race. Check out our whole Worlds 2014 page here.
Sven Nys
There’s little doubt that all eyes will be on the reigning World Champion as the Elite Men line up at Hoogerheide. Nys’ season has been far from perfect—he lost the chance at both the World Cup and Superprestige titles due to mechanicals and crashes, and in the middle of the season crashed so often that this author, at least, wondered if the curse of the Rainbow Jersey had floated off Phillip Gilbert’s shoulders and nestled onto Nys’. However, what was clear even then was that Nys was on commanding form, and he has since shown that by winning six of the past 10 C1 races in which he competed—making an incredible 16 wins for the season. Nys’ performance at the Belgian Championships, where his dominance in the sand made the rest look like amateurs, was made even more commanding with Niels Albert and Klaas Vantournout pulling out of the race, sending a strong signal to the elite field. Albert could only shake his head, saying, “I can only hope that Sven has peaked too early.”
Although Nys hasn’t won at Hoogerheide since 2007, he nonetheless enters with the most total wins: three to Niels Albert’s two. As well, he took bronze here at the 2009 World Championships. Clearly, this is a course in which Nys can excel.
With two world championships to his name, a fresh contract, and a dominant season, perhaps Nys enters with a bit less stress than in years past. He has nothing left to prove, after all, and everything now is just icing on the cake. As he has said, “I can’t believe I’m still so good at this age.” Let’s see what the old man can do.
Niels Albert
When the World Championships were last held at Hoogerheide in 2009, it was a young Niels Albert that proved strongest, and he will be looking to do so again. Although he has had no response for Nys in the last block of races, Albert has been nearly as dominant as the World Champion, claiming 11 wins, most in his trademark fashion of escaping mid-race and time-trialing to the win. Most notable, perhaps, was his win at World Cup Rome, where Albert soloed around a brutally windy course, vindicating a string of disappointing finishes.
Albert had a stomach flu that ruined his last races, and added, “I hoped that the condition would be better. I have uncertainties for Worlds. I don’t really know so I’ll have to wait. Worlds should have come a week later.” With a noticeable dip in his performance in early January, and the bug hopefully out of his system, he may just be peaking at the right time to claim his third world title.
Lars van der Haar
If anyone thought that last year’s third place finish was a fluke, Lars van der Haar showed up to this season with a clear response. In just his second season as an Elite racer, Van der Haar has claimed three World Cup races, the overall title, and leads the UCI points category. On fast, dry courses, Van der Haar is practically unmatched, and his tenacity in the late race has kept him consistently in the top five all season. If the rain stays away, the young Dutch rider could cap an already incredible season with a World Title.
Martin Bina
Martin Bina enters as a bit of an underdog, consistently in the top ten this season but never taking the top podium spot. However, last time Hoogerheide was held this time of year, in early 2013, there was a slick layer of ice underneath a powder of snow. which proved ideal conditions for the Czech racer. As other racers slid out, fell on their rears, and ungainly attempted tricky 180s, Bina shot around the parcours as if he had skates on his shoes, deploying two legged slides around corners and powering across the flats. With the weather forecasted to hover just above freezing, and rain on the horizon, conditions just might favor Bina once more.
Bina tells us, “We will see what the weather is like- maybe snow, maybe ice, why not? But I think I can ride for a top result on any course – even mud. If I feel good, then I believe my results will reflect this. I feel good but now I was after Nationals a little sick and today I felt good but after 30 minutes my back started to hurt, so I hope – and believe – it will be better by Worlds. Before Nommay World Cup, I flew to Mallorca for the last training camp. I look forward to the race. It’s a nice course. Of course I want to win it. I think it’s every rider’s dream. Sven Nys is very very strong and in Leuven [two weeks before Worlds] he rode away from us without even breathing – no problem! He’s Sven! In the Christmas races I felt better and better and I hope I feel the best at Worlds.”
Klaas Vantornout
Although in 2013 Vantornout entered the World Championships as a favorite, this year the lanky Belgian falls into the dark horse category. Plagued with a virus, and perhaps unused to the pressure of wearing the Belgian national jersey, Vantornout has only nabbed two wins of note this season, at Superprestige Ruddervorde and Middelkerke. Vantornout’s national title and second place at Louisville shows he has the pedigree to be a threat, but will he have the fitness?
He had a heavy week of training in Mallorca the week before Nommay. If he can recover from his hardest training week all season, then he can potentially can have a good showing, but his 10th place in Nommay can’t be giving him much hope.
Read our interview with Vantornout here.
Kevin Pauwels
As with last season, Pauwels never quite rose to the form he has displayed in seasons past, winning only two C1 races and, more often than not, finishing well outside the podium. Crashes and mechanicals have plagued the Belgian, as well, but Pauwels is not to be counted out if the weather stays dry. At the Vlaamse Industrieprijs Bosduin in December, Pauwels was the only man fast enough to match Lars van der Haar on the dry course, besting the Dutch rider with a final surge to take the win. If he finds the luck that has left him, Pauwels may just find some redemption, as well.
Pauwels told us, “I’m not very good but also not bad. Usually, it should all come together for Worlds. My result really depends on the course. If it’s really heavy then will it be difficult. But if it’s dry, then I can do something on it. My form is good now but it has to get better by worlds to be really good on the day. I’m no longer sick.”
Philipp Walsleben
Walsleben has seriously stepped up his game this season, and is a legitimate contender for the podium. Rarely outside the top five, Walsleben has been an instigator and attacker in many races, driving the pace and showing he has the fitness for the late game. However, he has also shown poor last-lap strategy on a number of occasions, so if the win comes down to wits, he’ll need to show he’s learned his lesson.
Walsleben enters with an extra bit of confidence: he won the 2009 U23 World title on this course.
Francis Mourey
Mourey’s commanding performance at a muddy, grueling World Cup Namur places him squarely among the top contenders. Often criticized for fading in the late race, Mourey silenced his critics with his solo ride into his second World Cup win of his career. Mourey also lost by a nickel in France, showing that his form is still good and if the conditions are right, he is a fighter. If he can keep himself together for the final laps, we may just see a French flag at the ceremony.
Tom Meeusen
While last season is one Meeusen would love to forget, this season is one to be remembered. Meeusen has been a key player in most races this year, often in the top five, setting pace, turning himself inside out, and even winning a World Cup, in Nommay. While Meeusen usually misses out to the big hitters, if the stars align just right, this may be his year.
Check out our interview with Tom Meeusen here.
Zdenek Stybar
He may not race much ’cross anymore but to discount ’crosser-turned-roadie Stybar, especially in the dry, would be a mistake. He has said that if it rains every day, he won’t race. But last night, Adri van der Poel tweeted “The track is mainy dried off after the nice weather today. Then Stybar should race.” Stybar retweeted it.
In addition to the weather, a big part of his decision-making to compete in Worlds when his focus is spring classics at the moment is because the race is close by his home in Belgium. He just arrived back in Belgium yesterday from his home in Mallorca and will checked out the Worlds course in the afternoon.
It looks like we’ll be seeing him on the start line, so keep an eye out for the former World Champion to be up in the mix.
For the Elite Women’s race predictions, stay tuned to our Worlds page for them soon, but as everyone knows, the two top contenders are obviously six-time and currently reigning World Champion Marianne Vos and American 10-time National Champion Katie Compton.
