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Vantornout takes convincing victory at home

By Brecht Decaluwé in Torhout

Klaas Vantornout (Fidea) warms up
Photo ©: Stijn Vercaemer

Klaas Vantornout has won the Sylvester cyclo-cross in Torhout in the domain d'Aertrycke. The home rider claimed victory after launching a solo attack halfway through the race. Ben Berden finished a surprising second in front of French champion Francis Mourey. It's Vantornout fourth victory of the season.

"I only pulled through once and it was Mourey who closed the gap. By looking at his face I noticed that he wasn't feeling good. From then on I believed in the victory. During the last laps I suffered a lot, because of yesterday's World Cup race in Hofstade," Vantornout said to Cyclingnews.

The young Belgian has suffered a back problem, which is still not cured. "It's a blocked vertebra which is not something you solve right away," Vantornout sighed. With the busy Christmas program these days Vantornout's back will be hurt even more. "It is a tough program, but I don't mind as this is still my hobby and that makes it less unpleasant," said Vantornout, despite the pressure of being ranked third in the UCI 'cross standings. "I could make a job from my hobby, and I'm still grateful for that."

Ben Berden wasn't really surprised with his second place as one would think. "On Sunday I already noticed that Mourey isn't in top condition. Then again, I'm pretty sure he didn't give all he had today. The competition wasn't really hard over here," Berden said to Cyclingnews.

French champion Francis Mourey was happy with his third place in Torhout. "I quickly felt that Vantornout would do all he could to win here today. He was better than me," Mourey admitted. "The other looked at me when he attacked the first time, so I reacted. When he attacked again, I didn't want to do it again but apparently nobody [else] wanted [to]," Mourey laughed. "The main thing for me was to get some rhythm as the most important goal is the French championship and the World Championships where the course suits me perfectly," Mourey explained.

How it unfolded

The riders are ready to start,
Photo ©: Stijn Vercaemer

Vantornout didn't hide his ambitions; he took the hole shot and created the first leading group of six riders with Davy Commeyne, David Willemsens, Dieter Vanthourenhout, Francis Mourey and Gerben De Knegt. Later on the young Czech Lucas Kloucek, Jan Soetens and Ben Berden joined the men up front.

After a couple of laps Vantornout accelerated for the first time and everybody had to dig deep to follow the future Sunweb-Projob rider. It was Mourey who was forced to take the initiative in chasing Vantornout and only Berden, Willemsens and De Knegt were able to join him towards the leader.

Halfway the race Vantornout accelerated again and this time Mourey didn't respond his attack. De Knegt dropped away in front after a crash, not his first of the season. Vantornout quickly gathered a safe gap of twenty seconds on the chasers where Berden, Mourey and Willemsens were the best riders. With two laps to go the chasing group split apart and it was Berden who solely went in search of the leader. With one lap to go the gap was still twenty seconds and Vantornout had time to enjoy the victory in front of his home crowd.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Stijn Vercaemer

• Klaas Vantornout (Fidea) warms up before the race.
• Sebastian Minard (Cofidis)
• Ben Berden (Revor Cycling Team) warms up before the race.
• Francis Mourey (Française des Jeux) waiting for the start.
• Jo Naert warms up prior to the race.
• Local hero Klaas Vantornout (Fidea) makes himself ready for the race.
• The riders are ready to start, (from left to right) Dieter Vanthourenhout, Gerben de Knegt, Klaas Vantornout and Francis Mourey
• Keneth Van Compernolle (Sunweb) finished on a nice 10th place.
• Tim van Nuffel (Easypay) hasn't had a lucky day. Atfer poblems in the first lap, van Nuffel finished 19th.
• Gerben de Knegt (Rabobank) leads Klaas Vantornout and Davy Commeyne
• Jan Soetens (Jartazi) and Ben Berden (Revor Cycling Team)
• Young junior Baptiste Planckaert didn't finish the race.
• The man in white Pedro Baelen finished 15th.
• The back of ProTour rider Jurgen Van de Walle (Quick.Step-Innergetic)
• Klaas Vantornout (Fidea) on his way to victory.
• Davy Commeyne (Palmans-Crass)
• David Willemsens and Francis Mourey ride back in the field for their final lap.
• Francis Mourey (Française des Jeux) finished in third.
• The podium: Ben Berden (Revor Cycling Team), Klaas Vantornout (Fidea), and Francis Mourey (Française des Jeux)

Images by Brecht Decaluwé / Cyclingnews.com

• Riders cornering in the mud near the castle of Aertrycke
• Stijn Vandenbergh
• Jackson Vijarona
• Klaas Vantornout leads the race before a group with Francis Mourey and Gerben De Knegt
• Dieter Vanthourenhout didn't have a good day
• Former world champions Mario De Clercq and Danny De Bie
• Klaas Vantornout cornering
• Klaas Vantornout takes his fourth win of the season

Images by Gino Segaert

• There's time to chat before the start
• Everybody's focused on the referee for some reason
• Gerben De Knegt leads the bunch through the forest near Torhout
• David Willemsens is likely to hit the photographer
• The course was located in the beautiful domain of the Aertrycke-castle
• Too fast, too furious... Klaas Vantornout
• The podium in Torhout : Ben Berden, Klaas Vantornout and Francis Mourey

Results

1 Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                          57.15
2 Ben Berden (Bel) Revor Cycling Team                                 0.24
3 Francis Mourey (Fra) Française des Jeux                             0.31
4 David Willemsens (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job                               0.47
5 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank                                      1.20
6 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Palmans-Cras                                    1.33
7 Lukás Kloucek (Cze) Selle Italia Guerciotti                         1.41
8 Jan Soetens (Bel) Jartazi Promo Fashion                             1.56
9 Kay Van Den Brande (Bel) Palmans-Cras                               2.04
10 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) Sunweb Pro Job
11 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone           2.08
12 Paul Oldham (GBr) Hop Factory Racing
13 Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) Chocolade Jacques Topsport Vlaanderen      2.16
14 Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) Easypay Cyclocross Team                       2.30
15 Pedro Baelen (Bel) John Saey Cycling Team                          3.02
16 Jirí Polnický (Cze) Empella Czech Team                             3.37
17 Wim Jacobs (Bel) Van der Vorst CT                                  3.58
18 Florian Le Corre (Fra) Super Sport 35                              4.03
19 Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) Easypay Cyclocross Team                       4.09
20 Gianni Denolf (Bel) Palmans-Cras                                   4.14
21 Sylwester Janiszewski (Pol) CWKS Legia Warszawa                    4.26
22 Christophe Le Bouedec (Fra) UC Pays Plouay                         4.36
23 Mike Thielemans (Bel) Cycling Team Thielemans & Co - Reynaers      4.44
24 Tomasz Repinski (Pol) CWKS Legia                                   4.56
25 Sebastien Le Naour (Fra) VS Quimperois                             5.04
26 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner             5.57
27 Anders Klinkby (Den) Vejen Bicycle Club                            6.07
28 Quincy Vens (Bel) Vzw Wielerpromotie Cycli Prom                    6.14
29 Matthew Pacocha (USA) Velonews
30 Jurgen Vandewalle (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic                       6.20
31 Cyrille Prise (Fra) VC Rouen 76                                    7.24
32 Robin Seymour (Irl) Team Worc                                      7.56
33 Mickael Calvez (Fra) VS Quimperois
34 Valentijn Ponseele (Bel) WC De Molenspurters - Meulebeke
35 Jo Naert (Bel) Lingier Versluys Beachbikers Team
36 Piotr Antkowiak (Pol) UKS Jedynka
37 Yannick Laurent (Fra) VS Quimperois
38 Pascal Colaert (Bel) Bodysol- Lotto Cycling Team Menen
39 Keith Murray (GBr) Wheelspincycles
40 Roger Aiken (GBr) Banbridge CC
41 Florian Guillou (Fra) Unibet.com
42 Tony Le Bail (Fra) VC Pontivyen
43 David Chemille (Fra) VS Quimperois
44 Steven De Schoesitter (Bel) Rudyco Cycling Team
45 Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) WC Soenens-Germond Ingelmunster
46 Freddy De Meester (Bel) Rijschool AH - Gentse Velosport
47 Xavier Vanhille (Bel) WC Soenens-Germond Ingelmunster
48 Philip Roche (Irl) Team Worc
49 Brian Weightman (USA) Cycle-Smart
50 Jackson Vijarona (Zim) Giant
51 Dries Cauwelier (Bel) Cycling Team Cauwelier Roeselare

Past winners

2006 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Rabobank
2005 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) AA drink-Bejan
2004 Mario de Clercq (Bel) MrBookmaker.com - Palmans
2003 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon
2002 Mario De Clercq (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
2001 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites
2000 Bart Wellens (Bel) Spaar Select
1999 Bart Wellens (Bel)
 
Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com