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Dauphiné Libéré
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 UCI codes explained

Cyclo-cross World Cup #11 - CDM

Hoogerheide, Netherlands, January 21, 2007

Results    

Nys storms through hail and rain

Many riders abandon to stay healthy for world's

By Brecht Decaluwé in Hoogerheide

Sven Nys wins his seventh World Cup
Photo ©: Brecht Decaluwé
(Click for larger image)

What could have been the last intensive training session before the world's turned out instead to be an extremely hard race for some riders as hail and rain hammered the elite men in Hoogerheide, near Antwerp on Sunday.

The weather was so bad that soon after the start, some riders decided to call it a day as they suffered the extremely tough race conditions. Bart Wellens (Fidea) who should feature as the main rival to UCI-leader Sven Nys (Rabobank) at the world's next week, abandoned after two laps and was soon followed by many other big names like Richard Groenendaal (Rabobank), Klaas Vantornout (Fidea) and Sven Vanthourenhout (Sunweb).

By then the front group was already formed with John Gadret (AG2R), Petr Dlask (Fidea), Christian Heule (Stevens), Jonathan Page (Morgan Blue) and world champion Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) standing tall against the stormy weather conditions. Nys, meanwhile, was steadily recovering from a bad start and finding his way to the front group. "I couldn't follow those guys during the first laps; Heule, Page, Gadret, Dlask … they were all riding way too fast for me," Nys said.

While Nys made contact with the race leaders, Heule and Page dropped back. Halfway through the race it was clear that Dlask, Vervecken, Nys and Gadret would battle for victory. One lap later Nys decided that the speed wasn't high enough and he stormed forward to continue solo. "I intentionally continued my efforts as next week someone might force me to dig deep the whole race long. Anyway I'm feeling much stronger now than a few weeks ago," Nys explained.

Behind Nys it was Dlask who showed that he was the best of the rest while the world champion and Gadret were suffering big time. Nys knows Dlask is getting stronger but isn't afraid. "He's always starting quickly but he's also dropping back later on, just like last week. He's certainly not bad but he'll fall short," said Nys. Dlask loved the extreme circumstances but found the timing of such a race annoying. "If I would've been riding in eighth position I certainly would've abandoned to stay healthy for the world's. By the end of the race I really started to get cold, so now I'm a bit scared I might get sick." a tooth clattering Dlask explained to Cyclingnews. The Czech giant had a troubled start to the season but next week he will be one of the favourites for the world title. "My legs are very good right now so I will surely strive for a medal," Dlask said while sitting against the heaters in the press room.

While Nys didn't seem to suffer too much from the cold, his team mate Vervecken certainly did. "At first I was feeling extremely well but with three laps to go I almost decided to abandon the race, I didn't do it as De Knegt could then overtake me in the UCI-rankings," Vervecken explained. Soon after an under cooled Gerben De Knegt (Rabobank) quit the race, needing support to make it to the showers. The world champion eventually managed to keep off Franzoi for the podium; the Italian champion had a remarkable second half of the race and finished fourth. While Page lost a few places during the last laps to finish ninth in the end, American champion Ryan Trebon (Kona) recovered from a bad start to make it into the top-10. Both riders immediately hit the showers as they were shaking from the cold.

Kupfernagel ready for world's

Hanka Kupfernagel
Photo ©: Brecht Decaluwé
(Click for larger image)

The women's race was dominated by Hanka Kupfernagel and current world champion Marianne Vos. The German woman kept the pressure on Vos and had a small gap with two laps to go. Vos didn't give in but just couldn’t bridge back up to Kupfernagel. "I had a little crash during the first lap but I managed to get into the leading group. Just before the last lap I could turn up the speed a little more. Next week I expect Marianne Vos and Daphny Van Den Brand to perform really well," Kupfernagel explained to Cyclingnews.

Katie Compton's good start was spoiled by some crashes after colliding first with Kupfernagel and later on with Van Den Brand; eventually Compton finished tenth. "I didn't have great legs today and those stupid crashes can be avoided at the world's. Today I was off the pace for sure so I'll be happy with top-10 at the world's" Compton said.

Niels Albert grabs U23 World Cup

The U23 race was dominated by the two protagonists, Dutch elite champion Lars Boom (Rabobank) and Belgian U23 champion Niels Albert (Palmans). "I made two mistakes during the race, forcing me to use more energy than I wanted to," Albert said. In the ultimate lap Boom attacked Albert and got a gap of 30 metres. Albert was unable to close it down and at the finish Boom was 15 seconds clear of his main rival. "I think we're both good right now; the world's will be decided by the form of the day," Boom said.

French prospect Romain Villa was always riding in third position and was able to keep current world champion Stybar away from the podium.

With his second place in Hoogerheide, Niels Albert did more than he needed to do to claim the overall victory in the U23 World Cup. Albert's main rivals were compatriot Dieter Vanthourenhout and the Czech Lukas Kloucek. Both riders were unable to touch Albert and with a ninth place Vanthourenhout did enough to stay ahead of Kloucek in the world cup rankings, claiming a strong second place overall.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews.com

Results

Elite men

1 Sven Nys (Ned) Rabobank                                 1.06.47
2 Petr Dlask (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team                        1.37
3 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                   1.56
4 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre Fondital                       2.01
5 Christian Heule (Swi) Stevens Racing Team                  2.18
6 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                          2.36
7 Rene Birkenfeld (Ger) Harvestehuder RSV v. 1909            2.45
8 Simon Zahner (Swi) Bürgis Cycling Team                     2.55
9 Jonathan Page (USA) Morgan Blue                            3.07
10 Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona                                    3.21
11 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank                              3.33
12 David Willemsens (Bel) Sunweb-Projob                      3.47
13 Johannes Sickmüller (Ger) Harvestehuder RSV v. 1909       3.55
14 Thijs Al (Ned) BeOne                                      4.25
15 Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) Style & Concept                      4.34
16 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop                     4.47
17 Marek Cichosz (Pol) Lider Slubice                         5.01
18 David Derepas (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole               5.42
19 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) G.S. Selle Italia Guerciotti  6.08
20 Greg Reain (Can) Stevens Racing Team                      6.21
21 Joachim Parbo (Den) CK Aarhus                             6.33
22 Jean-Pierre Leijten (Ned)                                 6.49
23 Philip Dixon (GBr) Trek - SIS                             8.29
24 Rob Jebb (GBr) Wheelbase - Ron Hill                       8.42
25 Erik Tonkin (USA) Kona                                    9.42
26 Kelichi Tsujiura (Jpn)                                    9.52
27 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) ZZPR.nl                          + 1 lap
29 Tristan Schouten (USA)
30 Mike Garrigan (Can) HB Cycling Club
DNF Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
DNF Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob
DNF Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
DNF Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank
DNF Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank
DNF Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
DNF Steve Chainel (Fra) Auber 93
DNF Maarten Nijland (Ned) Ruiter Dakkapellen
DNF Wilant van Gils (Ned) ZZPR.nl
DNF Camiel Van Den Bergh (Ned) Stevens Racing Team
DNF Marco Bianco (Ita) L Arcobaleno Carraro Team
DNF Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) G.S. Selle Italia Guerciotti
DNF Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Wine
DNF Barry Wicks (USA) Kona
DNF Malte Urban (Ger) Heinz von Heiden Team Hannover
DNF Dariusz Gil (Pol) LKS Pom Strzelce Krajenskie
DNF Andrzej Kaiser (Pol) DHL Author
DNF Gusty Bausch (Lux) VC Diekirch

Elite Women
 
1 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Focus-worldsportstar               42.02
2 Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank                            0.04
3 Helen Wyman (GBr) Global Racing Team                        0.36
4 Maryline Salvetat (Fra)                                     1.04
5 Laurence Leboucher (Fra)                                    1.10
6 Reza Hormes (Ned)                                           1.26
7 Birgit Hollmann (Ger) Team Getränke-Hoffmann                1.31
8 Christelle Ferrier Bruneau (Fra)                            1.39
9 Vania Rossi (Ita)                                           2.05
10 Katie Compton (USA)                                        2.18
11 Susanne Juranek (Ger) RSC Oldenburg 1965                   2.30
12 Linda Van Rijen (Ned) Team DSB Bank                        2.40
13 Loes Sels (Bnel) Vlaanderen - Caprisonne - T Interim       2.56
14 Daniela Bresciani (Ita)                                    3.05
15 Caroline Mani (Fra)                                        3.16
16 Rosa Maria Bravo (Spa)
17 Nicole Kampeter (Ger) RC Endspurt Herford                  3.34
18 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Flexpoint Team                        4.09
19 Rhonda Mazza (USA)
20 Sanne Kant (Bel)
21 Arenda Grimberg (Ned)
22 Alessandra Fatato (Ita)                                    4.35
23 Gabriella Day (GBr) Global Racing Team                     4.38
24 Hilde Quintens (Bel)                                       4.58
25 Stéphanie Pohl (Ger)                                       5.10
26 Milena Cavani (Ita)
27 Claudia Seidel (Ger) RSV Neustadt                          5.18
28 Britt Jochems (Ned)
29 Deidre Winfield (USA)                                      5.29
30 Anja Nobus (Bel)                                           5.34
31 Katrien Pauwels (Bel)                                      5.50
32 Katrien Aerts (Bel)                                        6.15
33 Christine Vardaros (USA)
34 Francesca Cucciniello (Ita)                                7.48
35 Maga Ogishima (Jap)
36 Ayaka Toyooka (Jap)                                        8.35
37 Michiko Shimura (Jap)
38 Ikumi Tajika (Jap)                                         9.11
39 Petra Hofs (Ned)                                           9.34
 
Under 23
 
1 Lars Boom (Ned)                                             50.29
2 Niels Albert (Bel)                                           0.15
3 Romain Villa (Ita)                                           0.46
4 Zdenek Stybar (Cze)                                          1.28
5 Rafael Visinelli (Ita)                                       2.00
6 Lukas Kloucek (Cze)                                          2.13
7 Julien Taramarcaz (Swi)                                      2.20
8 Rob Peeters (Bel)                                            2.21
9 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel)
10 Finn Heitmann (Ger)
11 Aurelien Duval (Fra)
12 Philippe Walsleben (Ger)                                    2.31
13 Ricardo van der Velde (Ned)                                 2.33
14 Romain Lejeune (Fra)                                        2.34
15 Jempy Drucker (Lux)                                         3.00
16 Frantisek Kloucek (Cze)                                     3.06
17 Thijs van Amerongen (Ned)                                   3.09
18 Jonathan Lopez (Fra)                                        3.18
19 Matthias Flückiger (Swi)                                    3.24
20 Cristian Cominelli (Ita)                                    3.33
21 Tom Van Den Bosch (Bel)                                     3.46
22 Marco Ponta (Ita)                                           3.53
23 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel)                               4.05
24 Tom Meeusen (Bel)
25 Florian Le Corre (Fra)                                      4.17
26 Patrick van Leeuwen (Ned)                                   4.23
27 Ondrej Bambula (Cze)                                        4.38
28 Marcel Wildhaber (Swi)
29 Karl Schoknecht (Ger)                                       4.41
30 René Lang (Swi)
31 David Menger (Cze)                                          4.45
32 Eddy van IJzendoorn (Ned)                                   5.10
33 Rikke Dijkxhoorn (Ned)                                      5.13
34 Gabriele Mercante (Ita)                                     5.32
35 Ian Field (GBr)                                             5.39
36 Kim Michely (Lux)                                           5.42
37 Mitchell Huenders (Ned)                                     5.58
38 Davide Malacarne (Ita)                                      6.19
39 David Claerebout (Lux)                                      7.05
40 Chance Noble (USA)                                          7.21
41 Tomasz Repinski (Pol)                                       7.28
42 Andrea Bassani (Ita)                                        7.58
43 Lukas Winterberg (Swi)                                      8.03
44 Koen van Grootel (Ned)                                      8.58
45 Joost Spring (Ned)                                       + 1 lap
46 Edwin Arts (Ned)
47 Daniel Neyens (USA)
48 Adam Bycka (Pol)
49 Sylwester Janizewski (Pol)
50 Jeroen Dekkers (Ned)
51 Jorn van Veen (Ned)
52 Enrico Liebe (Ned)
53 Yu Takenouchi (Jap)
54 Charles Marzot (USA)
55 Luuk van Vliet (Ned)
56 Sascha Weber (Ger)
57 Tetsuya Fujioka (Jap)
 
Juniors
 
1 Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra)                                       38.40
2 Thomas Girard (Fra)                                          0.15
3 Joeri Adams (Bel)                                            0.16
4 Filip Adel (Cze)
5 Ole Quast (Ger)                                              0.39
6 Jiri Polnicky (Cze)
7 Alessandro Calderan (Ita)                                    0.43
8 Matthias Rupp (Swi)                                          1.01
9 Marek Konwa (Pol)                                            1.02
10 Twan van den Brand (Ned)                                    1.04
11 Jim Aernouts (Bel)                                          1.06
12 Stef Boden (Bel)                                            1.07
13 Thilbault Taboury (Fra)                                     1.09
14 Rob van der Velde (Ned)                                     1.13
15 Kevin Eeckhout (Bel)                                        1.14
16 Mathieu Boulo (Fra)
17 Jonathan McEvoy (GBr)
18 Matteo Trentin (Ita)
19 Danny Summerhill (USA)                                      1.21
20 Elia Silvestri (Ita)                                        1.32
21 David Fletcher (GBr)                                        1.38
22 Vincent Baestaens (Bel)                                     1.45
23 Kristof Cop (Bel)
24 Marcel Meisen (Ger)                                         2.03
25 Steven van Leijen (Ned)
26 Valentin Scherz (Swi)
27 Geert van der Horst (Ned)
28 Alex Paton (GBr)                                            2.11
29 Jordy Beuker (Ned)                                          2.12
30 Kevin Leveghi (Ita)                                         2.16
31 Fabian Danner (Ger)                                         2.26
32 Pierre Kaeslin (Swi)                                        2.27
33 Petr Marvan (Cze)                                           2.37
34 Marek Benda (Cze)                                           2.39
35 Nick Keough (USA)                                           2.43
36 Kaj Slenter (Ned)                                           2.48
37 Philippe Hutmacher (Lux)                                    2.55
38 Scott Thwaites (GBr)                                        3.02
39 Harm van der Sanden (Ned)                                   3.09
40 Giuseppe Michieletto (Ita)                                  3.17
41 Bart Barkhuis (Ned)                                         3.19
42 Josef Rauber (Ger)                                          3.21
43 Carson Miller (USA)                                         3.24
44 Thomas Lemaitre (Fra)                                       3.42
45 Piotr Antkowiak, (Bel)
46 Pit Schlechter (Lux)
47 Kevin Smit (Ned)
48 Kamil Markowski (Pol)                                       3.50
49 Tommy van Beem (Ned)                                        3.59
50 Jerome Townsend (USA)                                       4.08
51 Cristian Romano (Ita)                                       4.25
52 Jordy van Erp (Ned)                                         4.49
53 Max Walsleben (Ger)                                         4.54
54 Sean Worsech (USA)                                          5.02
55 Arnaud Grand (Swi)                                          5.22
56 Peter Frei (Swi)
57 Vincent Dias Dos Santos (Lux)
58 Timo Daams (Ned)                                            6.07
59 Alain Page (Swi)                                            6.58
60 Erwin van Dijk (Ned)                                        7.23
61 Spencer Smitheman (Can)                                     7.47
62 Cees de Ridder (Ned)                                        8.49
63 Casper Oppeneer (Ned)                                       9.10
64 Marcel Lommers (Ned)                                        9.48