Cyclo-cross News & Racing Round-up, Tuesday, March 30, 2010

• Previous Edition
• Next Edition

Date published:

March 30, 2010, 20:00

• Stybar ices the cake with World Championship win

  

  Article published:

  January 31, 2010, 19:00

  By:

  Brecht Decaluwé

  Belgian's prepare to deliver Czech star 'home' to Flanders

  With a blistering performance in the snow and ice of his home country Czech Zdenek Stybar (Telenet-Fidea) brought home the biggest win of his career to secure his first elite World Cyclo-cross Championship win on Sunday in Tabor.

  Stybar's win came nineteen years after the last Czech win at the world championships when Radomir Simunek Snr - father of the eponymous rider of the BKCP-Powerplus team, Radomir Simunek Jnr - won the World title in Gieten, Netherlands in 1991.

  "Hopefully it will not take that long before my country can celebrate the next world title," Stybar laughed afterwards.

  The 24-year-old Czech had to pull off a great ride to claim victory in Tabor and at the end of the first lap his task was made all the more difficult when he suddenly dropped from first to twelfth position with a puncture.

  "I knew that I was in the form of my life and I was prepared that ,despite bad luck, I would still be able to close the gap on the leaders. I had a plan in my head. At first I tucked in behind the French rider Francis Mourey, but I knew that I would move up. I knew accidents could happen and all race long I was riding on the edge. That way I couldn't have any regrets after the race."

  After receiving a fresh bike, Stybar bounced back from 12th position and three laps later launched a fierce attack to which none of his rivals was able to respond.

  "Once in front I didn't know what the gap was. When looking at the big screens I only saw myself; it was only later I received information from people along the course."

  His World title comes just a week after his overall win in the International Cycling Union's (UCI) World Cup and makes the 2009-2010 season the best of his short but successful career. Racing on home soil as one of the top favourites brings along a lot of pressure but the Czech dealt perfectly with it by passing the baton of responsibility to Belgian champion Sven Nys.

  "I wasn't stressed. Thanks to the overall victory in the World Cup I had a lot of confidence. That competition was my goal of the season, this is the icing on the cake."

  Honorary Flandrian

  Born in Stribro, near Plzen, the first Czech world title in nineteen years will surely boost the sport's popularity in the Eastern European country. All the Czech riders were supported strongly by the huge crowds, but Stybar was also boosted by support from his adopted home, Belgium.

  "It's definitely the biggest experience so far. There were so many Czechs and Belgian fans supporting me today. Winning in front of a home crowd is unbelievable," he said. "Nys is exposed to a similar atmosphere in his hometown Baal, but for me an experience like this isn't possible when I'm racing in Belgium."

  Though excited by his victory in front of hoards of his compatriots, Stybar lives full-time in Belgium and dates a Flemish girl. Those factors, his ability to speak Dutch and a outgoing personality have already endeared him to many die-hard Flemish cyclo-cross fans.

  The Belgians have already staked their claim for the Czech, chartering a plane that will bring 'home' the World Champion on Sunday evening. "My sponsor Telenet has a plane with 170 people on board. They arranged a party in case I was World Champion," explained Stybar.

  "That's my priority now. I'm earning my money with Telenet-Fidea. I would have liked to spend more time with my friends and family here, but that's how it goes in the professional world."

• Inspired Czech squad top Worlds medal tally

  

  Article published:

  February 1, 2010, 06:17

  By:

  Brecht Decaluwé and Richard Tyler

  Belgian coach concedes elite Czech squad unbeatable

  While Zdenek Stybar led the Czech charge in the elite men's race at the 2010 World Cyclo-cross Championships, his was just one of a number of stellar performances by riders from the host nation this year in Tabor.

  Behind the new World Champion came a steady stream of his compatriots, with Martin Bina, Martin Zlamalik, Radomir Simunek, Kamil Ausbuher, Ondrej Bambula and Petr Dlask all active during the race. The top-ten performances by Stybar, Bina, Zlamalik and Simunek in the elite race came just 24-hours after Tomas Paprtska's triumph in the junior men's race. It was a strong showing across the entire Czech selection.

  During the first two laps of the elite men's event, Radomir Simunek was riding near the front and even led the race for a period. The son of the last Czech world champion (Radomir Simunek Snr, in 1991), he had high hopes of a good performance in Tabor but health problems affected his race. During the third lap Simunek lost position as he swapped bikes and never returned to the front of the race, eventually finishing in eighth place.

  "It was very good but I didn't have a good day. My foot was a big problem but I was a bit sick too. I didn't get enough air with this cold weather. The crowds screamed me forward early on and they made me do more than was possible," Simunek told Cyclingnews.

  While Simunek went backwards during the race his compatriot Bina had a bad first lap and had to fight his way back into the race from a distant 18th position. "During the first lap I stumbled over the hurdles and went down," Bina told Cyclingnews.

  By the time Bina reached the front of the race during the fourth lap Stybar had just gone clear. Bina never let go of a top-five position and eventually battled with Belgian star Sven Nys for the remaining podium spot. Despite the cold weather both riders dug deep as they attacked one another in the closing laps before Nys prevailed in the final sprint.

  "With three laps to go it felt as if my legs were frozen," Bina said. "Finishing just off the podium makes it very bitter but Nys just had that little extra in the end. I'm happy with my performance but disappointed with the result," Bina said.

  Despite a fourth place during the first World Cup of the season in Treviso, Italy, Bina never again cracked the top-five in the World Cup. Still, Bina wasn't surprised by his peformance at the World Championships. "All season long I have been focusing on this single race. That's why I was so good. The support of the crowds helped of course," he said.

  Belgians left disappointed

  The Czech Republic's strong performance swung the limelight away from the normally dominant Belgian contingent, leaving them looking for excuses. Belgian national coach Rudy De Bie had to acknowledge the strength of the Czech squad. "At a certain moment they were simply running away with the race. I've never seen that many Czech riders up front and of course Stybar was way too strong for us today," De Bie said.

  "I'm not disappointed by the overall performance of the Belgian team but I did expect different names up front in most races. I was really supporting Nys to grab that third place and he pulled it off. Second and third was the most we could get today," De Bie conceded. Before the world championships De Bie expressed his hopes for five medals but the Belgian selection leaves Tabor with only one silver and one bronze medal.

  With his success today Stybar became the first Czech to win the elite 'cross World title for 19 years. Radomir Simunek Snr was the last rider from the central European nation to achieve the feat in 1991. Simunek's son, Radomir Simunek Jnr, was one of a four Czech riders to finish in the top-ten, with Martin Bina just missing out on the bronze medal.

  Stybar's win was a golden bookend for the Czech team, as the host nation moved to the top of the medal tally with two gold medals:

  Gold medal tally:
  Czech Republic – 2 (Tomas Paprstka – Junior men's, Zdenek Stybar – Elite men's)
  Poland – 1 (Pawel Szczepaniak – Under 23 men's)
  Netherlands – 1 (Marianne Vos – Elite Women's)

  Silver medal tally:
  Belgium – 1 (Klaas Vantornout – Elite men's)
  Germany – 1 (Hanka Kupfernagel – Elite women's)
  Poland – (Kacper Szczepaniak – Under 23 men's)
  France – 1 (Julian Alaphilippe – Junior men's)

  Bronze medal tally:
  Netherlands – 2 (Daphny Van den Brand – Elite women's, Emiel Dolfsma – Junior men's)
  Belgium – 1 (Sven Nys – Elite men's)
  France – 1 (Arnoud Jouffroy – Under 23 men's)

• Mixed results for the strongest ever US line-up

  

  Article published:

  February 1, 2010, 14:00

  By:

  Brecht Decaluwé

  National champion Johnson top finisher in Tabor

  The US line-up in the Elite Men category of the 2010 Cyclo-cross world championships was regarded as the strongest selection ever but the results of the team didn't come out as well as expected. The top US finisher in the Elite Men's category was national champion Timothy Johnson.

  Johnson fought his way up after a messy start and finished fourteenth, 2:28 behind winner Zdenek Stybar. "I'm happy, but I wanted top 10 so I wish I was happier," Johnson said.

  Hurt by a poor starting position, Johnson had to fight through traffic in 28th place on the first lap. "The start was a mess, it was just like a pinball game. In the second corner my bike got stuck in Jonathan Page's bike," the US champion told Cyclingnews.

  From the second lap on there was more space and Johnson clocked the tenth fastest time of that lap to move into 22nd. "I always moved up. I saw Page again during the second lap and further into the race I passed riders like Erwin Vervecken, Niels Albert and Kevin Pauwels; they weren't happy with the course," Johnson added.

  When asked how he managed to continue moving up Johnson explained that staying upright was a factor but he also had a good word for compatriot Luke Keough who raced the U23 event on Saturday.

  "I didn't crash or have any mechanicals. I switched to a fresh bike once to get rid of the weight from the snow and ice but that was it. I have to thank Luke Keogh too. He lent me some sheet-metal screws for my cleats and they allowed me to blast past other riders when running on the ice," Johnson said.

  Johnson could have benefited even more from the ice had the UCI not decided to cover the course in sand in order to make it less slippery. "It was too bad they changed the course. They move the race to different locations but they don't accept the circumstances that occur on those locations," he said.

  During the last laps Johnson was in contention for eleventh place but the race ended a little too early for the US champion. "I needed more than sixty minutes. The guys in the front row probably hope the race is over as soon as possible, while for me the clock is working to my disadvantage. Some have a perfect race from the back and others have a shit race from the front row; we all battle together," Johnson said.

  Other US finishes

  The second best US finisher was 23-year-old Jamey Driscoll, who rode a great race and moved into the top 20 during the last lap. Jeremy Powers and Ryan Trebon were unlucky, finishing 41st and 50th, respectively,

  Up in 30th place, 2007 worlds silver medalist Jonathan Page had miserable luck which put him out of contention, and was outspoken in his frustration with bizarre mechanicals.

  "I am f*cking disappointed. Where is my luck? There was nothing I could do today. Never have I had my chain stuck between the crank arm and rings. It was wedged so tightly that I couldn't get it out - what are the chances? And then, I've also never had my quick release open up after a crash. I didn't even think to look at it before I got back on my bike after wrenching the chain out," Page explained.

  For riders who are not on the European circuit, the World Championships were the last race of the season but for the others there are still some races coming up, like the Superprestige series and the Gazet van Antwerpen Trophy. "I'm going to try to focus on the next three weeks instead of the bad day," Page said.

• Albert soldiers on after defeat at cyclo-cross worlds

  

  Article published:

  February 3, 2010, 18:11

  By:

  Brecht Decaluwé

  Belgian back on track after Sunday's disappointment

  Just three days after Belgian Niels Albert bid farewell to his title as World Champion in Tábor, Czech Republic after a resounding defeat at the hands of Zdenek Stybar and the icy championship parcours, the Belgian sped to victory in the Parkcross Maldegem in his home country.

  With Stybar trailing in for seventh, Albert insisted that he wasn't out for revenge after his time in the rainbow bands was ended.

  "Last year when I came here as the new world champion, I was 13th. It's normal that Stybar wasn't in the mix."

  After Albert's domination of the early part of the 'cross season, he suffered a broken rib at the hands of an unruly spectator during the Belgian Championships. But after pulling out of the world championship race, Albert blamed his poor performance less on the injury than the fact that he simply didn't like the course.

  In Tabor, it seemed his heart wasn't in the race from the first lap - he was already 14th at the end of the first lap, and two laps later, he was seen shaking his head when he passed the pit zone where his manager Christophe Roodhooft was present. A journalist asked if that wasn't too early to give up.

  "No, I was doing all I could and I noticed that I was only going backwards. Then you have to make the conclusion. Of course Christophe wanted me to continue, and I was also thinking about the fans who traveled all the way to the Czech Republic to support me. But I was riding between riders who normally aren't of my level," Albert said.

  Albert quickly hid in his camper and took his time to digest his defeat. After being freshened up, a friendly Albert talked with the press on the past year, the race and the future ahead. 

  "My year is over," Albert said of his world title. "I won't be losing any sleep about this race, but it did bring some stress along."

  After starting the season with a bang by dominating September and October, Albert lost the fight for the World Cup two weeks ago in Roubaix against Stybar. Albert didn't win the Belgian national championships and so only two goals remain: taking the Superprestige series and the Gazet van Antwerpen Trophy.

  "Physically I'm not bad, but we'll see how I fare in those races. Today I just got fed up by the course. It didn't suit me, and I think those courses will remain my weak point," Albert stated. "This was an exceptionally cold winter. I didn't notice much of that global warming people are talking about," Albert joked.

  "I'm disappointed as I did everything to be good here and my whole entourage was available to make the best of it.

  "This will remain in my head for two to three days, but Christophe tried to cheer me on by saying that I would receive a new kit," Albert smiled before explaining it would be strange to see Stybar in 'his' jersey. "It won't hurt too much to see Stybar in the rainbow jersey during the upcoming races, but I think at the start of next season it will hurt a little more."

• Stybar breaks Nys' Superprestige streak

  

  Article published:

  February 14, 2010, 15:08

  By:

  Cycling News

  World Champion battles past Albert to win in Vorselaar

  World Champion Zdenek Stybar has become the first rider other than Sven Nys to claim the overall Superprestige title since 2004 with a spectacular victory in Vorselaar today.

  Coming into the series finale Stybar was tied with Belgian Niels Albert for the overall classification, both on 95 points, with Nys a distant third on 86.

  For Nys to take his record 8th straight series title, he would have needed a miraculous race to make up the 9 point deficit. Instead, Nys' chance at a podium finish was ruined by a last-lap crash in an icy corner with Albert's teammate Radomir Simunek.

  With Albert on the attack, Stybar waged a courageous comeback at the front of the race after a slow bike change dropped him out of the lead group. He reached Albert on the last lap, and the pair battled elbow to elbow with race and the series on the line. Each rider took risks to pass the other until finally Stybar surged to the front and held his position uncontested to the line.

  "It was all or nothing," said Stybar. "I had to change bikes after my wheel was damaged after a crash. I had to take a lot of risks on the last two laps. I am now completely wrecked, but I won!"

  It was only Stybar's second race win in the 2009-2010 series after he bested Nys in Hamme-Zogge. Albert won three rounds: Hoogstraten, Gavere and Diegem, but his fifth place finish in Zonhoven cost him dearly.

  Nys also won three rounds in Ruddervoorde, Gieten and Zonhoven, but a mechanical in Diegem that prevented him from finishing the race spelled an end to his storied run in the Superprestige. He still holds the record for series race wins with 51 and overall series wins with 9.

  Stybar's Superprestige series victory marked the third major title of Stybar's 2009/2010 season, following his triumph in the overall World Cup series and the World Championships last month. The Gazet van Antwerpen trophy now remains the only major series Stybar is yet to secure in his young career.

  But the Czech star may have to wait a little longer to secure the Gazet van Antwerpen title. Nys retains a 14 point lead over Stybar and Albert as the series heads into its finale next weekend in Oostmalle, Belgium.

• Szczepaniak brothers positive for EPO at cyclo-cross Worlds

  

  Article published:

  March 11, 2010, 15:30

  By:

  Cycling News

  Polish top two in Under-23 race provisionally suspended

  Polish brothers Pawel and Kacper Szczepaniak, who finished first and second in this year's under 23 cyclo-cross World Championship, have returned positive results for EPO, in controls carried out at the event which took place in Tabor, Czech Republic in January.

  The International Cycling Union (UCI) confirmed on Thursday that the brothers' positive results came from targeted urine tests carried out following the under-23 World Championship race. The two had been targeted after suspicious blood profiles were revealed as part of their respective biological passports.

  Arnaud Jouffrey of France now stands to inherit the title of under 23 World Champion should the counter-analyses confirm the presence of EPO.

  Kacper, 19, the younger of the two brothers recently signed for the Telenet-Fidea team. According to Belgian media the team has called a press conference for Thursday evening. Its rider Tom Meeusen placed fourth in the race and could be moved into the silver medal position.

  At the World Championships the Szczepaniaks got away on the second of seven laps with fellow Pole Marek Konwa. Pawel, 20, took the lead on the fourth lap, and never gave it up. He finished 20 seconds ahead of his brother Kacper, with French rider Arnaud Jouffroy finishing in third place, one second later.
  

• Kacper Szczepaniak attempts suicide

  

  Article published:

  March 15, 2010, 10:15

  By:

  Richard Tyler

  Father prevents son's death after positive doping test

  Poland's Kacper Szczepaniak has reportedly attempted to commit suicide, after he was last week provisionally suspended by the International Cycling Union (UCI) for a failed doping test.

  Kacper's elder brother Pawel confirmed to Het Laatste Nieuws that his sibling had attempted to end his own life, but had been stopped by their father.

  Kacper, 19, finished second to Pawel, 21, in the under 23 World cyclo-cross Championship race on January 30, however, both tested positive for EPO in a doping control conducted at the event and are likely to be stripped of their medals.

  Het Laatste Nieuws also reported that Hans Van Kasteren, the manager of Kacper's professional team Telenet-Fidea, believes a Polish coach had encouraged the two to dope.

  "I've plenty of information to figure out who the man is," said Van Kasteren. "We never approve [of doping], but it doesn't take much to understand why those guys could not resist the temptation. In Poland, their father has a monthly salary of just 250 euros, while Kacper with a [top] team could earn 2500 euros [a month]."

  The Szczepaniaks will remain provisionally suspended pending disciplinary action by the Polish Cycling Federation. Results of their B samples are also pending.
   

• Rabobank-Giant Off Road Team completed

  

  Article published:

  March 30, 2010, 18:17

  By:

  Cycling News

  Five young riders signed

  Five riders have joined the Rabobank Giant Off Road Team to complete its 14-person roster: Gert-Jan Bosman, Lars van der Haar, Mike Teunissen, Emiel Dolfsma and Michiel van der Heijden.

  Richard Groenendaal, director of the cyclo-cross division of the team, welcomed the arrival of the young racers. "We want a good future for these riders," said the former cyclo-cross World Champion, who will use his experience to help guide their fledgling careers.

  Current Rabobank racers Gerben de Knegt and Bart Aernouts will have four new, young teammates for the next cyclo-cross season. The 17-year-old Emiel Dolfsma and 18-year-old Lars van der Haar,will bolster the team's cyclo-cross squad along with Mike Teunissen and Gert-Jan Bosman, both 17, who also have ambitions on the road.

  The 18-year-old Michiel van der Heijden, who finished second at the 2009 European mountain bike championships and is a multi-time Dutch national champion, will begin racing with the team in October.

  "The advantage of our team is that the riders can move to the Rabobank (road) Continental Team," said Groenendaal. "They are all young and have yet to find their way as cyclists. Cycling is primarily for fun and gaining experience. The first or second years, riders do not have to opt for a certain discipline. The (Rabobank) programs offer young riders the chance to combine disciplines."
  
  Groenendaal worked all last winter during 'cross season with van der Haar. "Such cooperation was good for me. I learned a lot from Richard," said van der Haar. "He knows all the courses and techniques and knows what choices I should make. I've also found that my base is not good enough. This summer will be for working hard."

  "It has always been a dream of mine to ride for Rabobank. In a good team you can encourage each other and then it works very motivating," he said.

  The new signings are joining existing Rabobank-Giant Off Road team members including cyclo-crossers Gerben de Knegt and Bart Aernouts and mountain bikers Emil Lindgren, Fabian Giger, Adam Craig, Erik Groen, Tim Lemmers, Marco Minnaard and Jelmer Jubbega.