Vanthourenhout ambitious for Averbode

Cyclo-cross star Sven Vanthourenhout has made the Benelux race in Averbode, Belgium, on Sunday, May 10 his first important goal of the mountain bike season. He intends to focus more on mountain biking this summer and will race the Belgian Championships, the European Championships and the Benlux series.

The Sunweb-Projob rider is primarily known for his cyclo-cross racing; however, he's already distinguished himself as a versatile rider in other disciplines. In 2008, he finished second in the Belgian Championships on the road at Knokke-Heist. In March of this year, he won the Beach Mountain Bike Challenge, also in Knokke-Heist.

Vanthourenhout will be tested in Averbode, where he will race against Olympic Champion Julien Absalon, Sven Nys, Bart Brentjens and Roel Paulissen.

Other 'cross stars expected to compete there are Kevin Pauwels, Zdenek Stybar, Sven Nys, Tom Meeusen and Gerben de Knegt.