Stybar solos to first World Cup win of season

World champion Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) claimed his first World Cup victory this season with a win in Liévin, a town near Lens in the north of France. On a fast course with a mixture of a frozen subsoil and a muddy top layer Stybar excelled on his pink bike in the penultimate World Cup round.

"I came to France to train. I wasn't focused and even showed up too late at the start but still I managed to win," Stybar said.

The leading duo of Stybar and Pauwels seemed destined to sprint it out for victory, just as they had done in the Zolder World Cup, until disaster struck Pauwels on the final lap. The World Cup leader stumbled, then face-planted on the stairs enabling Stybar to ride away for the race win.

"Pauwels fell on the stairs and that probably was my luck. I don't know if I would've been able to beat him otherwise although I saw him suffering on the bike; it's hard to tell," Stybar said.

For Pauwels his second place was enough as consolation for his crash. "I came to Liévin to finish ahead of Nys and that succeeded. I thought Stybar wanted to ride away on the stairs and that's why I probably arrived there too fast and stumbled; it's a pity," Pauwels said. "Stybar was slightly better. He could not shake me off but more than following wasn't possible for me. Together with Nys he's the top favorite for the world championships to me."

In the World Cup standings Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Revor) extended his lead over Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) from 10 to 20 points. Next week at the last World Cup round in Hoogerheide, Pauwels needs to finish in the top-four if Nys wins the race in order to claim the overall win in the World Cup.

Winning move forms early on blazing fast parcours

During the second lap Pauwels accelerated and only Philip Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus) and teammate Radomir Simunek (BKCP-Powerplus) were able to keep up with the World Cup leader. Walsleben was dropped on the third lap and his spot was taken by Stybar who bridged the gap of 10 seconds to the leaders on his own.

The situation remained the same for most of the race until Stybar accelerated during the eighth of eleven laps, when the nine-man chase group was more than 40 seconds down on the leaders. Simunek couldn't remain in contact with Pauwels and Stybar, but he held off the chasers to finish on the podium in third place. "I'm very happy with this podium place. It's been ages since I did that in a big race. Stybar and Pauwels were too strong with Stybar looking slightly better. If he pulled I was really suffering," Simunek said.

A lackluster start from Belgian champion Nys – runner-up in the World Cup standings - ruined his run for glory but he salvaged his World Cup classification by finishing as best of the rest in fourth. "A wrong tire choice cost me my start which is my own mistake. I was slipping from left to right," Nys said.

Halfway the race the Belgian champion moved up in the chase group and went flat out but one lap later he sat back in the big chase group. "With a different set of tires things improved. I tried to come back on them when the gap was up to twenty seconds but I didn't manage to make the gap smaller. The World Cup isn't over yet. I'll keep fighting for it until the last round next week in Hoogerheide," Nys said.

Behind the main chase group most US-riders featured in an even larger second chase group that rode for thirteenth place. Ryan Trebon (LTS/Felt) kept the pace high but he lost ground in the last lap. Together with Polish champion Mariusz Gil (Baboco), newly crowned US champion Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) almost got back on a fading Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) at the finish line.

"I did a really hard lap with three to go. Then Aernouts brought us forward and we caught up with Albert. That's not bad for a week of celebrating and no sleep," Powers said. He finished fifteenth, two spots ahead of Jonathan Page (Planet Bike). The latter was placed well in the first chase group until he got tangled up with another rider late in the race. "I wasn't at ease in that group but figured that guys like Nys and Albert were also suffering. I told myself to hold on until it split but then that guy came up from under me. There was no space… that was retarded," Page said.

Trebon finished at the back of this group in 22nd place. "I had a horrible start in which I missed my pedal. I felt strong, though, and rode a hard tempo. I wanted to move up and if others profit from that… who cares if you finish fifteenth or twentieth," Trebon said.

James Driscoll (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) was thirtieth at three minutes from the winner. "I didn't make it to that big group. That wasn't bad luck but bad legs. Maybe because we just flew in on Friday," Driscoll said.

Timothy Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) had a great start but crashed hard. "I don't know what happened but I later heard it was Bart Aernouts (Rabobank-Giant Off-road) who caused the crash. I hurt my hip and shoulder. I'm happy with my start though," Johnson said. He pulled out of the race after the second lap.

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Full Results
1Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quick Step1:03:47
2Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb-Revor0:00:16
3Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus0:00:30
4Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet0:00:44
5Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 4 - Cell 2
6Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Revor0:00:46
7Simon Zahner (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:00:47
8Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet-Fidea0:00:49
9Steve Chainel (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat0:00:53
10Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Team AA Drink-Leontien.nl0:00:55
11Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus0:01:12
12Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus0:01:34
13Mariusz Gil (Pol) BabocoRow 12 - Cell 2
14Jeremy Powers (USA) Team Rapha Focus0:01:35
15Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team0:01:36
16Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team0:01:37
17Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike-Blue Bicycles0:01:39
18Egoitz Murgoitio Rekalde (Spa) Grupo Hirumet Taldea0:01:43
19Matthieu Boulo (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole0:01:48
20Christian Heule (Swi) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld0:01:54
21Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus0:01:57
22Ryan Trebon (USA) LTS-Felt0:01:58
23Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Selle Italia GuerciottiRow 22 - Cell 2
24Aurelien Duval (Fra) U.V.Aube0:02:23
25Clément Bourgoin (Fra) Charvieu Chavagneux I.C.0:02:34
26Twan Van Den Brand (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team0:02:45
27Marcel Meisen (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus0:02:54
28Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze)0:02:56
29Martin Zlamalik (Cze) Landbouwkrediet - KDL0:03:02
30James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld0:03:03
31Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Team Big Mat-Auber 930:03:16
32Luca Damiani (Ita) KendaRow 31 - Cell 2
33Yu Takenouchi (Jpn)0:03:17
34Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spa)0:03:18
35Jiri Polnicky (Cze) Whirlpool-Author0:03:22
36Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team0:03:42
37Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team0:03:45
38Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa)0:04:12
39Johannes Sickmüller (Ger) Feenstra Stevens Bike Team0:04:32
40Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing0:04:43
41Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Landbouwkrediet0:04:47
42Martin Haring (Svk)0:04:52
43Magnus Darvell (Swe)0:04:54
44Cristian Cominelli (Ita) Team Idea0:04:55
45Thijs Al (Ned) Team AA Drink-Leontien.nlRow 44 - Cell 2
46Mitchell Huenders (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels0:05:08
47Ole Quast (Ger) Stevens Racing Team0:05:54
48Ludovic Renard (Fra) VS Chartrain0:06:13
49Petr Dlask (Cze) Madeta Fitness-Specialized-3laps
50Ondrej Bambula (Cze)Row 49 - Cell 2
51Craig Richey (Can) Renner Custom - Raleigh-5laps
52Keiichi Tsujiura (Jpn) Team Bridgestone Anchor-6laps
53Lewis Rattray (Aus)Row 52 - Cell 2
54David Quist (Nor)-7laps
DNFJohn Gadret (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 54 - Cell 2
DNFGerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
DNFIan Field (GBr) Hargroves CyclesRow 56 - Cell 2
DNFTom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet-FideaRow 57 - Cell 2
DNFTimothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale p/b CyclocrossworldRow 58 - Cell 2
DNFJeremy Durrin (USA) J.A.M. Fund - NCCRow 59 - Cell 2
DNSSascha Weber (Ger) Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.deRow 60 - Cell 2
DNSMilan Barenyi (Svk)Row 61 - Cell 2
DNSRobert Glajza (Svk)Row 62 - Cell 2
DNSAndreas Moser (Swi) Zaunteam Mittleand-VC ButzbergRow 63 - Cell 2
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World Cup standings after 7 rounds
1Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb-Revor510pts
2Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet490Row 1 - Cell 3
3Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quick Step455Row 2 - Cell 3
4Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Revor385Row 3 - Cell 3
5Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team340Row 4 - Cell 3
6Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet-Fidea325Row 5 - Cell 3
7Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat321Row 6 - Cell 3
8Steve Chainel (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat282Row 7 - Cell 3
9Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus262Row 8 - Cell 3
10Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Team AA Drink-Leontien.nl250Row 9 - Cell 3
11Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet-Fidea249Row 10 - Cell 3
12Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus240Row 11 - Cell 3
13Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti234Row 12 - Cell 3
14Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco219Row 13 - Cell 3
15Simon Zahner (Swi) BMC Racing Team215Row 14 - Cell 3
16Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team215Row 15 - Cell 3
17Matthieu Boulo (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole211Row 16 - Cell 3
18Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus190Row 17 - Cell 3
19Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Team Big Mat-Auber 93187Row 18 - Cell 3
20Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing185Row 19 - Cell 3
21Twan Van Den Brand (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team179Row 20 - Cell 3
22Marcel Meisen (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus157Row 21 - Cell 3
23Aurelien Duval (Fra) U.V.Aube135Row 22 - Cell 3
24Egoitz Murgoitio Rekalde (Spa) Grupo Hirumet Taldea135Row 23 - Cell 3
25Jeremy Powers (USA) Team Rapha Focus134Row 24 - Cell 3
26Thijs Al (Ned) Team AA Drink-Leontien.nl132Row 25 - Cell 3
27Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Cyclingteam de Rijke129Row 26 - Cell 3
28Cristian Cominelli (Ita) Team Idea128Row 27 - Cell 3
29Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike-Blue Bicycles124Row 28 - Cell 3
30Martin Zlamalik (Cze) Landbouwkrediet - KDL124Row 29 - Cell 3
31Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Landbouwkrediet122Row 30 - Cell 3
32Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team113Row 31 - Cell 3
33Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze)112Row 32 - Cell 3
34Christian Heule (Swi) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld106Row 33 - Cell 3
35Marco Bianco (Ita) L´Arcobaleno Carraro Team96Row 34 - Cell 3
36Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles94Row 35 - Cell 3
37Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld91Row 36 - Cell 3
38Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team88Row 37 - Cell 3
39Jiri Polnicky (Cze) Whirlpool-Author79Row 38 - Cell 3
40Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus78Row 39 - Cell 3
41Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team78Row 40 - Cell 3
42Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet-Fidea75Row 41 - Cell 3
43Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank71Row 42 - Cell 3
44Petr Dlask (Cze) Madeta Fitness-Specialized69Row 43 - Cell 3
45David Kasek (Cze)66Row 44 - Cell 3
46Mitchell Huenders (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels63Row 45 - Cell 3
47Magnus Darvell (Swe)59Row 46 - Cell 3
48Sascha Weber (Ger) Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de57Row 47 - Cell 3
49Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa)48Row 48 - Cell 3
50James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld43Row 49 - Cell 3
51Johannes Sickmüller (Ger) Feenstra Stevens Bike Team43Row 50 - Cell 3
52John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale42Row 51 - Cell 3
53Elia Silvestri (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti42Row 52 - Cell 3
54Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spa)42Row 53 - Cell 3
55Karel Hnik (Cze) Telenet-Fidea37Row 54 - Cell 3
56Clément Bourgoin (Fra) Charvieu Chavagneux I.C.35Row 55 - Cell 3
57Marco Ponta (Ita) Esercito30Row 56 - Cell 3
58Ryan Trebon (USA) LTS-Felt29Row 57 - Cell 3
59José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team29Row 58 - Cell 3
60Robert Gavenda (Svk) Landbouwkrediet - KDL27Row 59 - Cell 3
61Jérome Chevallier (Fra) Amicale Cycliste Bisontin26Row 60 - Cell 3
62Martin Haring (Svk)25Row 61 - Cell 3
63Mirko Tabacchi (Ita)24Row 62 - Cell 3
64Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa)23Row 63 - Cell 3
65Kenneth Hansen (Den) Haderslev Starup21Row 64 - Cell 3
66Luca Damiani (Ita) Kenda19Row 65 - Cell 3
67Tijmen Eising (Ned) Sunweb-Revor19Row 66 - Cell 3
68Craig Richey (Can) Renner Custom - Raleigh19Row 67 - Cell 3
69Eddy Van IJzendoorn (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team19Row 68 - Cell 3
70Yu Takenouchi (Jpn)18Row 69 - Cell 3
71Lubomir Petrus (Cze)18Row 70 - Cell 3
72Erlantz Uriarte Okamika (Spa)18Row 71 - Cell 3
73Fabio Ursi (Ita) C.S.Esercito18Row 72 - Cell 3
74Ondrej Bambula (Cze)18Row 73 - Cell 3
75Jose Antonio Diez Arriola (Spa)17Row 74 - Cell 3
76Guillaume Perrot (Fra) E.C. St Etienne - Loire17Row 75 - Cell 3
77Jeremy Durrin (USA) J.A.M. Fund - NCC16Row 76 - Cell 3
78Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet16Row 77 - Cell 3
79Joachim Parbo (Den) Challenge Tires14Row 78 - Cell 3
80Milan Barenyi (Svk)14Row 79 - Cell 3
81Joeri Adams (Bel) Telenet-Fidea12Row 80 - Cell 3
82René Lang (Swi) VMC Liestal12Row 81 - Cell 3
83Melvin Rulliere (Fra) CR Bourgogne11Row 82 - Cell 3
84Nico Brüngger (Swi) EKZ Racing Team11Row 83 - Cell 3
85Ole Quast (Ger) Stevens Racing Team10Row 84 - Cell 3
86Arnaud Grand (Swi) Telenet-Fidea9Row 85 - Cell 3
87Marek Cichosz (Pol) Legia-Felt6Row 86 - Cell 3
88Yannick Mayer (Ger) Team NSP5Row 87 - Cell 3
89Ludovic Renard (Fra) VS Chartrain3Row 88 - Cell 3
90Vaclav Metlicka (Svk) Johnson Control3Row 89 - Cell 3
91Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) Telenet-Fidea2Row 90 - Cell 3

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