Stybar wins in Namur

Czech cyclo-cross star Zdenek Stybar (Telenet-Fidea) clinched the win in the first round of the Gazet van Anwerpen Trophy in Namur, Belgium. Stybar dropped Belgian Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Revor) during the last lap to finish solo on top of the massive Namur citadel. In addition, Stybar grabbed three bonus points during the intermediate sprint after two laps and a 1000-euro bonus for riding the fastest lap of the race.

Kevin Pauwels (Telenet-Fidea) finished third half a minute after Stybar. The classification chances of Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) suffered a blow when he pulled out of the race. The Belgian champion had an off-day and abandoned when he realized he wasn't going to score the big points in Namur. Combined with the absence of an injured Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus), Stybar is off to a good start toward the overall victory in the GvA Trophy.

The Czech winner started his season with a bang by winning all three races he has entered. "This was the hardest one of the three," Stybar said. "For a long time, I was doubting whether I would be able to win here."

After taking the hole shot into one of the multiple drops on the course, Stybar's efforts created a five-man leaders' group - featuring Vantornout, Pauwels, Bart Aernouts (Rabo Offroad) and Dieter Vanthourenhout (BKCP-Powerplus). The latter was quickly dropped into another group with Francis Mourey (La Francçaise Des Jeux) and Bart Wellens (Telenet-Fidea). Enrico Franzoi (BKCP-Powerplus) followed at short distance.

"Halfway through the race, I had a bad moment, but from then on, I only got better," said Stybar. By that time there were only two leaders left, Stybar and Vantornout. Aernouts was dropped mid-way through the race, and Pauwels lost contact with the leaders shortly after that with a flat tyre ruining his chances for the day.

The race was decided during the last lap when the lead duo fought for position, heading into a a tricky downhill part of the course.

Vantornout shared his view on things with Cyclingnews. "We were sprinting shoulder by shoulder towards that drop. One of us had to brake; otherwise we would have crashed. Anyway, Stybar had a better technique on the descent and gained 10 metres. I tried to set that straight and gave all I had, but I simply couldn't close the gap.

Stybar, for his part, felt the downhill wasn't as decisive as Vantornout had thought. "It was just part of the race. We weren't going shoulder to shoulder. The difference was that I rode a different gear there and could go faster down the hill," said Stybar. "I took full risks there. Then again I didn't feel it was the most important section of this course. He had two other spots where he could have overtaken me, but he didn't seem to know about them."

Van Paassen in a league of her own

The demanding course on the Namur citadel proved to be the ideal challenge for Sanne van Paassen (Brainwash) in the women's race. The young Dutch woman surged away right from the start and completed a four-lap solo effort in tremendous style. Her compatriot Daphny van den Brand (ZZPRNL) won the battle for second place ahead of Belgium's Sanne Cant (BKCP-Powerplus). More than a minute later, Pavla Havlikova (APB) and Helen Wyman (Kona-Bongo Bongo) completed the top-five in Namur.

"It wasn't my goal to ride away from the rest that soon," said Van Paassen to Cyclingnews. "I just set a steady pace, but when I looked back, the rest were unable to follow."

The 21-year-old Dutch woman Van Paassen then focused on making as few mistakes as possible. "I didn't go flat out all the time because then you start making mistakes. Early on, I made a minor one and that made me attentive."

During the last lap van Paassen got into some sort of trouble while working her way through the mud. "Yeah, I got stuck there and had to get off my bike. I never panicked though since the gap on Daphny was big enough for the win," she said.

The gap to Daphny van den Brand was big enough indeed; and on the line, 21 seconds separated the two compatriots from each other. Van den Brand was bothered by the warm weather conditions in Namur. "I had to recover from the fast start but that didn't work out too well. I haven't done much interval training yet, so today's race didn't suit me at all," van den Brand said.

During the last lap, the 32-year-old Dutch woman was able to shake off that other young talent Sanne Cant. "I could go harder after taking a fresh bike with less pressure in the tubes," Van den Brand said.

Cant didn't seem to mind to much about losing the battle for second. "She got a gap when I made a small mistake just before the run-up on the stairs. Soon after that, she was out of sight," Cant told Cyclingnews.

Behind the top-three, Pavla Havlikova rode most of the race on her own toward fourth place. "There's a lot of running, and my short legs don't help," a satisfied Havlikova told Cyclingnews.

Half a minute later Helen Wyman (Kona Bongo Bongo) won a hard fought battle with Dutch women Linda van Rijen and Sophie de Boer for fifth place. "I had a good start but lost contact with the leaders after slipping on the off-camber section. I'm making good progress, and I'm happy with fifth against the best since most of these women are at the World Cups races too," Wyman said.

Halfway through the race, Gabriella Day (Horizon Fitness RT) crashed spectacularly on one of the steep drops. She lost her balance and landed on the right side of her neck.The British woman seemed to have lost consciousness as she didn't move for half a minute. A few moments later, she gave signs of life and after receiving first aid, she was eventually taken to the nearby hospital by ambulance.

The second round of the GvA-Trophy will be held in a month's time on November 1 in Melden, near Oudenaade, Belgium. The course is designed on the slopes of a hill known from the Ronde van Vlaanderen, the legendary Koppenberg.

Full Results

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Elite men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Zdenek Stybar (Cze)59:31:00
2Klaas Vantornout (Bel)0:00:08
3Kevin Pauwels (Bel)0:00:31
4Bart Aernouts (Bel)0:00:42
5Bart Wellens (Bel)0:01:06
6Enrico Franzoi (Ita)0:01:14
7Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel)0:02:50
8Francis Mourey (Fra)0:02:57
9Gerben De Knegt (Ned)0:03:10
10Philipp Walsleben (Ger)0:03:23
11Rob Peeters (Bel)0:03:31
12Robert Gavenda (Svk)0:03:37
13Ian Field (GBr)0:03:55
14Jan Denuwelaere (Bel)Row 13 - Cell 2
15Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel)Row 14 - Cell 2
16Tom Van Den Bosch (Bel)0:04:25
17Mariusz Gil (Pol)0:04:51
18Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel)0:05:05
19Ben Berden (Bel)0:05:19
20Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned)0:05:22
21Patrick Gaudy (Bel)0:05:46
22Marcel Wildhaber (Swi)0:06:03
23Jonathan Page (USA)0:06:27
24Egoitz Murgoitio Rekalde (Spa)0:06:47
25Jan Verstraeten (Bel)0:06:54
26Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned)0:07:01
27Martin Zlamalik (Cze)0:07:22
28Romain Villa (Fra)0:07:32
-1lapStijn Huys (Bel)Row 28 - Cell 2
-1lapMike Thielemans (Bel)Row 29 - Cell 2
-1lapKevin Cant (Bel)Row 30 - Cell 2
-2lapsBart Verschueren (Bel)Row 31 - Cell 2
-3lapsLudovic Mottet (Bel)Row 32 - Cell 2
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Elite women
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Sanne Van Paassen (Ned)0:37:05
2Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned)0:00:21
3Sanne Cant (Bel)0:00:49
4Pavla Havlikova (Cze)0:01:11
5Helen Wyman (GBr)0:01:39
6Sophie De Boer (Ned)0:02:15
7Linda Van Rijen (Ned)0:02:39
8Reza Hormes (Ned)0:02:59
9Nikki Harris (GBr)0:04:03
10Nancy Bober (Bel)0:04:43
11Arenda Grimberg (Ned)0:04:57
12Martina Zwick (Ger)0:05:15
13Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel)Row 12 - Cell 2
14Jasmin Achermann (Swi)0:05:31
15Sabrina Stultiens (Ned)0:05:53
16Ellen Van Loy (Bel)0:07:15
17Christine Vardaros (USA)0:07:36
18Nathalie Nijns (Bel)0:09:13
19Ilona Meter (Ned)0:11:17
20Anja Geldhof (Bel)0:11:39
-2lapsKim Van Renterghem (Bel)Row 20 - Cell 2
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Under 23 men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra)0:55:16
2Joeri Adams (Bel)0:00:25
3Jim Aernouts (Bel)0:01:06
4Kevin Eeckhout (Bel)0:01:34
5Lars Van Der Haar (Ned)0:01:47
6Jiri Polnicky (Cze)0:02:09
7Arnaud Grand (Swi)Row 6 - Cell 2
8Stef Boden (Bel)Row 7 - Cell 2
9Jens Adams (Bel)0:02:16
10Sven Beelen (Bel)0:02:25
11Jelle Brackman (Bel)Row 10 - Cell 2
12Vinnie Braet (Bel)0:02:32
13Twan Van Den Brand (Ned)0:02:53
14Marcel Meisen (Ger)0:03:52
15Emiel Dolfsma (Ned)0:04:02
16Matthieu Boulo (Fra)0:04:04
17Robby Cobbaert (Bel)Row 16 - Cell 2
18Vincent Baestaens (Bel)0:04:08
19Kristof Cop (Bel)0:04:20
20Geert Van Der Horst (Ned)0:04:37
21Mirko Tabacchi (Ita)0:04:41
22David Van Der Poel (Ned)0:04:52
23Angelo De Clercq (Bel)0:05:00
24Kobus Hereijgers (Ned)0:05:32
25Daniel Ruiz Echeandia (Spa)0:05:50
26Micki Van Empel (Ned)Row 25 - Cell 2
27Dany Lacroix (Bel)0:06:53
28Xandro Meurisse (Bel)0:07:00
29Matthias Bossuyt (Bel)0:07:22
30Niels Koyen (Bel)0:08:01
31Gianni Vermeersch (Bel)0:08:06
32Jonathan Bervoets (Bel)0:08:22
33Stijn Mortelmans (Bel)0:08:46
34Raf Risbourg (Bel)0:09:16
-1lapJelle Cant (Bel)Row 34 - Cell 2
-1lapJeffrey Mellemans (Bel)Row 35 - Cell 2
-1lapInigo Gomez Elorriaga (Spa)Row 36 - Cell 2
-1lapIngmar Uytdewilligen (Bel)Row 37 - Cell 2
-1lapMattia Rossi (Ita)Row 38 - Cell 2
-2lapsJoeri Hofman (Bel)Row 39 - Cell 2
-2lapsFrederick Cattryse (Bel)Row 40 - Cell 2
-2lapsDimitri Corriette (Fra)Row 41 - Cell 2
-3lapsJon Gomez Elorriaga (Spa)Row 42 - Cell 2
-3lapsMatthias Boetens (Bel)Row 43 - Cell 2

Gazet van Anwerpen Trophy standings after round 1

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Elite men
1Zdenek Štybar (Cze) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team28pts
2Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Revor23Row 1 - Cell 3
3Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team21Row 2 - Cell 3
4Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank - Giant Offroad Team17Row 3 - Cell 3
5Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team16Row 4 - Cell 3
6Enrico Franzoi (Ita) BKCP-Powerplus15Row 5 - Cell 3
7Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus14Row 6 - Cell 3
8Francis Mourey (Fra) Française Des Jeux13Row 7 - Cell 3
9Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team12Row 8 - Cell 3
10Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus11Row 9 - Cell 3
11Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team10Row 10 - Cell 3
12Robert Gavenda (Svk) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team9Row 11 - Cell 3
13Ian Field (GBr)8Row 12 - Cell 3
14Jan Denuwelaere (Bel) Rendement Hypo Cycling Team7Row 13 - Cell 3
15Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb-Revor6Row 14 - Cell 3
16Tom van den Bosch (Bel) AA Drink Cycling Team5Row 15 - Cell 3
17Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco - Revor Cycling Team4Row 16 - Cell 3
18Kenneth van Compernolle (Bel) Sunweb Revor3Row 17 - Cell 3
19Ben Berden (Bel) Qin Cycling Team2Row 18 - Cell 3
20Patrick van Leeuwen (Ned)1Row 19 - Cell 3
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Elite women
1Sanne van Paassen (Ned) BrainWash25pts
2Daphny van den Brand (Ned) ZZPR.nl-Destil22Row 1 - Cell 3
3Sanne Cant (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus19Row 2 - Cell 3
4Pavla Havlikova (Cze)17Row 3 - Cell 3
5Helen Wyman (GBr)16Row 4 - Cell 3
6Sophie De Boer (Ned)15Row 5 - Cell 3
7Linda Van Rijen (Ned)14Row 6 - Cell 3
8Reza Hormes (Ned)13Row 7 - Cell 3
9Nikki Harris (GBr)12Row 8 - Cell 3
10Nancy Bober (Bel)11Row 9 - Cell 3
11Arenda Grimberg (Ned)10Row 10 - Cell 3
12Martina Zwick (Ger)9Row 11 - Cell 3
13Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel)8Row 12 - Cell 3
14Jasmin Achermann (Swi)7Row 13 - Cell 3
15Sabrina Stultiens (Ned)6Row 14 - Cell 3
16Ellen Van Loy (Bel)5Row 15 - Cell 3
17Christine Vardaros (USA)4Row 16 - Cell 3
18Nathalie Nijns (Bel)3Row 17 - Cell 3
19Ilona Meter (Ned)2Row 18 - Cell 3
20Anja Geldhof (Bel)1Row 19 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Under 23 men
1Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) BKCP-Powerplus25pts
2Joeri Adams (Bel) Rabobank Continental22Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jim Aernouts (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus19Row 2 - Cell 3
4Kevin Eeckhout (Bel) Sunweb-Revor17Row 3 - Cell 3
5Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team16Row 4 - Cell 3
6Jirí Polnický (Cze) Sunweb - Revor15Row 5 - Cell 3
7Arnaud Grand (Swi) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team14Row 6 - Cell 3
8Stef Boden (Bel) Sunweb-Revor13Row 7 - Cell 3
9Jens Adams (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus12Row 8 - Cell 3
10Sven Beelen (Bel) Sunweb-Revor11Row 9 - Cell 3
11Jelle Brackman (Bel) MTB dreamteam10Row 10 - Cell 3
12Vinnie Braet (Bel) Sunweb-Revor9Row 11 - Cell 3
13Twan van den Brand (Ned) Sunweb-Revor8Row 12 - Cell 3
14Marcel Meisen (Ger)7Row 13 - Cell 3
15Emiel Dolfsma (Ned)6Row 14 - Cell 3
16Matthieu Boulo (Fra)5Row 15 - Cell 3
17Robby Cobbaert (Bel) SDC - Rogelli Cycling Team4Row 16 - Cell 3
18Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team3Row 17 - Cell 3
19Kristof Cop (Bel)2Row 18 - Cell 3
20Geert van der Horst (Ned)1Row 19 - Cell 3

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