Meeusen guts out a hard fought World Cup win in Nommay

The World Cup finale in Nommay, France, turned into a muddy thriller in which three riders battled for the French flowers. It came down to a sprint in which fast man Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) had no problems beating local favourite Francis Mourey (FDJ) and Philipp Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus). After winning the Koppenbergcross early on in the season it's only the fourth win of the season for Meeusen. Lars van der Haar (Rabobank Development Team) finished fourth in this seventh round of the World Cup which was more than enough to rack up the overall win.

Meeusen, a 25 year-old Belgian rider, wasn't worried about wasting energy one week ahead of the world championships in Hoogerheide. "Don't ask me about bad luck for the rider who wins the last race before worlds. I didn't win so much this season so I'm happy with every race that I can win. I've beaten him [Mourey] before in the sprint for third place in Kalmthout but never for first place. I'm really happy that I can win in his country," Meeusen said in the post-race flash interview.

Meeusen showed his ambitions right from the start. He powered away from the rest and quickly led the race solo. He allowed German champion Walsleben en teammate Corné van Kessel (Telenet-Fidea) to come back. In the background Mourey realized he was missing the right train and he set up a comeback ride.

Halfway into the third lap Mourey closed the gap with the three leaders but when he did Walsleben attacked. In no time Walsleben and Meeusen gapped Van Kessel and Mourey. A little later Van Kessel slipped away and lost contact with the leaders.

Further back Lars van der Haar (Rabobank Development Team) was doing much more than needed to secure his overall World Cup win, as he rode in fifth place with Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games). Walsleben put Meeusen into trouble in the first half of the course but the Belgian rider managed to bridge back up to the German by the end of the lap. Meanwhile Mourey kept going hard, receiving a lot of support from the home crowd who would have loved to see a French victory on Sunday afternoon.

When hitting the sixth lap a hard-working Walsleben looked back and saw Meeusen and Mourey on his wheel. The French champion led that sixth lap and once again Meeusen was in trouble in the first muddy part of the Brognard course. Meeusen needed most of that lap to get back to the front but when hitting the finishing straight there were again three leaders. The same scenario came in the penultimate lap in which Walsleben set the pace. In the final lap Meeusen turned the script around.

"I had one bad section on this course where I always lost a lot of time. That's why I led the group there in the final lap. If I could pass there in front I would not lose a lot of ground like I did every lap," Meeusen said. Meeusen's plan worked out perfectly and the trio hit the second part of the final lap all together. Mourey led most of it, countering one late acceleration from Meeusen and Walsleben. Mourey led out the sprint but he was quite easily beaten by Meeusen, disappointing the many French spectators. Walsleben sat up and rolled in as third.

One minute later Van der Haar crossed the finish line with his hands in the air. His fourth place was more than enough to pick up the 30,000 euros for his overall World Cup victory. Radomir Simunek (Kwadro-Stannah) rode his best race of the season and finished fifth ahead of Pauwels who had a late crash.

In the battle for the seventh and final spot in the Belgian selection for the world championships Wietse Bosmans (BKCP-Powerplus) did the best job. He finished seventh, beating rivals Bart Aernouts (AA Drink) and Bart Wellens (Telenet-Fidea) who finished respectively ninth and twentieth. Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) only managed a twelfth place. World champion Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL) did not take the start in Nommay.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea1:00:45
2Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ.frRow 1 - Cell 2
3Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus0:00:05
4Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Rabobank Development Team0:01:01
5Radomir Simunek (Cze) Kwadro - Stannah0:01:18
6Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team0:01:23
7Wietse Bosmans (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus0:01:30
8Rob Peeters (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Continental TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Bart Aernouts (Bel) AA Drink Cycling Team0:01:39
10Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team0:01:51
11Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet - Fidea0:02:04
12Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus0:02:10
13Marcel Meisen (Ger) Kwadro - Stannah0:02:11
14Eddy Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) Team Natubalans - Apex0:02:12
15Jeremy Powers (USA) Rapha - Focus0:02:26
16Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti0:02:34
17Fabien Canal (Fra) Ec Armee De Terre0:02:41
18Bryan Falaschi (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti0:02:42
19Simon Zahner (Swi) Ekz Racing Team0:02:53
20Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:02:58
21Martin Bina (Cze) Kwadro - Stannah0:03:04
22Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott - Odlo MTB Racing Team0:03:11
23Jonathan Page (USA) Fuji / Spy Optics0:03:12
24Arnaud Grand (Swi) Bmc Development Team0:03:28
25Niels Wubben (Ned) Telenet - Fidea0:03:44
26Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Us Domont Cyclisme0:04:02
27Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa) Lizarte0:04:10
28Guillaume Perrot (Fra) Ec St Etienne - Loire0:04:23
29Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team0:04:33
30Micki Van Empel (Ned) Kdl Cycling Team0:04:35
31Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale / Cyclocrossworld.com0:04:37
32Cristian Cominelli (Ita) Progress Cycles Asd0:04:46
33Mariusz Gil (Pol) Kwadro - Stannah0:04:56
34Sascha Weber (Ger) Veranclassic - Doltcini0:05:08
35Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles0:05:21
36Lubomir Petrus (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus0:05:22
37Thijs Al (Ned) Telenet - Fidea0:05:39
38Steve Chainel (Fra) Ag2R La Mondiale0:05:47
39Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team0:05:52
40Julien Pion (Fra) Ec Armee De Terre0:06:03
41Elia Silvestri (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti0:06:08
42Christian Helmig (Lux) Team Differdange - Losch0:06:16
43Ondrej Bambula (Cze) Cez Cyklo Team TaborRow 42 - Cell 2
44Marco Bianco (Ita) Carraro Team Trentino0:06:22
45Ryan Trebon (USA) Cannondale / Cyclocrossworld.com0:06:23
46Laurent Colombatto (Fra) Amicale Cycliste Bisontin0:06:24
47Andreas Moser (Swi) Zaunteam Mittelland0:06:51
48Lukas Winterberg (Swi) Walter Meier Orbea Factory Team0:07:08
49Twan Van Den Brand (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team0:07:30
50Robert Gavenda (Svk)0:07:52
51 (-1 lap)Michael Schweizer Jr (Ger) Stevens Racing TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52Emil Hekele (Cze) Stevens Bikes - Emilio SportRow 51 - Cell 2
53Ole Quast (Ger) Stevens Racing TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54 (-2 laps)Aaron Schooler (Can) H&R BlockRow 53 - Cell 2
55Yu Takenouchi (Jpn) Veranclassic - DoltciniRow 54 - Cell 2
56Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze) Johnson Controls As Ml. Bol.Row 55 - Cell 2
57Damien Mougel (Fra) Velo Sprint EguisheimRow 56 - Cell 2
58Hikaru Kosaka (Jpn) Utsunomia BritzenRow 57 - Cell 2
59Michal Malik (Cze) Kc Kooperativa Sg JablonecRow 58 - Cell 2
60Jeremy Durrin (USA) Optum / Kelly Benefit StrategiesRow 59 - Cell 2
61 (-3 laps)Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing TeamRow 60 - Cell 2
62Martin Haring (Svk) CK Banska BystricaRow 61 - Cell 2
63Alexander Revell (NZl) Pnp Cycling ClubRow 62 - Cell 2
64 (-4 laps)Allen Krughoff (USA) Raleigh - ClementRow 63 - Cell 2
65Angus Edmond (NZl) Stevens - MalteniRow 64 - Cell 2
66 (-5 laps)Christoph Ambroziak (Ger) Gunsha Racing TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
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Elite Men World Cup final standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Van Der Haar Lars (Ned) Rabobank Development Team467pts
2Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus409Row 1 - Cell 3
3Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus392Row 2 - Cell 3
4Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team363Row 3 - Cell 3
5Francis Mourey (Fra) Fdj.Fr340Row 4 - Cell 3
6Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team321Row 5 - Cell 3
7Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea309Row 6 - Cell 3
8Bart Aernouts (Bel) AA Drink Cycling Team308Row 7 - Cell 3
9Rob Peeters (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace294Row 8 - Cell 3
10Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team279Row 9 - Cell 3
11Martin Bina (Cze) Kwadro - Stannah267Row 10 - Cell 3
12Sven Nys (Bel) Crelan - AA Drink264Row 11 - Cell 3
13Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti253Row 12 - Cell 3
14Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet - Fidea249Row 13 - Cell 3
15Marcel Meisen (Ger) Kwadro - Stannah226Row 14 - Cell 3
16Niels Wubben (Ned) Telenet - Fidea225Row 15 - Cell 3
17Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott - Odlo MTB Racing Team214Row 16 - Cell 3
18Thijs Al (Ned) Telenet - Fidea212Row 17 - Cell 3
19Wietse Bosmans (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus211Row 18 - Cell 3
20Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) Kwadro - Stannah197Row 19 - Cell 3
21Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet - Fidea179Row 20 - Cell 3
22Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles164Row 21 - Cell 3
23Twan Van Den Brand (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team163Row 22 - Cell 3
24Martin Haring (Svk) CK Banska Bystrica160Row 23 - Cell 3
25Lubomir Petrus (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus157Row 24 - Cell 3
26Simon Zahner (Swi) Ekz Racing Team151Row 25 - Cell 3
27Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team151Row 26 - Cell 3
28Sascha Weber (Ger) Veranclassic - Doltcini137Row 27 - Cell 3
29Jonathan Page (USA) Fuji / Spy Optics136Row 28 - Cell 3
30Mariusz Gil (Pol) Kwadro - Stannah136Row 29 - Cell 3
31Fabien Canal (Fra) Ec Armee De Terre131Row 30 - Cell 3
32Ondrej Bambula (Cze) Cez Cyklo Team Tabor131Row 31 - Cell 3
33Micki Van Empel (Ned) Kdl Cycling Team116Row 32 - Cell 3
34Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa) Lizarte105Row 33 - Cell 3
35Eddy Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) Team Natubalans - Apex103Row 34 - Cell 3
36Radomir Simunek (Cze) Kwadro - Stannah87Row 35 - Cell 3
37Arnaud Grand (Swi) Bmc Development Team82Row 36 - Cell 3
38Kenneth Hansen (Den) Cannondale - Haderslev82Row 37 - Cell 3
39Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze) Johnson Controls As Ml. Bol.79Row 38 - Cell 3
40Egoitz Murgoitio Rekalde (Spa) Grupo Hirumet Taldea76Row 39 - Cell 3
41Jim Aernouts (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team70Row 40 - Cell 3
42Marco Ponta (Ita) Centro Sportivo Esercito68Row 41 - Cell 3
43Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team65Row 42 - Cell 3
44Robert Gavenda (Svk)64Row 43 - Cell 3
45Lukas Winterberg (Swi) Walter Meier Orbea Factory Team55Row 44 - Cell 3
46Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Us Domont Cyclisme50Row 45 - Cell 3
47Steve Chainel (Fra) Ag2R La Mondiale50Row 46 - Cell 3
48Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa) Specialized - Garmar44Row 47 - Cell 3
49Bryan Falaschi (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti43Row 48 - Cell 3
50Andreas Moser (Swi) Zaunteam Mittelland40Row 49 - Cell 3
51Jeremy Powers (USA) Rapha - Focus36Row 50 - Cell 3
52Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing36Row 51 - Cell 3
53Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra)35Row 52 - Cell 3
54Yannick Mayer (Ger) Team Baier Landshut34Row 53 - Cell 3
55Guillaume Perrot (Fra) Ec St Etienne - Loire32Row 54 - Cell 3
56Christian Helmig (Lux) Team Differdange - Losch31Row 55 - Cell 3
57Vaclav Metlicka (Svk) Johnson Controls As Ml. Bol.30Row 56 - Cell 3
58Mirko Tabacchi (Ita) Gruppo Sportivo Forestale29Row 57 - Cell 3
59Magnus Darvell (Swe) Team Kalas Merida29Row 58 - Cell 3
60Ole Quast (Ger) Stevens Racing Team25Row 59 - Cell 3
61Luca Braidot (Ita) Gruppo Sportivo Forestale24Row 60 - Cell 3
62Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott - Odlo MTB Racing Team23Row 61 - Cell 3
63Elia Silvestri (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti23Row 62 - Cell 3
64Michal Malik (Cze) Kc Kooperativa Sg Jablonec23Row 63 - Cell 3
65Milan Barenyi (Svk) Trek Kck Oslany22Row 64 - Cell 3
66Marco Bianco (Ita) Carraro Team Trentino21Row 65 - Cell 3
67Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale / Cyclocrossworld.com20Row 66 - Cell 3
68Cristian Cominelli (Ita) Progress Cycles Asd19Row 67 - Cell 3
69Jordy Luisman (Ned) Team Lemelerveld18Row 68 - Cell 3
70Inigo Gomez Elorriaga (Spa) Bioracer - Caravanos Erandio18Row 69 - Cell 3
71Daniel Geismayr (Aut)17Row 70 - Cell 3
72Joachim Parbo (Den) Cielo - Challenge - Bicyclista17Row 71 - Cell 3
73Christoph Pfingsten (Ger)15Row 72 - Cell 3
74Emil Hekele (Cze) Stevens Bikes - Emilio Sport15Row 73 - Cell 3
75Christoph Ambroziak (Ger) Gunsha Racing Team15Row 74 - Cell 3
76Michael Schweizer Jr (Ger) Stevens Racing Team14Row 75 - Cell 3
77Ludovic Renard (Fra) Vs Chartrain14Row 76 - Cell 3
78Julien Pion (Fra) Ec Armee De Terre11Row 77 - Cell 3
79Agustin Navarro Vidal (Spa) Ciudad De Oviedo - Nesta11Row 78 - Cell 3
80Aaron Schooler (Can) H&R Block11Row 79 - Cell 3
81Jeremy Durrin (USA) Optum / Kelly Benefit Strategies10Row 80 - Cell 3
82Jon Gomez Elorriaga (Spa) Bioracer - Caravanos Erandio10Row 81 - Cell 3
83Angus Edmond (NZl) Stevens - Malteni10Row 82 - Cell 3
84Fabio Ursi (Ita) CX Merida Team - Dama Drc9Row 83 - Cell 3
85Yu Takenouchi (Jpn) Veranclassic - Doltcini8Row 84 - Cell 3
86Thomas Paccagnella (Ita) Sportivi Del Ponte7Row 85 - Cell 3
87Jan Nesvadba (Cze) Madeta Fitness / Specialized7Row 86 - Cell 3
88Ryan Trebon (USA) Cannondale / Cyclocrossworld.com6Row 87 - Cell 3
89Filip Adel (Cze) Kc Hlinsko6Row 88 - Cell 3
90Laurent Colombatto (Fra) Amicale Cycliste Bisontin5Row 89 - Cell 3
91Mike Garrigan (Can) Van Dessel5Row 90 - Cell 3
92Zach Mcdonald (USA) Rapha - Focus5Row 91 - Cell 3
93Johannes Sickmueller (Ger) Stevens Racing Team5Row 92 - Cell 3
94Calle Friberg (Swe) Scott Sports4Row 93 - Cell 3
95Max Walsleben (Ger)4Row 94 - Cell 3
96Fredrik Edin (Swe) Cykloteket Racing Team4Row 95 - Cell 3
97Lukas Batora (Svk) CK Banska Bystrica2Row 96 - Cell 3
98Robert Glajza (Svk) CK Banska Bystrica2Row 97 - Cell 3
99Luc Lutsen (Fra) Vc Toucy1Row 98 - Cell 3
100Michel Vuelta Izquierdo (Spa) Nestor Martin1Row 99 - Cell 3

 

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