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Giro finale
Photo ©: Bettini

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GP de Ster Sint-Niklaas - C2

St. Niklaas, Belgium, January 2, 2007

2006 Results    Results    Past winners

Nys' star keeps shining in GP de Ster

Maxime Lefèbvre almost upsets cyclo-cross world

By Brecht Decaluwé in Sint-Niklaas

Nys at the finish
Photo ©: Luc Claessen
(Click for larger image)

UCI-leader and Belgian champion Sven Nys (Rabobank) won his third 'cross in three days in Sint-Niklaas. Although the startlist didn't feature the likes of world champion Erwin Vervecken, Bart Wellens and Sven Vanthourenhout, the 'cannibal of cyclo-cross' did need to work hard to get the victory.

Somewhat unknown French rider Maxime Lefèbvre (Josan) managed to push Nys to the limit - Lefèbvre rode in front all race long and Nys needed an ultimate acceleration to get rid of the Frenchman. "It wasn't an easy race and I tried to control a bit from the back; I came to the front when I noticed Lefèbvre was going really hard and my team mate Groenendaal looked unable to get him back," Nys explained.

The organisers may have been surprised to see Lefèbvre at the start after he missed a doping control at the Middelkerke cross last week, but the French rider didn't seem care much about that. "I did all I could to get rid of Nys but I couldn't get away from him. Nys was really strong, but he has been very strong all season long," said Lefèbvre. Asked about the missed doping control in Middelkerke, Lefèbvre said, "I didn't see or hear anything."

American Jonathan Page continued his impressive comeback from injury with another fine performance. "It was good...fifth is good, although fourth is better so I'm a little disappointed for that," Page said.

Barry Wicks (Kona) and Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly) rode together for most of the race and managed a decent eleventh and twelfth place. "It was back and forward between he and I; we were just racing together and we kept getting one guy here and there; we both had a good race," Powers explained. American Ryan Trebon was ill and didn't start in Sint-Niklaas.

How it unfolded

Zdenek Mlynar got the whole shot but disappeared from the front when Richard Groenendaal accelerated. The Dutch veteran got away with Lefèbvre, Radomir Simunek Jr (Palmans) and Jonathan Page (Morgan Blue). Nys needed more time to get to the front but managed to do so together with David Willemsens (Sunweb).

Willemsens and Simunek couldn't follow the group when Lefèbvre took the initiative; Page literally fell away in front. When Lefèbvre accelerated again only Nys could follow and Groenendaal got dropped. During the last lap Nys attacked for the first time and had a little gap on Lefèbvre at the finish. Groenendaal got third while Simunek beat Page for fourth.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Luc Claessen/www.ctm-images.com

Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews

Results

1 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank                              
2 Maxime Lefebvre (Fra) Josan Team                               
3 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank                   
4 Radomir Simunek (Cze) Palmans Collstrop - Sapim      
5 Jonathan Page (USA) Morgan Blue - BSI                        
6 David Willemsens (Bel) Sunweb-Projob Cycling Team    
7 Arne Daelmans (Bel) Palmans Collstrop - Sapim        
8 Zdenek Mlynár (Cze) Max Cursor                       
9 Stijn Penne (Bel) Onder Ons Parike                   
10 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) Pro Cycling Team ZZPR.nl      
11 Barry Wicks (USA) Kona                                   
12 Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly - Pool Gel          
13 Bjorn Rondelez (Bel) Lingier-Versluys               
14 Dariusz Gil (Pol) KS Scout                          
15 Mariusz Gil (Pol) LKS Pom Strzelce                  
16 Erik Tonkin (USA) Kona                                   
17 Marek Cichosz (Pol) Entente Cycliste Raismes        
18 Kristof Roodhooft (Bel) Palmans - Collstrop                             
19 Greg Reain (Can) Stevens Racing Team                
20 Nico Clarysse (Bel) Saey Deschacht                  
21 Todd Wells (USA) Slipstream Sports, powered by Chipotle                                    
22 Ian Bibby (GBr) Trek UK                                     
23 Bjorn Selander (USA) Alan Factory Team                                
24 Steven Decaluwe (Bel) Sunweb-Projob Cycling Team                              
25 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Predictor - Lotto                                 
26 Bjorn Traen (Bel)                                   
27 Molly Cameron (USA) Vanilla Bicycles                                
28 Morgan Schmitt (USA) Hagens - Berman                               
29 Nic Ingels (Bel) Predictor - Lotto                                   
30 Lukasz Mudyn (Pol) Bazta Bytow                      
31 Daniel Neyens (USA) Hagens - Berman                                
32 Nicholas Weighall (USA) Alan Factory Team                             
33 Chance Noble (USA) California Giant Strawberries                                 
34 Johan Myngheer (Bel) De Zilverbergvrienden Rumbeke                                
35 James Driscoll (USA) Fiordifrutta                               
36 Ian Legg (GBr) Red Kite Cycles - Torq Bar                                     
37 Tony Heirbaut (Bel)                                 
38 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Predictor - Lotto                            
39 Steven De Schoeisitter (Bel)                        
40 Sten Raeymakers (Bel)                               
41 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Predictor - Lotto                           
42 Adam Bycka (Pol)                                    
43 Shaun Adamson (Can)                                 
44 Olivier Bordeleau (USA)                             
45 Mark Cotton (GBr)                                   
46 Freddy De Meester (Bel) Gentse Velosport            
47 Erik Myngheer (Bel) De Zilverbergvrienden Rumbeke                                
48 Kristof D'Hollander (Bel)                            

Past winners

2006 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank
2005 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) Palmans-Sapim 2004 Peter Van Santvliet (Bel) Spaar Select 2003 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank 2002 Mario De Clercq (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites 2001 Sven Nys (Bel) 2000 Sven Nys (Bel)   Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com