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Superprestige #1 - Ruddervoorde - C1
Ruddervoorde, Belgium, October 16, 2005
2004 Results Results Superprestige standings Past winners
Wellens wins, but Nys is back
By Jeff Jones
Bart Wellens (Fidea) continued his good run of form by winning the first round of the Superprestige series in Ruddervoorde, Belgium. On a fast, dry circuit, Wellens was too good in the sprint against Sven Nys (Rabobank), who was nevertheless satisfied with second place. In third was Wellens' teammate Wim Jacobs, who rode well to finish just 9 seconds behind.
During the race, Nys tried several times to get away from Wellens, but he could not and the odds were against him in a two man sprint. He also fell on the stairs on the last lap, but was able to come back to Wellens. "After Nys' fall, the best Wellens would have ridden away," said Wellens. "But I took advantage of the sprint. I wasn't good enough to ride away from him, and it didn't make sense for me to do a turn because my teammate Jacobs was behind us. In this race, the teamwork was very important.
"It's clear that Nys and I are the best. This was the first of many nice duels. You saw also that the public enjoyed it, what an atmosphere here in Ruddervoorde."
The World Champion Nys was relatively content with his second place, especially after his crash last weekend and subsequent balance problems. "I don't feel desperate after this," he said. "I finished here in the same time as Wellens, so I'm mentally ready for the following duels. I had the feeling during the race that I could take the initiative, but I didn't dare do it alone. This was a semi-road race and team tactics play a much bigger part.
"When I fell, I was perhaps just on the verge of getting a gap, but I was happy that I could come back. I really should work on my sprint, that was a disaster. I'm like a snail."
How it unfolded
After a week of unprecedented warm, sunny weather in Belgium, the sun was out again today for the first round of the Superprestige series in Ruddervoorde. Although true cyclo-cross races have to be run in as much mud as possible, today was a chance for a fast start to the season. And what a start it was... As soon as the gun went off, the 50-strong peloton sprinted at full gas for the first corner to determine the all-important pecking order for the opening lap.
Favourites Nys and Wellens opted for a quieter start and sat in around 10th position as the tall Dutch rider Gerben de Knegt (AA drink-Bejan) led the field lap 1. At the end of the second lap, De Knegt had an eight second gap on Bart Wellens (Fidea), who had moved himself up through the field with Nys, Vanthourenhout, Aernouts (Rabobank), Vannoppen (Palmans) and Vervecken (Fidea) in tow.
On lap 3, Wellens brought Nys and Vanthourenhout back to the tiring De Knegt, and the four created a lead group with Vervecken, Aernouts, Vannoppen, Jacobs and Willemsens chasing at various intervals. The fourth lap saw Nys push the pace for the first time, and De Knegt was dropped. With Vanthourenhout still there, things looked good for Rabobank, but things changed on the very fast (28 km/h) fifth lap, when Nys and Wellens gapped their companion. At the end of the lap, Vanthourenhout was at five seconds, then Vervecken, Aernouts, De Knegt, and Jacobs at nine seconds, then Dlask and Simunek at 24, followed by Vannoppen, Willemsens and Van den Bergh.
The race was now over halfway, and on the sixth lap Nys tried to distance Wellens. The World Champion got no more than 20 metres, and after constantly checking behind him he was caught by Wellens at the end of the lap. Things had changed behind, with Jacobs and De Knegt moving up into third and fourth, just eight seconds behind the leading pair. The seventh lap was almost a repeat of the sixth, as Nys tried twice to gap Wellens, with the same success as before. As Wellens had stopped coming through, Nys slowed and allowed Jacobs and De Knegt to rejoin with three laps to go.
The quartet didn't last long, as Wellens and Nys rode clear on the eighth lap, with first De Knegt trying to close, then Jacobs. Nys took over at the end of the lap and attacked on lap 9, again gapping Wellens and again getting caught. Jacobs was in third, trying to return to his teammate Wellens, who used that to his advantage when Nys asked him to do a turn. Jacobs came back momentarily but Nys attacked once more on the last lap, then again before the sand. He kept the pressure on until the second set of stairs when he slipped and fell. Wellens immediately went past and tried to get clear, but Nys was able to regather and come back. He took the lead again before the sprint and managed the tiniest of gaps coming out of the last corner, but it wasn't enough to hold off the Bartman in the run to the line, and Wellens triumphed.
Results
Elite Men 1 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cyclocrossteam 57.16 2 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank 3 Wim Jacobs (Bel) Fidea Cyclocrossteam 0.09 4 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) AA drink-Bejan 0.13 5 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cyclocrossteam 0.29 6 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank 0.35 7 Petr Dlask (Cze) 0.43 8 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Rabobank 0.45 9 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) Palmans-Sapim 0.52 10 Radomir Simunek (Cze) Palmans-Sapim 1.10 11 Camiel Van Den Bergh (Ned) Fidea Cyclocrossteam 12 Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) 13 Jan Verstraeten (Bel) Fidea Cyclocrossteam 14 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Palmans-Sapim 15 David Willemsens (Bel) 1.18 16 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 1.33 17 Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) 1.38 18 Christian Heule (Swi) Stevens International Cyclocross Team 1.44 19 Jonathan Page (USA) Colavita Olive Oil 20 Simon Zahner (Swi) 21 Peter Van Santvliet (Bel) Fidea Cyclocrossteam 2.02 22 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank 2.13 23 Wilant van Gils (Ned) 2.28 24 Martin Zlamalik (Cze) 2.35 25 John Gadret (Fra) Chocolade Jacques 2.44 26 Björn Rondelez (Bel) 27 Maarten Nijland (Ned) 2.53 28 Thijs Al (Ned) 29 David Derepas (Fra) 30 Arne Daelmans (Bel) 3.06 31 Jeremy Powers (USA) 3.20 32 Frederik Penne (Bel) 3.25 33 Klaas Vantornout (Bel) 3.35 34 David Seco (Spa) 35 David Meys (Bel) 4.00 36 Mariusz Gil (Pol) 37 Dariusz Gil (Pol) 4.09 38 Isaac Suarez (Spa) 4.10 39 Françis Mourey (Fra) 4.12 40 Nico Clarysse (Bel) 4.49 41 Ondrej Zelinka (Cze) 5.40 42 Jorn Van der Veken (Bel) 43 Leon Brouwer (Ned) 44 Jo Naert (Bel) 45 Freddy De Meester (Bel) Starters: 50 Classified: 45 U23 Men 1 Niels Albert (Bel) Baal/Tremelo 47.12 2 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) 0.26 3 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) 4 Eddy van IJzendoorn (Ned) 5 Rob Peeters (Bel) 0.43 6 Jan Soetens (Bel) 7 Pirmin Lang (Swi) 1.15 8 Clement L’Hotellier (Fra) 1.25 9 Tom Van den Bosch (Bel) 1.45 10 Rafael Visinelli (Ita) 1.50 11 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) 1.53 12 Maxim Debusschere (Bel) 2.00 13 Wim Leemans (Bel) 14 Kenny Geluykens (Bel) 15 Jempy Drucker (Lux) 2.18 16 Nick Sels (Bel) 2.38 17 Quentin Bertholet (Bel) 18 Maarten de Jonge (Ned) 19 René Lang (Swi) 2.50 20 Rik van IJzendoorn (Ned) 2.51 21 Jeroen Dingemans (Bel) 3.07 22 Gianni Denolf (Bel) 23 Jan Van Dael (Bel) 3.28 24 Felix Gniot (Ger) 25 Dennis Verhoeven (Bel) 3.43 26 Bouke Ridder (Ned) 3.55 27 Bart Verschueren (Bel) 4.00 28 Harm Vandekerckhove (Bel) 4.20 29 Jerry Kallensfels (Ned) 4.29 30 Kay Van den Brande (Bel) 31 Kevin Demeester (Bel) 4.46 32 Anthony Cailleau (Fra) 33 Guus Magielse (Ned) 34 Davy Depaepe (Bel) 4.50 35 Stijn Huys (Bel) 4.56 36 Joeri Kouwenhoven (Ned) 5.10 37 Koen van Grootel (Ned) 5.16 38 Frank van Grootel (Ned) 5.19 39 Bart Senders (Ned) 5.42 40 David Claerebout (Lux) 5.48 41 Benjamin Verraes (Bel) 6.00 42 Jan Verhaegh (Ned) 6.06 43 Djuri van Rijbroek (Ned) 44 Jan Mikkers (Ned) 6.40 45 Jeroen Thielemans (Bel) 7.00 46 Ward Demets (Bel) 47 Mattijn Motshagen (Ned) 48 Emler Walraedt (Bel) 49 Dieter Fossaert (Bel) 50 Joachim De Maesschalck (Bel) 51 Gedric Papegaey (Fra) 52 Kenneth Van Renterghem (Bel) 53 Wesley Derynck (Bel) 54 Charles-Antoine Vanboquestaels (Bel) 55 Tom Decock (Bel) 56 Robin Deroeck (Bel) Starters: 59 Classified: 56 Junior Men 1 Tom Meeusen (Bel) Essen 37.32 2 Kevin Cant (Bel) 0.10 3 Jim Aernouts (Bel) 0.17 4 Dries Govaerts (Bel) 5 Dries Pauwels (Bel) 6 Vincent Baestaens (Bel) 7 Remco te Brake (Ned) 0.23 8 Thomas Vernaeckt (Bel) 0.28 9 Joeri Adams (Bel) 0.29 10 Mitchell Huenders (Ned) 0.30 11 Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) 0.55 12 Dimitri Stevens (Bel) 13 Nivard Van Acker (Bel) 0.58 14 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) 1.14 15 Dave De Cleyn (Bel) 16 Geert van der Sanden (Ned) 17 Frederik Catrysse (Bel) 1.30 18 Richard van Loon (Ned) 19 Johim Ariesen (Ned) 20 Jan Van Zeebroeck (Bel) 21 Sven Verboven (Bel) 22 Rob van der Velde (Ned) 23 Björn De Decker (Bel) 24 Laurens De Vreese (Bel) 25 Bart Hermans (Bel) 26 Sascha Weber (Ger) 27 Stijn Mortelmans (Bel) 28 Edwin Arts (Ned) 29 Kevin Van Synghel (Bel) 30 Kristof Zegers (Bel) 31 Savie van Horik (Ned) 32 Kaëll Pizzy (Bel) 33 Yannick Wydooghe (Bel) 34 Kristof Cop (Bel) 35 Tom Clauw (Bel) 36 Jeroen Dekkers (Bel) 37 Raf Pluym (Bel) 38 Kevin De Schryver (Bel) 39 Matthias Moeyaert (Bel) 40 Peter Verstockt (Bel) 41 Kim Goethals (Bel) 42 Matthieu Holvoet (Bel) 43 Veerle Ingels (Bel) 44 Mathias Holvoet (Bel) 45 Jens Keukeleire (Bel) 46 Anja Nobus (Bel) 47 Nicole De Bie-Leijten (Bel) 48 Steff Minnaert (Bel) 49 Lorenzo Messine (Bel) 50 Ruben Doornaert (Bel) 51 Lorenzo Zauters (Bel) 52 Sandie Verriest (Bel) Starters: 53 Classified: 52 Novices 1 Stef Boden (Bel) Hoboken WAC 27.48 2 Jarno Van de Casteele (Bel) 0.02 3 Harm Van der Sanden (Ned) 0.04 4 Matthias Bossuyt (Bel) 0.07 5 Kevin Smit (Bel) 6 Vincent Renaux (Fra) 0.10 7 Bert Catrysse (Bel) 0.14 8 Kenneth Mariën (Bel) 0.26 9 Bart Barkhuis (Ned) 0.39 10 Willem Van den Eynde (Bel) 0.47 11 Zico Waeytens (Bel) 0.53 12 Dany Lacroix (Bel) 1.18 13 Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) 14 Gert-Jan Opsomer (Bel) 1.26 15 Zeb Willems (Bel) 1.46 16 Jochen Torfs (Bel) 17 Mickey Kallenfels (Ned) 18 Steven Galens (Bel) 19 Niels Wytinck (Bel) 20 Cis Desmet (Bel) 21 Thomas Gysbrechts (Bel) 22 Sanne Cant (Bel) 23 Cédéric Maddens (Bel) 24 Ritchie Denolf (Bel) 25 Robin Poelvoorde (Bel) 26 Raf Risbourg (Bel) 27 Sylvester Sioen (Bel) 28 Stijn Provost (Bel) 29 Orri Vandendriessche (Bel) 30 Gregory De Mulder (Bel) 31 Sam De Winne (Bel) 32 Thomas Verbeek (Bel) 33 Kevin Velle (Bel) 34 Jan Dewyspelaere (Bel) 35 Clint Van Droogenbroeck (Bel) 36 Wim Allary (Bel) 37 Niek Lepoudre (Bel) 38 Ruben Van Raepenbusch (Bel) 39 Kevin Callewaert (Bel) 40 Scott Ronsijn (Bel) 41 Martijn Lambrecht (Bel) 42 Frederik Vandewiele (Bel) 43 Joachim Janssens (Bel) 44 Sharon Defoor (Bel) 45 Francesco Van Coppernolle (Bel) 46 Flor Pyfferoen (Bel) 47 Kim Van Renterghem (Bel) 48 Anthony Mulligan (Bel) 49 Nick Vandenberghe (Bel) Starters: 49 Classified: 49
Superprestige standings after round 1
Elite Men 1 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cyclocrossteam 15 pts 2 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank 14 3 Wim Jacobs (Bel) Fidea Cyclocrossteam 13 4 Gerben de Knegt (Ned) 12 5 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cyclocrossteam 11 6 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank 10 7 Petr Dlaks (Cze) 9 8 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Rabobank 8 9 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) Palmans-Sapim 7 10 Radomir Simunek (Cze) Palmans-Sapim 6 11 Camiel Van Den Bergh (Ned) Fidea Cyclocrossteam 5 12 Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) 4 13 Jan Verstraeten (Bel) Fidea Cyclocrossteam 3 14 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Palmans-Sapim 2 15 David Willemsens (Bel) 1 U23 Men 1 Niels Albert (Bel) 15 pts 2 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) 14 3 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) 13 4 Eddy van IJzendoorn (Ned) 12 5 Rob Peeters (Bel) 11 6 Jan Soetens (Bel) 10 7 Pirmin Lang (Swi) 9 8 Clement L’Hotellerie (Fra) 8 9 Tom Van den Bosch (Bel) 7 10 Rafael Visinelli (Ita) 6 11 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) 5 12 Maxim Debusschere (Bel) 4 13 Wim Leemans (Bel) 3 14 Kenny Geluykens (Bel) 2 15 Jempy Drucker (Lux) 1 Junior Men 1 Tom Meeusen (Bel) 15 pts 2 Kevin Cant (Bel) 14 3 Jim Aernouts (Bel) 13 4 Dries Govaerts (Bel) 12 5 Dries Pauwels (Bel) 11 6 Vincent Baestaens (Bel) 10 7 Remco te Brake (Ned) 9 8 Thomas Vernaeckt (Bel) 8 9 Joeri Adams (Bel) 7 10 Mitchell Huenders (Ned) 6 11 Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) 5 12 Dimitri Stevens (Bel) 4 13 Nivard Van Acker (Bel) 3 14 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) 2 15 Dave De Cleyn (Bel) 1
Past winners
2004 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank 2003 Bart Wellens (Bel) Spaar Select 2002 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank 2001 Bart Wellens (Bel) Spaar Select 2000 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank 1999 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com
