Youngster Vantornout challenging the old masters

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Belgian Klaas Vantornout (Fidea)(Image credit: Brecht Decaluwé)

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That new motor home could well come with a new contract next season, with the Belgian proving his worth and potential already this season. The Fidea Cycling Team rider stormed through last month's World Cup roud two in Tabor, Czech Republic where he finished second to compatriot and cyclo-cross king Sven Nys (Rabobank). Vantornout took another podium finish at last weekend's third World Cup round in Pijnacker, Netherlands where the Belgian bounced back from illness to finish an impressive third, behind Dutchmen Lars Boom (Rabobank) and his own team-mate Bart Wellens.

"The reason for my improvement?" repeated Vantornout, who lives together with girlfriend Annelies. "I had a fantastic training week with the team in Sankt-Moritz, Switzerland. Before that the team made sure we rode a couple of good stage races. I had no bad luck or setbacks so my base is solid. I didn't do much different than before but, I've become more mature, more experienced. I'm stronger now and I want to become even better which is possible if I don't have a setback."

Although Vantornout was one of the better performing Fidea riders last season, he remained relatively anonymous in the Belgian team where Bart Wellens is the team leader and which also holds reigning World Champion Erwin Vervecken. While some riders would be annoyed with the situation, it's a fact that sits well with Vantornout, who knows his time will come. "That's how it is," Vantornout stated. "I'm not Wellens, he is radiating something that attracts fans. Although I must say that a lot has changed after my performance in Tabor where I was in the spotlights on TV for an hour."

The Belgian expects the bus to be particularly full by the time January's World Championships in Treviso come around. Vantornout has his sights set on the Italian race after finishing eighth at the Treviso World Cup round last season. "Last year I was very good in the Treviso World Cup race, I finished eighth but I was in the first group behind the three leaders," he said. "It can be a reasonably heavy race in different conditions - especially with rain - since the race is at another time of the year.

If it came down to a choice of season-long consistency at the cost of the World Championship, similar to Nys' past, or targeting the UCI rainbow jersey at the cost of season long consistency, Vantornout's mind isn't yet clear on which he would rather. "I think most riders would choose the jersey and it's true that [Nys] doesn't win the championships, but he dominates the season," said Vantornout. "It would be hard to choose for me. Nys is the top favourite in every race, it must be tough for him. The fact that he's shown some mockery towards Fidea seems logical to me, [Fidea team manager] Van Kasteren is provoking him all the time."

Vantornout has a clear respect and admiration for his compatriot Nys while off the bike, but when it comes to racing the Belgian believes the UCI points leader can be beaten. In fact Vantornout believes the 2005 UCI Cyclo-cross World Champion isn't as strong this season as he has been in years gone by. "I still feel that Nys is less good than during previous seasons," he explained. "If I have a very good day then I'm a match for him. The top is getting broader and that's good for the 'cross, there are more duels."

With the growing popularity of cyclo-cross in the United States of America and Canada it seems inevitable that the World Cup will eventually end up with a round on North American soil, despite this year's failed attempt to get one off the ground. However, despite the lucrative cycling market in the US, it will take the World Cup's likely expansion to draw Vantornout across the Atlantic, with the Belgian saying the travel is too taxing to do it regularly. "No, certainly not," stated Vantornout when asked if he'd compete on American soil. "Erwin Vervecken does it, but he's grabbing along whatever he can these days. It's tiring to travel so far and I would never go there."

"If there's a World Cup then I would go, because it's obligatory, but in that case it is the same for everybody," he added. "I understand that the UCI wants to profile cyclo-cross as an international sport, and that's something I support since the youth will look up to that. Over here, it's amazing to see how popular the sport has become. In the beginners' race there were about 100 starters in Oudenaarde, in my time we were lining up with 20 kids."

Vantornout said he's had some good contact with the North American riders that are starting to venture across to compete in Europe, but warned that they will never be able to match the speed and consistency of the Europeans. "I know [Ryan] Trebon, he's a nice guy, and [Jonathan] Page of course," he said. "[Barry] Wicks and [Jeremy] Powers are other guys I saw here in the past seasons. They are good riders but they will never keep up with the top over here, there's still a big gap between their level and ours."

While Page took a strong second place at last season's World Championships, Vantornout was delighted that the American didn't win the event. "I'm happy that he didn't become World Champion," he said. "It wouldn't be good for the appearance of the sport, because right now he's always finishing 10th or something, which would be a disgrace as World Champion. His luck was that he was fresh at the start of the world's due to his injury earlier that season."

After initially being overlooked by the GvA Trophy organisers, a decision was seriously questioned after his form this season, Vantornout was delighted to hear of his inclusion. "It's a good thing for all parties," Vantornout said. "For me because I can compete for that desirable GC, [and] for sponsor Fidea because every GvA race is live on television and they receive more exposure. But also for the GvA Trophy because they can bring out positive news now that I finally joined their competition."

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