Page unlucky in Kalmthout

By Brecht Decaluwé

Jonathan Page had a disappointing first World Cup in Kalmthout after strong start to the season which included four straight wins in Michigan and Wisconsin and a second place at the Kermiscross Ardooie. Page abandoned the race after eight laps. Before the race Page explained that he was feeling a bit ill.

His luck went sour during the first lap when a French rider crashed and took Page down with him. Despite a good third lap, Page ended up riding on his own between two big groups, and his coach and mechanic Franky Van Haesebroucke told him to abandon the race. "Page is ill and he wasn't performing like he should be able to. He trained well and he's form is much better than the 31st position that he was riding in reflected.

"At such a moment I think it doesn't make sense to make a fool of yourself and continue in a race where you're not going forward but backwards," Van Haesebroucke said. The few UCI points he could have picked up for finishing weren't worth it. "Page has about the most UCI-points of all right now, thanks to the races he did in the US and Switzerland, and the good results in Ardooie and Lebbeke."