Superprestige starts Sunday

The 24th edition of the European Superprestige Cyclo-cross series starts this Sunday in Ruddervoorde, Belgium with the first of eight races. The last winner of the series, Rabobank rider Sven Nys will be at the start again this year to defend his title. A total of 42 riders - 27 Elite and 15 Espoirs - will be competing against each other in the same races as last year:

October 16, 2005: Ruddervoorde, Belgium
October 30, 2005: Sint-Michielsgestel, Netherlands
November 6, 2005: Hamme-Zogge, Belgium
November 20, 2005: Gavere, Belgium
November 27, 2005: Gieten, Netherlands
December 24, 2005: Diegem, Belgium
February 5, 2006: Hoogstraten, Belgium
February 18, 2006: Vorselaar, Belgium

The Elite riders with a confirmed start in all eight races are:

Belgium: Sven Nys, Bart Wellens, Erwin Vervecken, Sven Vanthourenhout, Tom Vannoppen, Davy Commeyne, Bart Aernouts, Wim Jacobs, Jan Verstraeten, Tim Van Nuffel, Peter Van Santvliet, Arne Daelmans
Netherlands: Richard Groenendaal, Wilant van Gils, Maarten Nijland, Camiel van den Bergh, Gerben De Knegt
Italy: Enrico Franzoi
Czech Republic: Kamil Ausbuher, Martin Zlamalik, Radomir Simunek
France: John Gadret, David Derepas
Poland: Mariusz Gil, Dariusz Gil
USA: Jonathan Page
Germany: Malte Urban

The U23 riders listed for the Superprestige read as follows:

Belgium: Niels Albert, Jan Soetens, Kevin Pauwels, Tom Van den Bosch, Dieter Vanthourenhout, Jan Van Dael, Rob Peeters
Czech Republic: Zdenek Stybar, Ondrej Zelinka
Netherlands: Ricardo van der Velde, Eddy van IJzendoorn, Thijs van Amerongen
France: Clément L’Hotellerie
Luxemburg: Jean-Pierre Drucker
Switzerland: Lucas Flückiter

Prizemoney for the Superprestige is the same for the Elite riders as last year, 66,500 Euros. In the U23 category, a significantly smaller sum of 5,000 Euros can be won, and the Juniors will be awarded up to 9,000 Euros worth of prizes.