Pauwels wins in Hoogerheide to secure World Cup

Belgian Kevin Pauwels continued his surge to the top of the cyclo-cross scene, taking home his first World Cup overall victory by winning his fourth round of the season in Hoogerheide. The Sunweb-Revor rider sped away from reigning World Champion Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) and his own teammate Klaas Vantornout in the final laps to win by a comfortable margin.

It's the first-ever overall win for Pauwels in one of the major cyclo-cross series.

"This means a lot to me," Pauwels said. The 27 year-old Belgian isn't a man of the big words and that didn't change after this major achievement. "I'm pleased it is the World Cup that I win because the races are not only in Belgium."

Pauwels came into the race 20 points ahead of Belgian champion Sven Nys, and the Belgian champion would have had to win and relegate Pauwels to fourth in order to claim the World Cup title.

The possibility sparked a tactical battle between the season's two main protagonists. Nys claimed the hole shot, but from there Nys didn't take the initiative and Pauwels camped on his rear wheel.

A first acceleration from Vantornout, Francis Mourey (FDJ-Big Mat) and Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) was allowed some distance. A second acceleration from Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) was answered by Nys and Pauwels, with Stybar following little later. The trio caught up with the leaders and once more there a cease-fire up front that allowed nine men to amass at the front of the race.

"That wasn't a good situation for me," Pauwels said.

An attack by Vantornout and Meeusen put a gap on the big guns, but at the end of the lap an attack by Stybar neutralized their lead, setting up Pauwels for a counter-attack.

"When Stybar attacked I went for it. Already during the first lap I knew that Sven Nys wasn't good because he would've been closer on my wheel. Once we hit the road and Nys wasn't there I knew for sure that he wasn't good," Pauwels said. From there he never looked back to get some support and set a high pace.

Together with Vantornout, Stybar and Meeusen there were four leaders although Meeusen quickly dropped back. "I blew up but that doesn't matter because I was one of the few riders who went full gas during a race on Saturday," Meeusen told Cyclingnews. The three remaining leaders kept Albert at a short distance while Nys lost fifteen seconds per lap. "It didn't go well although I tried my best. I can't say much about it. Yesterday I rode a race so maybe that's the reason," Nys said.

With the overall win in the World Cup seemingly in the pocket, Pauwels started flying and halfway through the penultimate lap he powered away from Stybar. "Actually I was a bit too confident in the last lap. When running I had a side stitch, and they gained time back on me," Pauwels said.

In the end Pauwels easily stood tall and grabbed his fourth World Cup win of the season. Behind him Stybar held off Vantornout for second place. "I wasn't as good as last week in Liévin but that's probably because I trained hard this week. Kevin is the well-deserved winner, not only today but in the whole World Cup," Stybar said.

Third-placed Vantornout was a happy man at the finish line after supporting his teammate to the race win and overall World Cup victory. "It's fantastic what we did today. I did my job today and Kevin finished it to perfection," Vantornout said.

Half a minute later Albert rolled in as fourth, just ahead of Rob Peeters (Telenet-Fidea) and Nys. The presence of Peeters in the top five was a surprise since he had a disastrous start and came through in 46th position. From there he steadily moved up and at the halfway point he moved into the top 10. At the finish line he sprinted faster than Nys and Meeusen to a great fifth place. "I didn't want to crash and took it easy early on. I had a super day and hopefully I'll have that again next Sunday," Peeters said.

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb - Revor1:02:01
2Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quickstep0:00:08
3Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb - Revor0:00:14
4Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus0:00:35
5Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:00:38
6Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet0:00:39
7Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:00:41
8Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Landbouwkrediet0:00:57
9Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus0:01:06
10Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat0:01:18
11Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team0:01:23
12Aurelien Duval (Fra) U.V.Aube0:01:49
13Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP - PowerplusRow 12 - Cell 2
14Steve Chainel (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat0:02:11
15Matthieu Boulo (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole0:02:25
16Simon Zahner (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:02:32
17Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott - Swisspower Mtb - Racing0:02:33
18Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti0:02:42
19Twan Van Den Brand (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team0:02:47
20Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Cyclingteam De Rijke0:03:00
21Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco Cycling Team0:03:11
22Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team0:03:13
23Christian Heule (Swi) Cannondale / Cyclocrossworld.com0:03:24
24Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team0:03:33
25Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team0:03:35
26Marcel Meisen (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus0:03:42
27Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles0:03:43
28Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team0:03:46
29Jeremy Powers (USA) Team Rapha FocusRow 28 - Cell 2
30Martin Zlamalik (Cze) Kdl Trans0:03:47
31Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team0:03:58
32Johannes Sickmueller (Ger) Feenstra Stevens Bike Team0:04:01
33Cristian Cominelli (Ita) Tx Active Bianchi0:04:05
34Petr Dlask (Cze) Madeta Fitness / Specialized0:04:15
35Jiri Polnicky (Cze) Whirlpool - Author0:04:24
36Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike0:04:31
37Magnus Darvell (Swe)0:04:35
38Clément Bourgoin (Fra)0:04:38
39Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa)0:04:40
40Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus0:04:50
41Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze)0:04:56
42Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale / Cyclocrossworld.com0:05:36
43Ryan Trebon (USA) Lts / Felt0:05:42
44Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team0:05:53
45James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale / Cyclocrossworld.com0:06:16
46 (-1 lap)Gusty Bausch (Lux)Row 45 - Cell 2
47Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spa)Row 46 - Cell 2
48Christopher Jones (USA) Team Rapha FocusRow 47 - Cell 2
49Sascha Weber (Ger)Row 48 - Cell 2
50Christian Helmig (Lux)Row 49 - Cell 2
51 (-2 laps)Yu Takenouchi (Jpn)Row 50 - Cell 2
52 (-3 laps)Eddy Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling TeamRow 51 - Cell 2
53Craig Richey (Can)Row 52 - Cell 2
54Joachim Parbo (Den)Row 53 - Cell 2
55Lewis Rattray (Aus)Row 54 - Cell 2
56 (-4 laps)Keiichi Tsujiura (Jpn) Team Bridgestone AnchorRow 55 - Cell 2
57 (-5 laps)David Quist (Nor)Row 56 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Elite Men World Cup final standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb - Revor590pts
2Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet540Row 1 - Cell 3
3Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quickstep525Row 2 - Cell 3
4Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb - Revor450Row 3 - Cell 3
5Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea373Row 4 - Cell 3
6Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat363Row 5 - Cell 3
7Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team360Row 6 - Cell 3
8Steve Chainel (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat319Row 7 - Cell 3
9Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus306Row 8 - Cell 3
10Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus300Row 9 - Cell 3
11Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team290Row 10 - Cell 3
12Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti267Row 11 - Cell 3
13Simon Zahner (Swi)250Row 12 - Cell 3
14Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet - Fidea249Row 13 - Cell 3
15Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco Cycling Team249Row 14 - Cell 3
16Matthieu Boulo (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole247Row 15 - Cell 3
17Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus228Row 16 - Cell 3
18Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team222Row 17 - Cell 3
19Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott - Swisspower Mtb - Racing219Row 18 - Cell 3
20Twan Van Den Brand (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team211Row 19 - Cell 3
21Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Bigmat - Auber 93187Row 20 - Cell 3
22Marcel Meisen (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus182Row 21 - Cell 3
23Aurelien Duval (Fra)174Row 22 - Cell 3
24Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Landbouwkrediet168Row 23 - Cell 3
25Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team161Row 24 - Cell 3
26Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Cyclingteam De Rijke160Row 25 - Cell 3
27Jeremy Powers (USA) Team Rapha Focus156Row 26 - Cell 3
28Cristian Cominelli (Ita) Tx Active Bianchi146Row 27 - Cell 3
29Martin Zlamalik (Cze) Kdl Trans145Row 28 - Cell 3
30Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team139Row 29 - Cell 3
31Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike139Row 30 - Cell 3
32Egoitz Murgoitio Rekalde (Spa)135Row 31 - Cell 3
33Christian Heule (Swi) Cannondale / Cyclocrossworld.com134Row 32 - Cell 3
34Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet - Fidea130Row 33 - Cell 3
35Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze)122Row 34 - Cell 3
36Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles118Row 35 - Cell 3
37Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team115Row 36 - Cell 3
38Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team101Row 37 - Cell 3
39Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale / Cyclocrossworld.com100Row 38 - Cell 3
40Marco Bianco (Ita)96Row 39 - Cell 3
41Jiri Polnicky (Cze) Whirlpool - Author95Row 40 - Cell 3
42Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus89Row 41 - Cell 3
43Petr Dlask (Cze) Madeta Fitness / Specialized86Row 42 - Cell 3
44Magnus Darvell (Swe)73Row 43 - Cell 3
45Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team71Row 44 - Cell 3
46David Kasek (Cze)66Row 45 - Cell 3
47Mitchell Huenders (Ned)63Row 46 - Cell 3
48Johannes Sickmueller (Ger) Feenstra Stevens Bike Team62Row 47 - Cell 3
49Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa)60Row 48 - Cell 3
50Sascha Weber (Ger)59Row 49 - Cell 3
51James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale / Cyclocrossworld.com49Row 50 - Cell 3
52Clément Bourgoin (Fra)48Row 51 - Cell 3
53Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spa)46Row 52 - Cell 3
54John Gadret (Fra) Ag2R La Mondiale42Row 53 - Cell 3
55Elia Silvestri (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti42Row 54 - Cell 3
56Ryan Trebon (USA) Lts / Felt37Row 55 - Cell 3
57Karel Hnik (Cze)37Row 56 - Cell 3
58Marco Ponta (Ita)30Row 57 - Cell 3
59José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team29Row 58 - Cell 3
60Robert Gavenda (Svk) Kdl Trans27Row 59 - Cell 3
61Jérome Chevallier (Fra)26Row 60 - Cell 3
62Martin Haring (Svk)25Row 61 - Cell 3
63Mirko Tabacchi (Ita)24Row 62 - Cell 3
64Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa)23Row 63 - Cell 3
65Kenneth Hansen (Den)21Row 64 - Cell 3
66Luca Damiani (Ita) Kenda - 5-Hour Energy Cycling Team19Row 65 - Cell 3
67Tijmen Eising (Ned) Sunweb - Revor19Row 66 - Cell 3
68Craig Richey (Can)19Row 67 - Cell 3
69Eddy Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team19Row 68 - Cell 3
70Yu Takenouchi (Jpn)18Row 69 - Cell 3
71Lubomir Petrus (Cze)18Row 70 - Cell 3
72Erlantz Uriarte Okamika (Spa)18Row 71 - Cell 3
73Fabio Ursi (Ita) Team Cbe Tecnoimpianti A.S.D.18Row 72 - Cell 3
74Ondrej Bambula (Cze)18Row 73 - Cell 3
75Jose Antonio Diez Arriola (Spa)17Row 74 - Cell 3
76Guillaume Perrot (Fra)17Row 75 - Cell 3
77Jeremy Durrin (USA)16Row 76 - Cell 3
78Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet16Row 77 - Cell 3
79Joachim Parbo (Den)14Row 78 - Cell 3
80Milan Barenyi (Svk)14Row 79 - Cell 3
81Joeri Adams (Bel) Telenet - Fidea12Row 80 - Cell 3
82René Lang (Swi)12Row 81 - Cell 3
83Melvin Rulliere (Fra)11Row 82 - Cell 3
84Nico Brüngger (Swi)11Row 83 - Cell 3
85Ole Quast (Ger)10Row 84 - Cell 3
86Arnaud Grand (Swi) Telenet - Fidea9Row 85 - Cell 3
87Marek Cichosz (Pol)6Row 86 - Cell 3
88Gusty Bausch (Lux)5Row 87 - Cell 3
89Yannick Mayer (Ger)5Row 88 - Cell 3
90Christopher Jones (USA) Team Rapha Focus3Row 89 - Cell 3
91Ludovic Renard (Fra)3Row 90 - Cell 3
92Vaclav Metlicka (Svk)3Row 91 - Cell 3
93Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) Telenet - Fidea2Row 92 - Cell 3
94Christian Helmig (Lux)1Row 93 - Cell 3

 

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