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World Champion Niels Albert showed his stripes with a dominant performance in the C1 'cross in Leuven. The BKCP-Powerplus rider stormed away from the field in the second lap and soloed to the win by almost a minute over Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Revor) and Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet).
Nys, who suffered a slow start, eventually put the rest behind him in pursuit of the podium, beating out the Telenet-Fidea riders Rob Peeters and Tom Meeusen.
Article continues belowThe only bit of drama in the race was a frightening face-plant by Bart Wellens on the barriers. The former world champion stood dazed for a moment, but despite having pain in his head and neck he continued, finishing in 10th place.
Full Results
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| 1 | Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus | 0:59:15 |
| 2 | Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb-Revor | 0:00:30 |
| 3 | Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony | 0:00:52 |
| 4 | Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet - Fidea | 0:00:54 |
| 5 | Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea | 0:00:58 |
| 6 | Bart Aernouts (Bel) AA Drink Cyclocross Team | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
| 7 | Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
| 8 | Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
| 9 | Wietse Bosmans (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus | 0:01:06 |
| 10 | Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet - Fidea | 0:01:12 |
| 11 | Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team | 0:01:19 |
| 12 | Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Revor | 0:01:37 |
| 13 | Thijs van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink Cyclocross Team | 0:01:41 |
| 14 | Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus | 0:01:54 |
| 15 | Marcel Meisen (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus | 0:02:11 |
| 16 | Aurelien Duval (Fra) UV Aube | 0:02:25 |
| 17 | Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team | 0:02:45 |
| 18 | Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet - Fidea | 0:02:53 |
| 19 | Lars van der Haar (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team | 0:02:58 |
| 20 | Jim Aernouts (Bel) Sunweb-Revor | 0:03:10 |
| 21 | Jonathan Page (USA) | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
| 22 | Wout van Aert (Bel) Telenet-Fidea | 0:03:15 |
| 23 | Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-KDL | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
| 24 | Joeri Adams (Bel) Telenet - Fidea | 0:03:37 |
| 25 | Diether Sweeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-KDL | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
| 26 | Martin Zlamalik (Cze) Landbouwkrediet-KDL | 0:04:40 |
| 27 | Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco | 0:04:58 |
| 28 | Toon Aerts (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-KDL | 0:05:15 |
| 29 | Daan Soete (Bel) Telenet-Fidea | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
| 30 | Thijs Al (Ned) Telenet - Fidea | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
| 31 | Bart De Vocht (Bel) | 0:06:25 |
| 32 (-1 lap) | Arnaud Grand (Swi) Telenet - Fidea | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
| 33 | Patrick Gaudy (Bel) | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
| 34 | Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
| 35 | Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) Telenet - Fidea | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
| 36 (-2 laps) | Hendrik Sweeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-KDL | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
| 37 | Davy Commeyne (Bel) | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
| 38 (-3 laps) | Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
| 39 | Berne Vankeirsbilck (Bel) | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
| 40 | Aaron Schooler (Can) Norco Bicycles - SRI Importing | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
| 41 | Ingmar Uytdewilligen (Bel) | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
| 42 (-4 laps) | Niels Koyen (Bel) | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
| 43 | Lorenzo Pepermans (Bel) | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
| 44 | Alexander Revell (NZl) Revolution Bicycles | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
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