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Albert on top in Leuven

Pauwels bests Nys for runner-up

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Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) wins in Leuven

Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) wins in Leuven (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Bart Wellens (Telenet Fidea)

Bart Wellens (Telenet Fidea) (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Revor) in Leuven

Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Revor) in Leuven (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Sven Vanthourenhout

Sven Vanthourenhout (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Alexander Revell

Alexander Revell (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Sven Nys eventually made his way to third

Sven Nys eventually made his way to third (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Niels Albert makes his charge up the hill

Niels Albert makes his charge up the hill (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Niels Albert on his way to the win in Leuven

Niels Albert on his way to the win in Leuven (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Lars van der Haar (Rabo) runs the barriers

Lars van der Haar (Rabo) runs the barriers (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Niels Albert on the run-up.

Niels Albert on the run-up. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Aurelien Duval

Aurelien Duval (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Sven Nys bunny hops the barriers in Leuven

Sven Nys bunny hops the barriers in Leuven (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Kevin Pauwels runs his way to second place

Kevin Pauwels runs his way to second place (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Niels Albert hops the planks in Leuven

Niels Albert hops the planks in Leuven (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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World champion Niels Albert wins in Leuven

World champion Niels Albert wins in Leuven (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Niels Albert held a large advantage by the finish line

Niels Albert held a large advantage by the finish line (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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The Soudal 'cross podium: Kevin Pauwels, Niels Albert and Sven Nys

The Soudal 'cross podium: Kevin Pauwels, Niels Albert and Sven Nys (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Kevin Pauwels

Kevin Pauwels (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Niels Albert

Niels Albert (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)
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Niels Albert steps onto the podium in Leuven

Niels Albert steps onto the podium in Leuven (Image credit: Photopress.be)
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(Image credit: Photopress.be)

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).

As Albert put on his one-man show, Pauwels emerged alone from the chasing group about halfway through the race, but never threatened the lead of Albert.

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.

The 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

1Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus0:59:15
2Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb-Revor0:00:30
3Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony0:00:52
4Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:00:54
5Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:00:58
6Bart Aernouts (Bel) AA Drink Cyclocross Team
7Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus
8Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony
9Wietse Bosmans (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus0:01:06
10Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:01:12
11Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team0:01:19
12Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Revor0:01:37
13Thijs van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink Cyclocross Team0:01:41
14Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus0:01:54
15Marcel Meisen (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus0:02:11
16Aurelien Duval (Fra) UV Aube0:02:25
17Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team0:02:45
18Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet - Fidea0:02:53
19Lars van der Haar (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team0:02:58
20Jim Aernouts (Bel) Sunweb-Revor0:03:10
21Jonathan Page (USA)
22Wout van Aert (Bel) Telenet-Fidea0:03:15
23Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-KDL
24Joeri Adams (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:03:37
25Diether Sweeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-KDL
26Martin Zlamalik (Cze) Landbouwkrediet-KDL0:04:40
27Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco0:04:58
28Toon Aerts (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-KDL0:05:15
29Daan Soete (Bel) Telenet-Fidea
30Thijs Al (Ned) Telenet - Fidea
31Bart De Vocht (Bel)0:06:25
32 (-1 lap)Arnaud Grand (Swi) Telenet - Fidea
33Patrick Gaudy (Bel)
34Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony
35Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) Telenet - Fidea
36 (-2 laps)Hendrik Sweeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-KDL
37Davy Commeyne (Bel)
38 (-3 laps)Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel)
39Berne Vankeirsbilck (Bel)
40Aaron Schooler (Can) Norco Bicycles - SRI Importing
41Ingmar Uytdewilligen (Bel)
42 (-4 laps)Niels Koyen (Bel)
43Lorenzo Pepermans (Bel)
44Alexander Revell (NZl) Revolution Bicycles

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