Nys comes out strong in season opener
Aernouts, Pauwels round out podium in Erpe Mere
Belgian national champion Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) won the first international cyclo-cross race of the European season in Erpe Mere, with a blistering sprint on the uphill finish.
Nys beat Bart Aernouts (Rabo-Giant Offroad Team) in the sprint, with Kevin Pauwels (Telenet-Fidea) completing the podium of the Steenbergcross race, 1 seconds down.
With conditions in Belgium dry, the race was extremely fast and Nys attacked during the second lap and only Klaas Vantornout and Bart Aernouts were able to go after him. Vantornout tried his own attack but went out of contention due to a mechanical problem.
Nys and Aernouts stayed away to fight out the sprint on the uphill finish but Nys was far faster and took his fifth victory in the Belgian season-opener.
World champion Zdenek Stybar (Telenet-Fidea) delayed his season debut until next weekend but Nys already seems the biggest threat to his dominance of the off-road winter.
Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team |
---|---|
1 | Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet |
2 | Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabo - Giant Offroad Team. |
3 | Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team |
4 | Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus |
5 | Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team |
6 | Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team |
7 | Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus |
8 | Steve Chainel (Fra) |
9 | Enrico Franzoi (Ita) BKCP-Powerplus |
10 | Joeri Adams (Bel) Rabobank |
11 | Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb Revor |
12 | Jim Aernouts (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus |
13 | Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team |
14 | Tom Van Den Bosch (Bel) AA Drink Cycling Team |
15 | Ian Field (GBr) |
16 | Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) BKCP-Powerplus |
17 | Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabo - Giant Offroad Team. |
18 | Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco - Revor Cycling Team |
19 | Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) Sunweb Revor |
20 | Jiri Polnicky (Cze) Sunweb Revor |
21 | Jelle Brackman (Bel) MTB dreamteam |
22 | Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus |
23 | Jens Adams (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus |
24 | Karel Hnik (Cze) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team |
25 | Ben Berden (Bel) Qin Cycling Team |
26 | Egoitz Murgoitio Rekalde (Spa) |
27 | Gianni Denolf (Bel) Baboco - Revor Cycling Team |
28 | Nicolas Bazin (Fra) |
29 | Arnaud Grand (Swi) |
30 | Robby Cobbaert (Bel) SDC - Rogelli Cycling Team |
31 | Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team |
32 | Kobus Hereygers (Ned) ZZPR.NL |
33 | Micki van Empel (Ned) ZZPR.NL |
34 | Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus |
35 | Tommy Nielsen (Den) |
36 | Geert Wellens (Bel) Scott USA Cycling Team |
37 | Kenneth Hansen (Den) |
38 | Xabier Garcia Irazola (Spa) |
39 | Daniel Ruiz Echeandia (Spa) |
40 | Benedikt Jobb (Ger) |
41 | Stijn Heyse (Bel) Team CATA bikes bianchi |
42 | Wim Allary (Bel) Koninklijke Brugse Velosport VZW |
43 | Alberto Candelas Caballero (Spa) |
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59
Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Tour of the Gila: Marlies Mejias Garcia wins stage 2 as Stephens retains race lead
Repeat victory for Cuban, who out-sprinted Kuskova on stage to Fort Bayard -
Tour of the Gila: Scott McGill wins men's stage 2 Inner Loop Road Race
Stites moves into race lead with third at Fort Bayard -
Lizzie Deignan gets green light to race La Vuelta Femenina
'My recovery has maybe been better than we even expected' says Deignan after suffering a broken arm in Tour of Flanders crash -
Gravel's newest star Torbjørn Røed leaves road behind with Unbound in mind
Conclusion of Tripel Crown of Gravel takes place this Sunday then Norwegian resets for Unbound Gravel