Albert wins World Cup round two in Plzen
World Champ ahead of Nys and Stybar
World champion Niels Albert earned his second consecutive World Cup win in Plzen, Czech Republic, today.
He overcame a disastrous start and, before the race's halfway point, he joined home favourite Zdenek Stybar at front. Stybar had to recover from his early efforts. After six laps of racing on the muddy course Albert attacked and was never pulled back.
"Today's course, with the rain and the mud, is what I like. The ground was very slippery, but still fast, the best condition for me. I hope to come back in January for Worlds, but hopefully it's still without snow and ice then," Albert said.
Behind the world champion, Nys won the sprint for second place ahead of Stybar, Kevin Pauwels and French champion Francis Mourey.
"Now I'm improving my start position for the future races and I can head to the Koppenbergcross with ease of mind. We'll see some more interesting races in the near future," said Nys.
USA's Jonathan Page finished 13th.
Albert remains the World Cup leader ahead of Stybar, Vantornout and Mourey. Nys isn't near the front after abandoning during the first World Cup round in Treviso, Italy. The next round of the World Cup round will be held in Nommay, France, November 8.
Hectic start disastrous for world champion
The meadows near the city famous for its beer were more or less dry, but rain showers didn't leave the riders any choice on the slippery course. The start procedure caused a lot of trouble for the riders at the front row, resulting in a restart. Martin Bina pulled off the hole shot, with Vantornout and Zdenek Stybar on his wheel.
Albert had a terrible start and dropped back into the middle of the bunch, riding next to Belgian Champion Sven Nys. The duo moved up quickly, but Czech Champion Stybar powered away in front. The first chasing group included Vantornout, Bina, Kevin Pauwels, Page and Mourey. By the end of the first lap, Stybar led the race with 10" on the first chasers and 19" on the second group led by Erwin Vervecken and including Nys and Stybar.
Stybar fires away, with Page leading the chase
During the second lap, Mourey and Page went to the front while Albert and Nys bridged up to this first chasing group. Two laps after the start sole leader Stybar had 14" on Albert, who led the chase with Pauwels, Vantornout and Mourey, and 18" on Page and Nys.
Albert hammered through the third lap. His gap on Stybar shrank, and one lap later he had only six seconds left. Page dropped out of the first chasing group and was caught by Radomir Simunek Jr. Halfway the fourth lap Stybar was caught back by Albert and Nys, and once Albert reached the front he eased off a little, allowing Pauwels, Mourey and Vantornout to bridge up before the end of the fourth lap. Simunek and Page chased at 13". Franzoi, Vervecken and De Knegt worked hard to stay near the front.
Albert catches Stybar
When entering the fifth lap, Albert and Stybar increased the pace and advantage on Mourey and Vantornout. Albert created a little gap, which Stybar closed down, and powered away on the asphalt when entering the sixth lap. Stybar paid for his early efforts and struggled to stay in touch chasing group that passed him.
The race was decided when entering the uphill road towards the finish line after six laps. Albert still gave all he had while Nys sat up and waited for Pauwels to take the lead in the chase. It allowed Stybar to bridge up with them and handed Albert a twenty seconds lead.
With four laps to go, Albert crossed the finish line 14" ahead of Stybar, Pauwels, Nys and Mourey
Albert wins, battle for second
Nys launched an attack for second place in the eighth lap. Stybar, Pauwels and the persisting Mourey trailed at 22". Vantornout rode at 46" and Italian champion Franzoi led a group with Simunek, De Knegt, Heule, Page at one minute.
Nys managed to pass Stybar in the last corner of the last lap. He held his position over the final 70 metres
1 | Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus | 1:05:13 |
2 | Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago | 0:00:19 |
3 | Zdenek Štybar (Cze) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team | 0:00:21 |
4 | Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team | 0:00:24 |
5 | Francis Mourey (Fra) Française des Jeux | 0:00:38 |
6 | Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob | 0:00:56 |
7 | Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus | 0:01:03 |
8 | Christian Heule (Swi) RendementhypoCycling Team | 0:01:06 |
9 | Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Liquigas | 0:01:10 |
10 | Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank | 0:01:17 |
11 | Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank | 0:01:26 |
12 | Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Revor-Jartazi Continental Team | 0:01:33 |
13 | Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike | 0:01:37 |
14 | Petr Dlask (Cze) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team | 0:02:03 |
15 | Jan Verstraeten (Bel) KDL Trans NV | 0:02:06 |
16 | Robert Gavenda (Svk) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team | 0:02:09 |
17 | Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team | 0:02:43 |
18 | Martin Zlámalík (Cze) Prodoli Racing Team | 0:03:03 |
19 | Marco Bianco (Ita) L Arcobaleno Carraro Team | 0:03:12 |
20 | Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team | 0:03:15 |
21 | Laurent Colombatto (Fra) AC Besançon | 0:03:16 |
22 | Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus | 0:03:21 |
23 | Eddy van IJzendoorn (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team | 0:03:24 |
24 | Martin Bína (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor | 0:03:27 |
25 | Mariusz Gil (Pol) LKS Pom Strzelce Krajenskie | 0:03:31 |
26 | Ondrej Bambula (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor | 0:03:38 |
27 | Rob Peeters (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago | 0:03:45 |
28 | Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/GSI | 0:03:46 |
29 | Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) Exe Jeans | 0:03:52 |
30 | Wilant van Gils (Ned) Pro Cycling Team ZZPR.nl-Destil-Merida | 0:04:01 |
31 | Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott-Swisspower Mountainbike-Team | 0:04:10 |
32 | David Derepas (Fra) UVCA Troyes | 0:04:14 |
33 | Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Het Snelle Wiel | 0:04:20 |
34 | Pawel Szczepaniak (Pol) LKS Pom Strzelce Krajenskie | 0:04:48 |
35 | Alessandro Gambino (Ita) Centro Sportivo Esercito | 0:05:02 |
36 | Johannes Sickmüller (Ger) Stevens Cyclocross Team Hamburg | 0:05:22 |
37 | Jérôme Chevallier (Fra) AC Besançon | 0:05:34 |
38 | Zdenek Mlynár (Cze) Max Cursor | 0:06:10 |
39 | Roy Van Heeswijk (Ned) Sint Oedenrode |
40 | Vaclav Metlicka (Svk) Team Král |
41 | Milan Barenyi (Svk) |
42 | Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) KED Bianchi Berlin |
43 | Ivar Hartogs (Ned) ZZPR.nl-Destil-Merida |
44 | Fabio Ursi (Ita) Centro Sportivo Esercito |
45 | Sascha Wagner (Ger) Stevens Cyclocross Team Hamburg |
46 | Martin Haring (Svk) |
47 | Robert Glajza (Svk) |
48 | Marek Canecky (Svk) |
49 | Zoltan Tisza (Hun) |
1 | Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus | 160 | pts |
2 | Zdenek Štybar (Cze) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team | 135 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob | 115 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Francis Mourey (Fra) Française des Jeux | 110 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team | 96 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Gerben de Knegt (Ned) Rabobank | 90 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Christian Heule (Swi) RendementhypoCycling Team | 88 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Martin Bína (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor | 87 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Petr Dlask (Cze) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team | 83 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Liquigas | 82 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank | 73 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Revor-Jartazi Continental Team | 73 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
13 | Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) Exe Jeans | 72 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
14 | Martin Zlámalík (Cze) Prodoli Racing Team | 72 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
15 | Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team | 71 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
16 | Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago | 70 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
17 | Laurent Colombatto (Fra) AC Besançon | 67 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
18 | Jan Verstraeten (Bel) KDL Trans NV | 67 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
19 | Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team | 61 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
20 | Mariusz Gil (Pol) LKS Pom Strzelce Krajenskie | 56 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
21 | Ondrej Bambula (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor | 54 | Row 20 - Cell 3 |
22 | Eddy van IJzendoorn (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team | 53 | Row 21 - Cell 3 |
23 | Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus | 50 | Row 22 - Cell 3 |
24 | Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus | 48 | Row 23 - Cell 3 |
25 | Steve Chainel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom | 44 | Row 24 - Cell 3 |
26 | Wilant van Gils (Ned) Pro Cycling Team ZZPR.nl-Destil-Merida | 44 | Row 25 - Cell 3 |
27 | Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike | 38 | Row 26 - Cell 3 |
28 | Milan Barenyi (Svk) | 36 | Row 27 - Cell 3 |
29 | Robert Gavenda (Svk) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team | 35 | Row 28 - Cell 3 |
30 | Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb-Projob | 35 | Row 29 - Cell 3 |
31 | Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Het Snelle Wiel | 34 | Row 30 - Cell 3 |
32 | Alessandro Gambino (Ita) Centro Sportivo Esercito | 34 | Row 31 - Cell 3 |
33 | Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) KED Bianchi Berlin | 33 | Row 32 - Cell 3 |
34 | Marco Bianco (Ita) L Arcobaleno Carraro Team | 32 | Row 33 - Cell 3 |
35 | Jonathan Lopez (Fra) VC La Pomme Marseille | 32 | Row 34 - Cell 3 |
36 | Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott-Swisspower Mountainbike-Team | 31 | Row 35 - Cell 3 |
37 | Johannes Sickmüller (Ger) Stevens Cyclocross Team Hamburg | 30 | Row 36 - Cell 3 |
38 | Egoitz Murgoitio Rekalde (Spa) | 28 | Row 37 - Cell 3 |
39 | Fabio Ursi (Ita) Centro Sportivo Esercito | 26 | Row 38 - Cell 3 |
40 | Vaclav Metlicka (Svk) Team Král | 25 | Row 39 - Cell 3 |
41 | Rob Peeters (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago | 24 | Row 40 - Cell 3 |
42 | Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/GSI | 23 | Row 41 - Cell 3 |
43 | Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez | 22 | Row 42 - Cell 3 |
44 | David Derepas (Fra) UVCA Troyes | 21 | Row 43 - Cell 3 |
45 | Jan Soetens (Bel) Revor-Jartazi Continental Team | 20 | Row 44 - Cell 3 |
46 | Sascha Wagner (Ger) Stevens Cyclocross Team Hamburg | 18 | Row 45 - Cell 3 |
47 | Pawel Szczepaniak (Pol) LKS Pom Strzelce Krajenskie | 17 | Row 46 - Cell 3 |
48 | Lukáš Kloucek (Cze) Sunweb - Projob Cycling Team | 17 | Row 47 - Cell 3 |
49 | Roy Van Heeswijk (Ned) Sint Oedenrode | 17 | Row 48 - Cell 3 |
50 | Ivar Hartogs (Ned) ZZPR.nl-Destil-Merida | 17 | Row 49 - Cell 3 |
51 | Jérôme Chevallier (Fra) AC Besançon | 14 | Row 50 - Cell 3 |
52 | Zdenek Mlynár (Cze) Max Cursor | 13 | Row 51 - Cell 3 |
53 | Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita Sutter Home | 13 | Row 52 - Cell 3 |
54 | Martin Haring (Svk) | 13 | Row 53 - Cell 3 |
55 | Robert Glajza (Svk) | 11 | Row 54 - Cell 3 |
56 | Jens Westergren (Swe) | 10 | Row 55 - Cell 3 |
57 | René Lang (Swi) Delta Elite Team/VC Bützberg | 6 | Row 56 - Cell 3 |
58 | Peter Presslauer (Aut) Team Volksbank | 4 | Row 57 - Cell 3 |
59 | Marek Canecky (Svk) | 3 | Row 58 - Cell 3 |
60 | Andreas Moser (Swi) Bürgis Cycling Team | 3 | Row 59 - Cell 3 |
61 | Zoltan Tisza (Hun) | 2 | Row 60 - Cell 3 |
62 | Rafael Visinelli (Ita) Gruppo Sportivo Forestale | 1 | Row 61 - Cell 3 |
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