Nys wins Zolder World Cup after duel with Albert

It's been more than a decade since Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet-Euphony) last won a cyclo-cross race in Zolder, on the famous former Formula 1 car circuit. During the last few years, he's been beaten by fast men like Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Revor) and Lars Boom (Rabobank), but this year Nys was in total control in a rainy edition on Wednesday afternoon. After a long duel with world champion Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus), the 36-year-old Belgian champion punched it halfway through the final lap. A little later, Albert crossed the line in second place.

"Winning here hasn't always been evident for me. I tried it many times but always missed out. Today it worked out," Nys told Sporza.

Thanks to his third World Cup win, Nys tied Albert in the World Cup points standings but takes on the leader's jersey. Third-placed Kevin Pauwels only managed a fifth place in Zolder, so he lost lost valuable overall points on his two rivals on Wednesday afternoon.

Pauwels completely missed his start and by the time he entered the top-10, the favourites were gone. During the second of nine laps, Albert upped the pace up front. Nys needed some time to bridge up the world champion but eventually he closed the gap. The duo exchanged accelerations but neither got away from the other. Together they hit the bell lap, with the first chasers - including Pauwels - trailing by more than half a minute.

Nys aggressively hopped back on the bike after an off-camber section. He threw himself into a technical descent and stormed on to the victory. When asked whether he had risked his life on the final descent, Nys described how he felt about the section. "I knew what I did. With the rain, it was getting harder every lap, but I had a good feeling. I tried to get the gap on the downhill. That technical zone was in the last part of the track. For me, it's better like this; otherwise it's a sprint. Normally, I can win a sprint against Niels but you never know. It's better to have a gap before the sprint."

Albert wasn't able to close on Nys during the final lap. He was humble in his defeat. "I opted to hop off the bike more quickly than Nys did [on the off-camber section]. After the descent, it was over, and I let go of it. I don't want to use it as an excuse but yesterday I was ill. During the first half [of the race], I was feeling great, but then I lost all energy. Anyway, Nys is the deserved win," Albert told Sporza.

Half a minute behind the duo, it was former world champion Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) who won the battle for third place. In the final lap, he got the better of his compatriot Radomir Simunek (BKCP-Powerplus) and Pauwels. Simunek was fourth, and Pauwels was fifth.

Stybar was pleased with the outcome of the race. "I was hoping for a place in the top-10, so I'm very happy with this. Those two were too fast for me. Already after the second lap, I knew it. The world championships? No, I chose the road and by the time they race in Louisville, I'll be doing my first race on the road. Maybe it'll hurt at that moment, but I have other challenges ahead of me which are special too," Stybar told Sporza.

The next World Cup round will be held in Rome, Italy, on January 6, 2013. The World Cup final happens two weeks later in Hoogerheide, Netherlands. For Albert, it was clear a big duel with Nys lays ahead for the overall title. "We're starting from scratch. Kevin still has a chance, but the gap became bigger again today. Rome will be a lottery between the two of us. In Hoogerheide, I tend to go very well but that's where the battle will be decided," Albert said.

Since Nys took over the World Cup lead from world champion Niels Albert, a debate within the Belgian team will probably come to an end. Jan Denuwelaere (Style & Concept) won a spectacular race in Essen last weekend, but wasn't featuring in the Belgian selection. Fellow Belgians who weren't performing at the front of the latest races were feeling the pressure and there was the possibility that one rider was going to lose his spot on the team. However, since Albert lost the World Cup jersey to Nys today, the Belgian team has one more spot for the next World Cup in Rome. It highly likely that Denuwelaere will be added to the Belgian team's selection.

Full Results

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Elite men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Euphony1:05:15
2Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus0:00:16
3Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quickstep0:00:33
4Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus0:00:41
5Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb - Revor0:00:46
6Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:00:50
7Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:00:58
9Bart Aernouts (Bel) AA Drink - Leontien.Nl Cycling Team0:01:05
10Marcel Meisen (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus0:01:13
11Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus0:01:26
12Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team0:01:29
13Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:01:31
14Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb - Revor0:01:35
15Simon Zahner (Swi) Ekz Racing Team0:01:36
16Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:01:41
17Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks0:01:48
18Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.Nl Cycling Team0:02:08
19Matthieu Boulo (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole0:02:41
20Thijs Al (Ned) Telenet - Fidea0:02:45
21Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Selle Italia GuerciottiRow 20 - Cell 2
22Egoitz Murgoitio Rekalde (Spa)0:03:01
23Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike0:03:11
24Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco Cycling Team0:03:18
25Ondrej Bambula (Cze) Cez Cyklo Team Tabor0:03:31
26Martin Zlamalik (Cze) Landbouwkrediet - KDL0:03:46
27Micki Van Empel (Ned) Landbouwkrediet - KDL0:03:50
28Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale P/B Cyclocrossworld.Com0:03:52
29Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa)0:04:00
30Martin Haring (Svk)0:04:05
31Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team0:04:12
32Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spa)0:04:26
33Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus0:04:58
34Lubomir Petrus (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus0:05:47
35Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team0:06:04
36Justin Lindine (USA) Redline0:06:25
37Jeremy Powers (USA) Rapha - Focus0:06:32
-1lapAaron Schooler (Can)Row 37 - Cell 2
-1lapOle Quast (Ger)Row 38 - Cell 2
-2lapsJeremy Durrin (USA) Jam Fund / NCCRow 39 - Cell 2
-3lapsRobert Glajza (Svk)Row 40 - Cell 2
-3lapsArnaud Jouffroy (Fra) Telenet - FideaRow 41 - Cell 2
-3lapsLewis Rattray (Aus)Row 42 - Cell 2
-3lapsAdrien Pascal (Fra) Team NewcyclingRow 43 - Cell 2
-4lapsMark Mcconnell (Can)Row 44 - Cell 2
-4lapsSteve Chainel (Fra) Fdj-Big MatRow 45 - Cell 2
-4lapsAlexander Revell (NZl)Row 46 - Cell 2
-5lapsDavid Quist (Nor)Row 47 - Cell 2
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Elite men World Cup standings after six rounds
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Euphony415pts
2Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus415Row 1 - Cell 3
3Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb - Revor389Row 2 - Cell 3
4Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb - Revor301Row 3 - Cell 3
5Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team291Row 4 - Cell 3
6Bart Aernouts (Bel) AA Drink - Leontien.Nl Cycling Team290Row 5 - Cell 3
7Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea276Row 6 - Cell 3
8Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus263Row 7 - Cell 3
9Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.Nl Cycling Team246Row 8 - Cell 3
10Francis Mourey (Fra) Fdj-Big Mat240Row 9 - Cell 3
11Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet - Fidea222Row 10 - Cell 3
12Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team211Row 11 - Cell 3
13Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team210Row 12 - Cell 3
14Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus205Row 13 - Cell 3
15Simon Zahner (Swi) Ekz Racing Team195Row 14 - Cell 3
16Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti195Row 15 - Cell 3
17Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet - Fidea186Row 16 - Cell 3
18Marcel Meisen (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus183Row 17 - Cell 3
19Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus177Row 18 - Cell 3
20Twan Van Den Brand (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team172Row 19 - Cell 3
21Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team165Row 20 - Cell 3
22Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco Cycling Team155Row 21 - Cell 3
23Thijs Al (Ned) Telenet - Fidea153Row 22 - Cell 3
24Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott - Swisspower Mtb Racing Team145Row 23 - Cell 3
25Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike145Row 24 - Cell 3
26Matthieu Boulo (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole140Row 25 - Cell 3
27Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team128Row 26 - Cell 3
28Martin Bina (Cze) Cez Cyklo Team Tabor126Row 27 - Cell 3
29Egoitz Murgoitio Rekalde (Spa)122Row 28 - Cell 3
30Lubomir Petrus (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus122Row 29 - Cell 3
31Jeremy Powers (USA) Rapha - Focus113Row 30 - Cell 3
32Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks94Row 31 - Cell 3
33Steve Chainel (Fra) Fdj-Big Mat93Row 32 - Cell 3
34Jiri Polnicky (Cze) Whirlpool - Author83Row 33 - Cell 3
35Martin Zlamalik (Cze) Landbouwkrediet - KDL77Row 34 - Cell 3
36Arnaud Grand (Swi) Telenet - Fidea77Row 35 - Cell 3
37Micki Van Empel (Ned) Landbouwkrediet - KDL77Row 36 - Cell 3
38Ondrej Bambula (Cze) Cez Cyklo Team Tabor71Row 37 - Cell 3
39Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quickstep65Row 38 - Cell 3
40Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Auber 9365Row 39 - Cell 3
41Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale P/B Cyclocrossworld.Com57Row 40 - Cell 3
42Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles57Row 41 - Cell 3
43Guillaume Perrot (Fra)46Row 42 - Cell 3
44Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze)46Row 43 - Cell 3
45Mirko Tabacchi (Ita)42Row 44 - Cell 3
46Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa)42Row 45 - Cell 3
47Aurelien Duval (Fra)40Row 46 - Cell 3
48Martin Haring (Svk)39Row 47 - Cell 3
49Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spa)35Row 48 - Cell 3
50Jim Aernouts (Bel) Sunweb - Revor34Row 49 - Cell 3
51Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing29Row 50 - Cell 3
52Petr Dlask (Cze) Madeta Fitness / Specialized27Row 51 - Cell 3
53Christian Helmig (Lux)27Row 52 - Cell 3
54Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) Fdj-Big Mat26Row 53 - Cell 3
55David Kasek (Cze)26Row 54 - Cell 3
56Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) Telenet - Fidea26Row 55 - Cell 3
57Marco Ponta (Ita)25Row 56 - Cell 3
58Magnus Darvell (Swe) Team Herbalife 24 Raumerrittet23Row 57 - Cell 3
59Mitchell Huenders (Ned)21Row 58 - Cell 3
60Elia Silvestri (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti21Row 59 - Cell 3
61Justin Lindine (USA) Redline18Row 60 - Cell 3
62Robert Gavenda (Svk) Dukla Trencin Trek18Row 61 - Cell 3
63Kenneth Hansen (Den) Baboco Cycling Team15Row 62 - Cell 3
64Lewis Rattray (Aus)15Row 63 - Cell 3
65Sascha Weber (Ger) Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.De14Row 64 - Cell 3
66Aaron Schooler (Can)13Row 65 - Cell 3
67Jose Antonio Diez Arriola (Spa)13Row 66 - Cell 3
68Ole Quast (Ger)12Row 67 - Cell 3
69Milan Barenyi (Svk)12Row 68 - Cell 3
70Jeremy Durrin (USA) Jam Fund / NCC11Row 69 - Cell 3
71Andreas Moser (Swi)11Row 70 - Cell 3
72Vaclav Metlicka (Svk)11Row 71 - Cell 3
73Alexander Revell (NZl)11Row 72 - Cell 3
74Robert Glajza (Svk)10Row 73 - Cell 3
75Cristian Cominelli (Ita) Team Idea10Row 74 - Cell 3
76Michael Boros (Cze)9Row 75 - Cell 3
77Romain Lejeune (Fra)9Row 76 - Cell 3
78Lukas Winterberg (Swi)9Row 77 - Cell 3
79Jonathan Lastra Martinez (Spa)8Row 78 - Cell 3
80Gusty Bausch (Lux)8Row 79 - Cell 3
81Adrien Pascal (Fra) Team Newcycling7Row 80 - Cell 3
82Yannick Mayer (Ger) Team NSP - Ghost7Row 81 - Cell 3
83Mark Mcconnell (Can)6Row 82 - Cell 3
84Ludwig Söderquist (Swe)5Row 83 - Cell 3
85Zach Mcdonald (USA) Rapha - Focus4Row 84 - Cell 3
86Michel Vuelta Izquierdo (Spa)4Row 85 - Cell 3
87Angus Edmond (NZl)4Row 86 - Cell 3
88David Quist (Nor)3Row 87 - Cell 3
89Emil Arvid Olsen (Den)3Row 88 - Cell 3
90Marco Bianco (Ita)3Row 89 - Cell 3
91Ondrej Glajza (Svk)1Row 90 - Cell 3

 

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