Albert seals World Cup with Hoogerheide win

A third UCI cyclo-cross World Cup win was more than enough for Belgian champion Niels Albert (BCKP-Powerplus) to clinch the overall series 7victory. The 24 year-old Belgian gapped Kevin Pauwels (Telenet-Fidea) during the seventh lap on the slippery muddy course and he didn't allow his compatriot to bridge back up in the closing two laps.

Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) won the battle for the remaining podium spot from world champion Zdenek Stybar (Telenet-Fidea) at half a minute behind winner Albert.

For Albert it is the fourth consecutive win in Hoogerheide where he won the Men U23 race in 2008, the elite men's world championships in 2009 and the two World Cup rounds that were organized since then. After winning the race, Albert surprised by saying he wasn't having great legs during the race on Sunday afternoon.

"I didn't have the sensations that I needed to ride a race," Albert said. Early on that was apparent since Albert wasn't featuring in the top 10.

Stybar had a fast start and quickly created a 20 second gap on a large group led by Timothy Johnson (Cannondale). "The others weren't slowing down but I figured that it was best for me to ride my own pace in front while I had the chance," Johnson told Cyclingnews.

Albert noticed that the efforts from Johnson and later Pauwels weren't enough to bring back leader Stybar. "We were not taking time back on Stybar until I led the chase after moving up in the group," Albert said. Despite taking time back on the leader Albert wasn't happy with the lack of support in the pursuit on world champion Stybar.

"I know that I wasn't going to lose the World Cup today but I didn't want to lose the race because others didn't want to co-operate in the chase. I told the guys in the pit that I would try one more time to get back to Stybar and if it wouldn't work out I would take my foot of the gas.

"I simply can't believe that Kevin wasn't able to do a bit of work because later in the race I gapped him and he was able to stay within ten seconds for several laps," Albert said.

It doesn't happen too often that once Stybar is brought back after creating such a big gap. The Czech rider explained that the training efforts of the past few weeks may have taken their toll during the second half of the race. "I made too many mistakes because I was no longer feeling fresh. I'm actually never feeling good in Hoogerheide while I'm always feeling great one week later at the world championships," Stybar said.

With less than three laps remaining Albert had another acceleration left in his legs. Stybar, Nys and Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Revor) were quickly dropped but Pauwels remained within reach. The gap never grew up to more than 10 seconds but it was enough for Albert to win once again in Hoogerheide.

Pauwels was second at 6 seconds from Albert. Nys and Stybar battled for third place and it was Nys who won the prestige duel. "It's always better to finish on than off the podium. Last week I wasn't able to respond on any acceleration while today was much different. On both occasions I finished third but today that was a well-deserved result; I'm happy," Nys said.

After a great start Johnson lost a bit of ground during the second half of the race and he eventually finished 16th. Jonathan Page (Planetbike) made the best of his race after a not-so-great start by finishing twentieth. Fellow US-riders James Driscoll (Cannondale) and Jeremy Powers (Cannondale) finished respectively 28th and 36th. British rider Ian Field (Hargroves Cycles) was 35th.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus1:04:21
2Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:00:06
3Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet0:00:32
4Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Telenet - Fidea0:00:37
5Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb - Revor0:00:38
6Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:00:47
7Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus0:01:00
8Steve Chainel (Fra) FDJ0:01:11
9Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team0:01:35
10Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ0:02:00
11Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team0:02:05
12Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Big Mat - Auber 93Row 11 - Cell 2
13Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet - Fidea0:02:06
14Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel)0:02:16
15John Gadret (Fra) Ag2R La Mondiale0:02:26
16Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld0:02:29
17Martin Zlamalik (Cze) Sunweb - Revor0:02:34
18Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus0:02:40
19Christian Heule (Swi)0:02:43
20Jonathan Page (USA)0:02:49
21Christoph Pfingsten (Ger)0:02:58
22Petr Dlask (Cze) Telenet - Fidea0:03:10
23Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink/Leontien.nl0:03:12
24Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing0:03:28
25Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink/Leontien.nl0:03:29
26Mariusz Gil (Pol)0:03:30
27Marco Bianco (Ita)0:03:43
28James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld0:03:59
29Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott-Swisspower Mtb-Racing0:04:06
30Robert Gavenda (Svk) Telenet - Fidea0:04:11
31Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus0:04:12
32Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze)Row 31 - Cell 2
33Cristian Cominelli (Ita) Tx Active Bianchi0:04:23
34Marek Cichosz (Pol)0:04:29
35Ian Field (GBr)0:04:39
36Jeremy Powers (USA) Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld0:04:44
37Magnus Darvell (Swe)0:04:52
38Eddy Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) AA Drink/Leontien.nl0:05:04
39Ondrej Bambula (Cze)0:05:07
40René Birkenfeld (Ger)0:05:11
41Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned)0:05:16
42Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa)0:05:44
43Johannes Sickmueller (Ger)0:06:08
44 (-1 lap)Fabio Ursi (Ita)Row 43 - Cell 2
45Keiichi Tsujiura (Jpn)Row 44 - Cell 2
46Hannes Genze (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Ludovic Renard (Fra)Row 46 - Cell 2
48Wilant Van Gils (Ned)Row 47 - Cell 2
49Gusty Bausch (Lux)Row 48 - Cell 2
50David Kasek (Cze)Row 49 - Cell 2
51 (-2 laps)Roy Van Heeswijk (Ned)Row 50 - Cell 2
52Yu Takenouchi (Jpn)Row 51 - Cell 2
53Tommy Nielsen (Den)Row 52 - Cell 2
54 (-3 laps)Atsushi Maruyama (Jpn)Row 53 - Cell 2
55Derrick St John (Can)Row 54 - Cell 2
56Craig Richey (Can)Row 55 - Cell 2
57 (-4 laps)Daniel Ania Gonzalez (Spa)Row 56 - Cell 2
58 (-5 laps)Shaun Adamson (Can)Row 57 - Cell 2
DNFEnrico Franzoi (Ita) BKCP - PowerplusRow 58 - Cell 2
DNFSascha Weber (Ger)Row 59 - Cell 2
DNFMitchell Huenders (Ned)Row 60 - Cell 2
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Final World Cup standings
1Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus570pts
2Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team499Row 1 - Cell 3
3Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet484Row 2 - Cell 3
4Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank-Giant Off Road Team392Row 3 - Cell 3
5Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ369Row 4 - Cell 3
6Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Revor357Row 5 - Cell 3
7Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off Road Team341Row 6 - Cell 3
8Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus330Row 7 - Cell 3
9Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus299Row 8 - Cell 3
10Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team294Row 9 - Cell 3
11Zdenek Štybar (Cze) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team290Row 10 - Cell 3
12Thijs van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team261Row 11 - Cell 3
13Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Auber 93260Row 12 - Cell 3
14Christian Heule (Swi) Champion System LBS259Row 13 - Cell 3
15Enrico Franzoi (Ita) BKCP-Powerplus254Row 14 - Cell 3
16Steve Chainel (Fra) FDJ252Row 15 - Cell 3
17Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing246Row 16 - Cell 3
18Eddy van Ijzendoorn (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team242Row 17 - Cell 3
19Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team240Row 18 - Cell 3
20Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco - Revor Cycling Team240Row 19 - Cell 3
21Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team214Row 20 - Cell 3
22Marco Bianco (Ita)199Row 21 - Cell 3
23Martin Zlámalík (Cze) Sunweb - Revor190Row 22 - Cell 3
24Petr Dlask (Cze) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team175Row 23 - Cell 3
25Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Van Vliet EBH Elshof170Row 24 - Cell 3
26Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team165Row 25 - Cell 3
27John Gadret (Fra) Ag2R La Mondiale159Row 26 - Cell 3
28Jonathan Page (USA)153Row 27 - Cell 3
29Egoitz Murgoitio Rekalde (Spa)152Row 28 - Cell 3
30Radomir Simunek Jr. (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus149Row 29 - Cell 3
31Patrick van Leeuwen (Ned)144Row 30 - Cell 3
32Vladimír Kyzivát (Cze) Johnson Controls Aš Mb133Row 31 - Cell 3
33Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles129Row 32 - Cell 3
34Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com117Row 33 - Cell 3
35Johannes Sickmüller (Ger) Stevens Racing Team110Row 34 - Cell 3
36Ondrej Bambula (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor105Row 35 - Cell 3
37Mitchell Huenders (Ned) BKCP-Powerplus104Row 36 - Cell 3
38Robert Gavenda (Svk) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team102Row 37 - Cell 3
39David Kášek (Cze) Cyklo Team Budvar Tábor89Row 38 - Cell 3
40Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb-Revor82Row 39 - Cell 3
41Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank80Row 40 - Cell 3
42Jeremy Powers (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com78Row 41 - Cell 3
43Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spa)76Row 42 - Cell 3
44Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa)74Row 43 - Cell 3
45James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com73Row 44 - Cell 3
46Romain Villa (Fra)69Row 45 - Cell 3
47Fabio Ursi (Ita) Buergi66Row 46 - Cell 3
48Sacha Weber (Ger) Stevens Racing Team59Row 47 - Cell 3
49Marek Cichosz (Pol) Legia-Felt52Row 48 - Cell 3
50Florian Le Corré (Fra) Flers Cyclisme 6147Row 49 - Cell 3
51Joachim Parbo (Den) Kch Leopard Cycles47Row 50 - Cell 3
52Laurent Colombatto (Fra) AC Bisontine46Row 51 - Cell 3
53Jirí Polnický (Cze) Sunweb - Revor41Row 52 - Cell 3
54Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing39Row 53 - Cell 3
55Guillaume Perrot (Fra)39Row 54 - Cell 3
56Wilant van Gils (Ned) CX Nederland39Row 55 - Cell 3
57Kenneth van Compernolle (Bel) Sunweb-Revor37Row 56 - Cell 3
58Pirmin Lang (Swi) Buergi37Row 57 - Cell 3
59Jérome Chevallier (Fra) AC Bisontine30Row 58 - Cell 3
60Simon Zahner (Swi)29Row 59 - Cell 3
61Marco Ponta (Ita)27Row 60 - Cell 3
62Tijmen Eising (Ned) Sunweb-Revor26Row 61 - Cell 3
63Rene Birkenfeld (Ger) Harvesterhude Rv26Row 62 - Cell 3
64Ludovic Renard (Fra) Oceane Cycle Poitevin25Row 63 - Cell 3
65Magnus Darvell (Swe)24Row 64 - Cell 3
66Milan Barenyi (Svk)23Row 65 - Cell 3
67Karel Hník (Cze) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team22Row 66 - Cell 3
68David Lozano Riba (Spa)21Row 67 - Cell 3
69Tommy Nielsen (Den)21Row 68 - Cell 3
70Daniel Ruiz Echeandia (Spa)20Row 69 - Cell 3
71Keiichi Tsujiura (Jpn)20Row 70 - Cell 3
72Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona19Row 71 - Cell 3
73Kenneth Hansen (Den)19Row 72 - Cell 3
74Cristian Cominelli (Ita)18Row 73 - Cell 3
75Geert van der Horst (Ned)18Row 74 - Cell 3
76Mauro Gonzalez Fontan (Spa)17Row 75 - Cell 3
77Mik Garrigan (Can)17Row 76 - Cell 3
78Erlantz Uriarte Okamika (Spa)16Row 77 - Cell 3
79Sean Babcock (USA) Kona15Row 78 - Cell 3
80David Juarez Alday (Spa)15Row 79 - Cell 3
81Craig Richey (Can) Cyclocrossracing.Com p/b Blue15Row 80 - Cell 3
82Derrick St John (Can) Garneau Club Chaussure-Ogilvy14Row 81 - Cell 3
83Matthieu Boulo (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole13Row 82 - Cell 3
84René Lang (Swi)12Row 83 - Cell 3
85Julien Pion (Fra)11Row 84 - Cell 3
86Václav Metlicka (Svk) Johnson Controls Aš Mb11Row 85 - Cell 3
87Yu Takenouchi (Jpn)9Row 86 - Cell 3
88Michael Schweizer (Ger) Stevens Racing Team7Row 87 - Cell 3
89Shaun Adamson (Can) Cycle-Smart6Row 88 - Cell 3
90Martin Haring (Svk) CK Banská Bystrica6Row 89 - Cell 3
91Mirko Tabacchi (Ita)6Row 90 - Cell 3
92Hannes Genze (Ger)5Row 91 - Cell 3
93Antonio Suarez Fernandez (Spa)5Row 92 - Cell 3
94Mark Lalonde (USA) Cal Giant-Specialized3Row 93 - Cell 3
95David van der Poel (Ned) BKCP-Powerplus3Row 94 - Cell 3
96Gusty Bausch (Lux)3Row 95 - Cell 3
97Robert Glajza (Svk) BKP2Row 96 - Cell 3
98Paul Voss (Ger)1Row 97 - Cell 3
99Xabier Garcia Irazola (Spa)1Row 98 - Cell 3

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