Van der Haar repeats with Zolder World Cup win
Pauwels extends World Cup lead with second
With an impressive long solo ride, Dutch champion Lars van der Haar (Giant-Shimano) repeated last year’s World Cup victory in Heusden-Zolder. In 2013 he won out of a large lead group, while this time around he completed a long solo ride to win the fifth World Cup round.
On a chilly Boxing Day afternoon, the 23 year-old Dutch champion grabbed his second win of the season with a 45 second margin on World Cup leader Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) despite a late dropped chain.
“For me it was a beautiful victory,” Van der Haar told Sporza. “I’ve been in good shape again but I just needed a bit of luck to finish it off. In the last races every time something happened. I thought it happened again with my chain. In the end I was strong enough to hold it off.”
The former F1 car racing circuit in Heusden-Zolder will also be the location for the 2016 UCI cyclo-cross world championships.
Pauwels enjoys a massive 80-point lead in the World Cup classification, but the Belgian rider still has to finish next month’s final World Cup round to be sure of the overall victory.
“He was just better than me today. [...] I’m second which isn’t bad so I’m pleased with that,” Pauwels said.
Corné van Kessel (Telenet-Fidea) was best of the rest, winning the battle for third place in the sprint from Swiss champion Julien Taramarcaz (Corendon-Kwadro), who rode his best race of the season.
“I think I got the most out of it,” Van Kessel said. “I’m pleased. Early on I was not taking the initiative. On a course like this with a lot of interval that’s the way to do it. It’s an important result for the team.”
During the first two laps it seemed like last year’s scenario was being followed, with a large lead group staying together for most of the race. Van der Haar was always paying attention at the front, with Pauwels keeping the Dutchman in sight. Things turned around at the end of the second lap. Van der Haar accelerated and five riders joined him in the lead. Nobody was willing to share the work with the Dutch champion on the asphalt of the car racing circuit, crossing the finish line to start the third lap.
Instead of sitting back, Van der Haar accelerated fiercely on the asphalt.
“There was an opportunity when Kevin was a little behind,” Van der Haar said. “I thought they would come back but they didn’t do anything. That’s when I thought: let’s try it with a real attack. I don’t do it often.”
Van der Haar's winning move followed a stalemate in the leading group, with Pauwels, Van Kessel, Julien Taramarcaz (Corenson-KwadrO), German champion Philipp Walsleben and his BKCP-Powerplus teammate David van der Poel marking each other closely. Walsleben tried to shake things up but couldn't get a gap, but when van der Haar countered, nobody could follow.
Pauwels didn’t seem to want to chase, the rest were unable or didn’t dare to chase. In no time, Van der Haar collected a gap of 15 seconds over the first chasers where Pauwels switched bikes.
“I made a mistake,” Pauwels said. “My brake was touching my rear wheel and I didn’t dare to switch bikes before because it was going so fast. That’s why I was riding at the back of the group. I should have been more to the front.”
There was a counter-attack from Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) with David van der Poel (BKCP-Powerplus), but Meeusen blew his engine, eventually finishing only 17th and dropping from second to fifth in the World Cup standings.
“I tried my best but it wasn’t good,” Meeusen told Sporza. “I expected a lot and the warm-up was good but after one acceleration it was over. I’m only human too."
As he crossed the finish line on the long straight line, Van der Haar saw that Pauwels was still a long way back. The gap was back down to 23 seconds but that grew in the two closing laps. Van der Haar tried to please the crowd with a shy attempt at a Sagan-like wheelie before crossing the line with a loud-out shout. Pauwels quietly rolled across the line in second place at 45 seconds.
Van Kessel won a long sprint for third place ahead of a disappointed Taramarcaz. The duo got rid of the BKCP duo of Philipp Walsleben and David van der Poel in the final lap. Young Gianni Vermeersch (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) won the sprint for seventh place at short distance. US champion Jeremy Powers finished 18th, just behind Tom Meeusen.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Giant-Shimano Development Team | 1:08:10 |
2 | Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 0:00:45 |
3 | Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 0:01:10 |
4 | Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) Corendon - KwadrO Cycling Team | |
5 | Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus Cycling Team | 0:01:26 |
6 | David Van Der Poel (Ned) BKCP - Powerplus Cycling Team | 0:01:31 |
7 | Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 0:01:33 |
8 | Sascha Weber (Ger) Veranclassic-Doltcini Cycling Team | 0:01:34 |
9 | Martin Bina (Cze) Corendon - KwadrO Cycling Team | |
10 | Jens Adams (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Cycling Team | 0:01:39 |
11 | Rob Peeters (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Cycling Team | 0:01:48 |
12 | Marcel Meisen (Ger) Corendon - KwadrO Cycling Team | 0:02:01 |
13 | Tim Merlier (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 0:02:07 |
14 | Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | |
15 | Jim Aernouts (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 0:02:08 |
16 | Simon Zahner (Swi) EKZ Racing Team | 0:02:14 |
17 | Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 0:03:16 |
18 | Jeremy Powers (USA) Team Rapha-Focus | 0:03:31 |
19 | Fabien Canal (Fra) Armée de Terre | 0:03:40 |
20 | Tomas Paprstka (Cze) Remerx-Merida Team Kolin | 0:03:47 |
21 | Niels Wubben (Ned) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 0:03:55 |
22 | Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa) | 0:03:56 |
23 | Mariusz Gil (Pol) Project Cross Racing | 0:04:13 |
24 | Bart Aernouts (Bel) Corendon - KwadrO Cycling Team | 0:04:29 |
25 | Bryan Falaschi (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti | 0:04:30 |
26 | Ole Quast (Ger) | 0:04:36 |
27 | Michael Boros (Cze) CEZ Cyklo Team Tabor | |
28 | Lubomir Petrus (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus Cycling Team | 0:04:46 |
29 | Martin Haring (Svk) | 0:05:10 |
30 | Clement Lhotellerie (Fra) | 0:05:38 |
31 | Gert-Jan Bosman (Ned) | 0:05:56 |
32 | Kenneth Hansen (Den) | 0:05:59 |
33 | Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott- Odlo MTB Racing Team | 0:06:12 |
34 | Matej Lasak (Cze) | 0:06:38 |
35 | Twan Van Den Brand (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team | 0:06:43 |
36 | Josep Betalu (Spa) | 0:06:52 |
37 | Alois Falenta (Fra) | 0:06:53 |
38 | Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike | 0:07:10 |
39 | Flavien Dassonville (Fra) BIGMAT - AUBER 93 | |
40 | Ismael Felix Barba Frutos (Spa) | |
41 | Yu Takenouchi (Jpn) | |
42 | Agustin Navarro Vidal (Spa) | |
43 | Aaron Schooler (Can) Focus CX Team | |
44 | Robert Marion (USA) American Classic Pro Cyclocross | |
45 | Asier Arregui Dominguez (Spa) | |
46 | Yannick Mayer (Ger) | |
47 | Ramon Sagues Portabella (Spa) | |
48 | Angus Edmond (NZl) | |
49 | Mark Mcconnell (Can) | |
50 | Ulrich Theobald (Ger) | |
51 | Arnau Rota Cano (Spa) | |
52 | Garry Millburn (Aus) | |
53 | Asier Urdaibai Erauzkin (Spa) |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 370 | pts |
2 | Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Giant-Shimano Development Team | 290 | |
3 | Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 283 | |
4 | Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus Cycling Team | 269 | |
5 | Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 257 | |
6 | Jens Adams (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Cycling Team | 212 | |
7 | Rob Peeters (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Cycling Team | 201 | |
8 | Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 190 | |
9 | Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 185 | |
10 | Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 180 | |
11 | Jeremy Powers (USA) Team Rapha-Focus | 172 | |
12 | Sascha Weber (Ger) Veranclassic-Doltcini Cycling Team | 170 | |
13 | Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) Corendon - KwadrO Cycling Team | 169 | |
14 | Bart Aernouts (Bel) Corendon - KwadrO Cycling Team | 169 | |
15 | Francis Mourey (Fra) Francaise des Jeux | 164 | |
16 | Fabien Canal (Fra) Armée de Terre | 164 | |
17 | Jim Aernouts (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 164 | |
18 | David Van Der Poel (Ned) BKCP - Powerplus Cycling Team | 156 | |
19 | Tim Merlier (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 148 | |
20 | Niels Wubben (Ned) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 147 | |
21 | Marcel Meisen (Ger) Corendon - KwadrO Cycling Team | 145 | |
22 | Michael Boros (Cze) CEZ Cyklo Team Tabor | 142 | |
23 | Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 129 | |
24 | Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott- Odlo MTB Racing Team | 119 | |
25 | Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa) | 119 | |
26 | Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles | 106 | |
27 | Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike | 106 | |
28 | Simon Zahner (Swi) EKZ Racing Team | 102 | |
29 | Mariusz Gil (Pol) Project Cross Racing | 99 | |
30 | Twan Van Den Brand (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team | 95 | |
31 | Tomas Paprstka (Cze) Remerx-Merida Team Kolin | 93 | |
32 | Sven Nys (Bel) Crelan - AA Drink Team | 82 | |
33 | Wout Van Aert (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Cycling Team | 80 | |
34 | Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Corendon - KwadrO Cycling Team | 78 | |
35 | Lubomir Petrus (Cze) BKCP - Powerplus Cycling Team | 77 | |
36 | Toon Aerts (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 71 | |
37 | Mathieu Van Der Poel (Ned) BKCP - Powerplus Cycling Team | 65 | |
38 | Kenneth Hansen (Den) | 62 | |
39 | Josep Betalu (Spa) | 56 | |
40 | Gert-Jan Bosman (Ned) | 52 | |
41 | Radomir Simunek (Cze) Corendon - KwadrO Cycling Team | 52 | |
42 | Clement Lhotellerie (Fra) | 51 | |
43 | Andreas Moser (Swi) | 48 | |
44 | Arnaud Grand (Swi) BMC Development Team | 46 | |
45 | Martin Bina (Cze) Corendon - KwadrO Cycling Team | 44 | |
46 | Ole Quast (Ger) | 39 | |
47 | Lukas Winterberg (Swi) | 36 | |
48 | Martin Haring (Svk) | 35 | |
49 | Severin Saegesser (Swi) | 35 | |
50 | Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 33 | |
51 | Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti | 31 | |
52 | Flavien Dassonville (Fra) BIGMAT - AUBER 93 | 30 | |
53 | Eddy Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team | 29 | |
54 | Jakub Skala (Cze) CEZ Cyklo Team Tabor | 28 | |
55 | Yu Takenouchi (Jpn) | 28 | |
56 | Bryan Falaschi (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti | 26 | |
57 | Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze) Johnson Controls TJ Auto Skoda | 26 | |
58 | Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team | 25 | |
59 | Marco Bianco (Ita) | 23 | |
60 | Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa) | 21 | |
61 | Jack Clarkson (GBr) | 19 | |
62 | Melvin Rulliere (Fra) | 19 | |
63 | Matej Lasak (Cze) | 17 | |
64 | Jeremy Durrin (USA) Neon Velo Cycling Team | 15 | |
65 | Alois Falenta (Fra) | 14 | |
66 | Steven James (GBr) | 13 | |
67 | Ismael Felix Barba Frutos (Spa) | 11 | |
68 | Ben Sumner (GBr) | 11 | |
69 | Ben Berden (Bel) Raleigh Clement Professional Cyclocross Team | 11 | |
70 | Aaron Schooler (Can) Focus CX Team | 11 | |
71 | Martin Gujan (Swi) | 10 | |
72 | Agustin Navarro Vidal (Spa) | 10 | |
73 | Joachim Parbo (Den) | 10 | |
74 | Alex Paton (GBr) | 9 | |
75 | Ramon Sagues Portabella (Spa) | 9 | |
76 | Jody Crawforth (GBr) | 8 | |
77 | Robert Marion (USA) American Classic Pro Cyclocross | 7 | |
78 | Michael Schweizer (Ger) | 7 | |
79 | Gusty Bausch (Lux) | 7 | |
80 | Angus Edmond (NZl) | 7 | |
81 | Asier Arregui Dominguez (Spa) | 6 | |
82 | Nicholas Barnes (GBr) | 6 | |
83 | Yannick Mayer (Ger) | 5 | |
84 | Michael Wildhaber (Swi) | 5 | |
85 | Elia Silvestri (Ita) | 5 | |
86 | Jack Ravenscroft (GBr) | 4 | |
87 | Felix Drumm (Ger) | 4 | |
88 | David Montgomery (Irl) | 3 | |
89 | Mark Mcconnell (Can) | 3 | |
90 | Glen Kinning (Irl) | 2 | |
91 | Ulrich Theobald (Ger) | 1 | |
92 | Cameron Jette (Can) | 1 |
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