World Cup Hoogerheide Nys wins race and takes World Cup overall victory!
In a dramatic finish of the World Cup Competition, Sven Nys took matters in his hands, dictated an outstanding pace throughout the race and eventually claimed victory in Hoogerheide. Since Niels Albert finished 3rd, Sven Nys also takes over the World Cup classification and wins it by 10 points! Truly a perfect day for Nys here, while Albert couldn’t believe it at first.
The race started off in some horrible rain and the mud was so deep, I thought I got stuck multiple times with my shoes. In my new jersey, designed by krisa, people were easily recognizing me. Still hardly anybody shouted my name, except for my dad.
With Nys’ high pace, it was a true race of selection, and I think I prevailed good. 20 points were between Nys and Albert before this race, and given the World Cup Points system, it was clear that Nys needed to win, otherwise it might not have been enough in comparison.
The remorseless pace by Nys had its victims. Walsleben, Mourey and former World Cup winner Van der Haar all struggled at certain points. Meanwhile I felt better and kept myself better in the race. Always just some wheels from Nys apart.
In fact, my legs were so good, I was the only guy trying to make it with an attack in one of the last laps. This move of mine exploded the small group upfront in many little pices. Nys hunted me down, Albert and Stybar were right with him. Adams was a surprise performer of the day and I really wondered how he stayed upon until then. Nys was unbeatable today though and my little stunt cost me much needed energy for the last kilometers. But nevermind the rain and the wasted energy, I was there in a finale with Nys, Albert, Pauwels and Stybar, and while I got beaten by three of them, I still made the 4th spot. A good result in my national champion jersey and a hopeful sign for the World Championships.
Thanks guys. It was a great warm-up for the World Championships, and also a dramatic finish too thanks to Nys and Albert. Everything you could want from a CX imo... or maybe there'll be more?
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
It’s common knowledge by now that the Cylo-Cross World Championships are always one of my big goals of every start or end of the season. After my recent results, especially in Hoogerheide, I was poised for Tabor, Czech Republich, in this year.
Once the interviews were done, and all the preparation behind me, the day had come and while it started off well with lots of sunshine and cheering, the weather soon changed for worst. I’m used to this kind of luck, especially when I race CX, but today the sky looked more than a storm, yet to bring more misery over our heads. In that race, I saw the thunder and lightning on the horizon and I caught myself wondering at each lap, how far away the lighting is in truth.
Zdenek Stybar of course was eager to show himself to his home crowd and took over charge early on in the race. Alongside Pauwels, both of them dictated quite a pace, where he others had a hard time hanging on. At around half-point, I think we were round 15-20 riders in a big group. There hasn’t been a true selection so far despite the demanding obstacles so far.
Tabor is hard to carry your bike at times, and its turns are dangerous. Some riders prefer it to step off the bike, I kept myself on it. But alas, the sharp turns cause often crashes – and care little for the riders themselves. A bit of drama now and then, that’s the World Championships…
I remembered last year in that instant, when Stybar and I crashed and my aspirations just went up in smoke. Today, Stybar’s hopes for another CX World Champion jersey once more fell into the mud, as he instigated a crash. And then, he caught so many riders: Walsleben, Meeusen… Sven Nys! They were all on the floor. And I narrowly could escape. Right through the mud. The race was over for them. My odds had just increased thereby.
I attacked with a few kilometers left. In a CX-race every meter counts, and you shouldn’t waste your time with waiting around for attacks. If you feel like attacking, you do it. If you have to grind your teeth and fight to hang on, it’s not your day. But you can still turn into yours.
My attack caused a true chain reaction. The Dutch connection Van der Haar and Van der Poel came up to me eventually, we formed a three-man group for the time being. There were some others riders up front, but they were all several laps behind us by that point. We worked together to distance the Belgian favourites Pauwels and Albert. Unfortunately, only with little success. When they caught in the second last lap, I knew I had to play it cool now. No more moves, just stay at the wheels for as long as possible. From behind, we saw Nys and Stybar hunting us. I knew Albert, Van der Haar and Pauwels would work to keep them away.
I was at Van der Haar’s wheel. There were also Simunek and Alaphilippe. A bit surprising to see both of them in the finale, but we were a strong group now, and with the three top favourites doing good work, we kept the other riders behind us.
At the last small bump in the road, Pauwels could finally distance us. I thought he’d wait for the sprint, but not a chance. I was behind Van der Haar, who was the only one who could follow Pauwels in that second really. I lost ground on ground, and I saw how bronze came within reach. I was placed 3rd right now. Third, third… I should have stopped thinking at that point, and just kept riding…
But no matter how much I wanted it, the other riders came closer and I felt how my energy lost me. Did I made a mistake by following Van der Haar? Pauwels was up ahead, grabbing the rainbow jersey. Van der Haar got silver. I wanted bronze there for the moment, but Albert denied me. And then the two French riders Mourey and Alaphilippe passed me too. And I saw bronze, and I received a 6th place.
I may have been disappointed, but when I talked with Stybar later on, I knew that I had nothing to complain about. In the beer-tents, the Czech audience was caught between getting miserably drunk, partying and sorrowing Stybar’s defeat today. I was surprised to see that Nys and Stybar actually made it up to our front in the last corner. Both of them were in fantastic form and probably would one of them would have claimed a medal otherwise. At least one of them.
I spent some good last hours talking with other riders, and meeting some female CX riders – fantastic girls, and they can get quite wasted too (Marianne Vos won by the way, hardly a surprise).
Well, technology is really on high level today, so you can actually transform the picture into the painting "mode" very easy and quick. Of course, not that I am trying to "minimize" the beauty of these photos, they're wonderful!
I can't say that Rapha should be happy with this one. He had that medal in his bag and even then, he somehow missed the podium. Hoping that Road season will be much better than CX one, otherwise Rapha's morale would be really low, which can be only bad for upcoming season and future (hopefully) successful career!
Hehe, yeah - that's the point of the screens, to make them look like paintings. I'm a big fan of Painting Le Tour and I wanted something similiar for this story. I found this software then, www.psykopaint.co... . You can make pictures to paintings there, give it a try. It's lot of fun and it's really fantastic. It's not a simple filter though, it's more like using a brush comfortably and creating a painting manually based on your screenshot.
Personally, I don't think that the World Championships ones were that good, I preferred the one from Diegem and Rome (check spoiler). Still have a long way to go though, still just getting to know the software.
Spoiler
@admirschleck: Fully agree about the race. Like I said, he should have had bronze there, especially since Nys and Stybar wern't around in the finale.
@Ian Butler: I'll speed up road season hopefully, so it'll be there again soon. Edited by Shonak on 04-05-2014 12:00
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
My last two CX races of the season were both Superprestige competitions. I have thought about attending some local Italian events or participating in the last Bpost Bank Trophy races, but after missing out on bronze at the World Championships, I kinda wanted to get my Cyclo-Cross behind me. My good current place in the Superprestige classification was enough to get me to race both events in hopes of achieving the 6th place overall.
Superprestige Hoogstraten
I only followed the wheels here I Hoogstraten. The pace was out of space with Sven Nys still being furious about his missed World Champion title. It was generally hard to attack though, since the race offered very narrow trails and the rows were generally blocked. You can’t get through when there’s no way.
I saw some attacks from Meeusen, Van der Haar and Co, but it all came back together. Eventually, I tried my own move alongside Albert and Pauwels, but we didn’t stand a chance either. The last lap was hard fought out between a couple of riders and I thought I was wise to hold Albert’s wheel, but nevermind that decision. Nys attacked on of the last bumps, and got enough lead to avoid a sprint. He was clearly the strongest today. Meanwhile, newly crowned World Champion Pauwels took 2nd and claimed very important points for the Superprestige classement. I came in 5th, and scored valuable points too against Francis Mourey.
Superprestige Hoogstraten, Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Sven Nys
Crelan- Euphony
2h54'54
2
Kevin Pauwels
Sunweb - Napoleon Games
+ 32
3
Niels Albert
BKCP - Powerplus
s.t.
Spoiler
4
Lars Van Der Haar
Argos Shimano
+ 1'36
5
Raphael Visconti
Cannondale Cyclocross World
s.t.
6
Jose Antonio Hermida
Espagna
s.t.
7
Francis Mourey
FDJ - BigMat
+ 2'19
8
Tom Meeusen
Telenet - Fidea
s.t.
9
Bart Aernouts
AA Drink - Leontien.nl
s.t.
10
Julien Alaphilppe
Omega Pharma
s.t.
11
Philipp Walsleben
BMC Mountainbike Racing Team
s.t.
12
Robert Gavenda
Argos Shimano
s.t.
13
Boris Zimine
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 3'47
14
Dieter Vanthourenhout
BKCP - Powerplus
s.t.
15
Henk Jaap Moorlsag
Rabobank Giant Offroad
+ 4'44
16
Martin Zlamalik
Crelan- Euphony
+ 8'21
17
Wietse Bosmans
BKCP - Powerplus
s.t.
18
Mathieu Van Der Poel
Rabobank Giant Offroad
s.t.
19
Mariusz Gil
Kwadro - Stannah
s.t.
20
Bart Wellens
Telenet - Fidea
+ 11'22
21
Klaas Vantornout
Sunweb - Napoleon Games
s.t.
22
Michael Vanthourenhout
Sunweb - Napoleon Games
s.t.
23
Jiri Polnicky
Sunweb - Napoleon Games
s.t.
24
Wout Van Aert
Enertherm - BKCP
+ 12'43
25
Rob Peeters
Telenet - Fidea
s.t.
26
Martin Bina
Cycklo Team Tabor
s.t.
27
Mathieu Boulo
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 13'32
28
Marcel Meisen
Kwadro - Stannah
s.t.
29
Roy Van Heeswijk
Orange Babies
s.t.
30
Tomas Novy
Cycklo Team Tabor
s.t.
31
Thijs Van Amerongen
AA Drink - Leontien.nl
s.t.
32
Sven Vanthourenhout
Crelan- Euphony
s.t.
33
Angelo De Clerq
Sunweb - Napoleon Games
s.t.
34
Eddy Van Ijzerdoorn
Orange Babies
s.t.
35
Radomir Simunek
Kwadro - Stannah
s.t.
36
Ian Field
Hargroves
s.t.
37
Julien Taramarcz
BMC Mountainbike Racing Team
s.t.
38
Tom Van Den Bosch
Hargroves
s.t.
39
Enrico Franzoi
Selle Italia - Guercotti
s.t.
40
Gerben De Knegt
Orange Babies
s.t.
41
Jonathan Page
Planet Bike
s.t.
42
Joeri Hofman
Crelan- Euphony
s.t.
43
Arnold Jeannesson
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
44
Rafael Visinelli
Selle Italia - Guercotti
s.t.
45
Steve Chainel
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
46
Kenneth Van Compernolle
Style & Concept
s.t.
47
Joeri Adams
Telenet - Fidea
+ 15'09
48
Niels Wubben
Rabobank Giant Offroad
s.t.
49
Thijs Al
Telenet - Fidea
s.t.
50
Marco Aurelio Fontana
Selle Italia - Guercotti
+ 15'46
51
Sascha Weber
Stevens Racing Team
s.t.
52
Gert-Jan Bosman
Rabobank Giant Offroad
s.t.
53
Vladimir Kyzivat
Czech
s.t.
54
Patrick Van Leeuwen
Orange Babies
s.t.
55
Matt Mcdonald
Hargroves
s.t.
56
Micki Van Empel
Crelan- Euphony
s.t.
57
Filip Eberl
Czech
s.t.
58
Gianni Vermeersch
BKCP - Powerplus
s.t.
59
Lukas Fluckiger
BMC Mountainbike Racing Team
s.t.
60
Massimo Vanderaerden
DCM - GB Vorselaar
s.t.
61
Quentin Jauregie
Enertherm - BKCP
s.t.
62
Javier Ibanez
Espagna
s.t.
63
Ondrej Bambula
Cycklo Team Tabor
+ 17'06
64
Matthias Van Den Keybus
Enertherm - BKCP
s.t.
65
Sascha Wagner
Stevens Racing Team
s.t.
66
Nicolas Scheire
Isorex Cycling Team
s.t.
67
Maxim Debusschere
Style & Concept
s.t.
68
Tomas Paprstka
Czech
s.t.
69
Julien Nys
BMC Mountainbike Racing Team
s.t.
70
Timo Van Canegem
Isorex Cycling Team
s.t.
71
Mark Lalonde
Planet Bike
s.t.
72
Tom Mertens
DCM - GB Vorselaar
s.t.
73
Jon Irastorza
Espagna
s.t.
Superprestige Middelkerke
I remember last year: When I was so close to my first victory, and Niels Albert denied it from me basically on the line. I had good legs from Hoogstraten, and I felt that this time I could deny Albert victory, but things turned out quickly different.
Due to the dictated pace by Walsleben and Van der Haar, the field stretched thin very early on. I was unaware, and stepped on my own toes in one of the bike-carrying passages. With head first, I landed in the mud. Embarrassing enough, but I was now in a chasing position. I managed to come back – with some heavy effort and a dearly price to pay. Because of that, I wasted too much energy right from the beginning I think. Albert was caught there back too, but he came back in more contenance than me.
Due to the high pace, attacks were missing. You know me, if I had the power, I would have attacked but I was just hanging on… waiting for a moment, that would never come. The selection was on-going, the pace high, the rain horrible. It was a CX race as we now it. And one that was won by Kevin Pauwels ahead of Niels Albert.
Superprestige Middelkerke, Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Kevin Pauwels
Sunweb - Napoleon Games
2h58'05
2
Niels Albert
BKCP - Powerplus
s.t.
3
Sven Nys
Crelan- Euphony
s.t.
Spoiler
4
Philipp Walsleben
BMC Mountainbike Racing Team
s.t.
5
Tom Meeusen
Telenet - Fidea
s.t.
6
Bart Aernouts
AA Drink - Leontien.nl
s.t.
7
Francis Mourey
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
8
Raphael Visconti
Cannondale Cyclocross World
s.t.
9
Lars Van Der Haar
Argos Shimano
s.t.
10
Bart Wellens
Telenet - Fidea
s.t.
11
Dieter Vanthourenhout
BKCP - Powerplus
+ 2'00
12
Angelo De Clerq
Sunweb - Napoleon Games
+ 3'09
13
Jonathan Page
Planet Bike
+ 3'40
14
Niels Wubben
Rabobank Giant Offroad
s.t.
15
Mariusz Gil
Kwadro - Stannah
+ 4'31
16
Rob Peeters
Telenet - Fidea
s.t.
17
Julien Alaphilppe
Omega Pharma
+ 5'03
18
Wout Van Aert
Enertherm - BKCP
s.t.
19
Martin Zlamalik
Crelan- Euphony
+ 6'45
20
Micki Van Empel
Crelan- Euphony
s.t.
21
Wietse Bosmans
BKCP - Powerplus
s.t.
22
Filip Eberl
Czech
s.t.
23
Sascha Weber
Stevens Racing Team
s.t.
24
Michael Vanthourenhout
Sunweb - Napoleon Games
+ 10'30
25
Sven Vanthourenhout
Crelan- Euphony
+ 11'13
26
Joeri Adams
Telenet - Fidea
+ 12'03
27
Steve Chainel
FDJ - BigMat
+ 12'44
28
Jiri Polnicky
Sunweb - Napoleon Games
s.t.
29
Klaas Vantornout
Sunweb - Napoleon Games
+ 15'17
30
Thijs Van Amerongen
AA Drink - Leontien.nl
s.t.
31
Mathieu Van Der Poel
Rabobank Giant Offroad
s.t.
32
Martin Bina
Cycklo Team Tabor
s.t.
33
Joeri Hofman
Crelan- Euphony
+ 16'04
34
Julien Taramarcz
BMC Mountainbike Racing Team
s.t.
35
Radomir Simunek
Kwadro - Stannah
s.t.
36
Marco Aurelio Fontana
Selle Italia - Guercotti
s.t.
37
Enrico Franzoi
Selle Italia - Guercotti
s.t.
38
Vladimir Kyzivat
Czech
s.t.
39
Jose Antonio Hermida
Espagna
s.t.
40
Marcel Meisen
Kwadro - Stannah
s.t.
41
Ian Field
Hargroves
s.t.
42
Kenneth Van Compernolle
Style & Concept
s.t.
43
Gerben De Knegt
Orange Babies
+ 18'11
44
Tom Van Den Bosch
Hargroves
s.t.
45
Roy Van Heeswijk
Orange Babies
s.t.
46
Robert Gavenda
Argos Shimano
+ 19'04
47
Thijs Al
Telenet - Fidea
s.t.
48
Eddy Van Ijzerdoorn
Orange Babies
s.t.
49
Arnold Jeannesson
FDJ - BigMat
+ 19'37
50
Patrick Van Leeuwen
Orange Babies
s.t.
51
Gert-Jan Bosman
Rabobank Giant Offroad
s.t.
52
Gianni Vermeersch
BKCP - Powerplus
s.t.
53
Mathieu Boulo
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
54
Boris Zimine
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
By claiming the win today, World Champion Pauwels also wins the Superprestige Classification! A truly great season for him... and despite finishing only 8th, I am happy when I see that I’m on my desired 6th place in overall. You can read more in my soon CX review of 2014/2015!
Impressions
Spoiler
Nys' winning: best cure against missing out on the World Championship triumph
With the CX season behind us, it’s time to look back once again before I head out to the road again (… sooo busy).
Visconti's CX results 2014-2015
Category
Race
Result
Superprestige
Ruddervoorde
-
Bpost
Ronse
-
World Cup
Valkenburg
6th
World Cup
Kalmthout
10th
Bpost
Koppenberg
7th
Superprestige
Zonhoven
8th
Superprestige
Hamme-Zogge
6th
Bpost
Hasselt
-
Superprestige
Gavere
8th
World Cup
Koksijde
5th
Superprestige
Gieten
1st
World Cup
Roubaix
5th
Bpost
Essen
9th
World Cup
Namur
11th
World Cup
Heusden-Zolder
11th
Bpost
Loenhout
-
Superprestige
Diegem
5th
Bpost
Baal
-
World Cup
Rome
8th
National Championship
Italy
1st
World Cup
Hoogerheide
4th
World Championship
Tabor
6th
Bpost
Lille
-
Superprestige
Hoogstraten
5th
Superprestige
Middelkerke
8th
Bpost
Oostmalle
-
The last months in the mud have been quite fulfilling sometimes. I had numerous Top 5 finishes and could even celebrate two wins. My first CX win at Gieten came as a hard-earned effort over cobblestones and through the mud. Compared to Gieten, the National Championships of Italy were almost easy, but only almost. It’s a win I treasure and where I hone the jersey in special admiration for now. But it’s only a jersey, what then counted was the World Championships. I was sometimes disappointed during the season but at the CX World Championships in Tabor, Czech Republic, I really just missed out on the bronze medal after everything was there for the taking. To overcome this regret, there’s only one solution: To attack next year again and the year after and always go for it…
As for the general season of Cyclo-Cross: As usual, there was some huge excitement, and nearly every race brought joy to the masses, some of the races were even classic thrillers and nail-biters…
After Lars Van der Haar’s win last year, the Belgians took back The World Cup in 2015. Sven Nys decided the competition in the last race in Hoogerheide against Niels Albert. Thanks to Kevin Pauwels obviously, who came second and thus denied Albert valuable points.
Kevin Pauwels shared then also the spotlight with Nys at various occasions, and Nys may have paid him back. Due to the scare point scale in Superprestige, the competition was open until the very end but with a victory Pauwels could eventually celebrate his first overall competition. Of course, celebrating this victory must have felt even better in the World Champion jersey. After all, two weeks before, he claimed the jersey in Tabor against Van der Haar.
I havn’t attended many Bpost Bank Trophy races this season, but the ones I visited surely were exciting. First and foremost the race of the Koppenberg at Ouddenarde. I still want to win there some day, but this year, the honour belonged to Kevin Pauwels, while Sven snapped another Trophy.
Despite not winning a competition for good, Niels Albert has managed to podium all 4 competitions. That’s a success too I guess.
The CX season is always short and full of racing, just like the CX races themselves. I’m glad to rest my legs for a few days but I have to prepare for the classics soon enough. They are just around the corner. Also, I have some surprise for you guys…
As it’s our little tradition here, I want to recap of course a bit the CX season visually too. Check the spoiler and let me know about your favourite ones! It's a little collection of my favourite images my dad and “professional photographers” took this season. Surprisingly enough, I’m featured on some of them.
Also, you might have noticed that I’m a bit artsy-fartsy lately, and I'll want to continue that. Maybe one day I can open up a gallery myself? Presumably this gallery will be built on top of the Mont Ventoux though.
Spoiler
See you on the other road,
Raphael
Edited by Shonak on 06-05-2014 13:29
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Raphael fought well in the World Championships, but the result at the end was a bit unfortunate
The last two CX races of the season were pretty good even though he didn't get a podium
I also have to mention the screens, they are just stunning and in my opinion they and these small details simply make your stories so special
Considering how unpredictably the CX races are Raphael did superbly to finish almost all of them in the top 10, with a few wins too boot. Having said that the world champs could have gone a bit better, but you can't win them all.
-- Looking forward to the 2015 road races. Raphael may well be one of the top WT point scorers for Cannondale.
@Vali: Thank you Vali, I give my best for the screens and it's nice to hear that it reflects in the quality and is appreciated. World Championships are a shame, but only way to make them forget, is to win and win even more.
@Dippofix: Yes, CX season is already over again. There are by far not so many races as in a road season, but I have plans for the future to make the season feel more complete. Right now, Raphael is still learning the ropes and time is the key.
@The Rider: Surely some consistency, especially compared to some bigger names. Yeah, looking forward to road season too. The new team name is Citigroup-Cannondale though.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
