German defeats Paulissen after Belgian's untimely crash
Moritz Milatz (Image credit: Robin Haake)
Moritz Milatz ended his 2009 race season on a high note this Sunday in Belgium. The Multivan Merida racer won the GP Roel Paulissen, the final round of the Benelux Cup, ahead of the race's namesake.
"I can't think of a better way to finish this season," said the 27-year-old Milatz. "Next I'm onto a couple of relaxing and bike-free weeks of vacation."
The almost two-hour race ultimately proved to be a battle between Paulissen (Cannondale) and Milatz after the two disposed of the other top favorites Martin Gujan and Rudy van Houts. Paulissen had the clear homefield advantage, but an untimely crash on a corner near the end of the race cost the favorite the win.
"I got to a corner (in the final mile) shortly after Roel went around it. I saw him in front of me on the ground," said Milatz, who finished with a 14-second margin. "As you do in sport, I took advantage of the circumstances and got to the finish before him. He didn't have enough time to close on me."
"There was certainly a little luck involved, but in mountain bike racing, with the uncertainty of bike handling, this sort of occurence is not unusual."
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Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews. She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.
