Plzen Cross World Cup: Albert appalled, Vanthourenhout injured

Niels Albert (BKCP - Powerplus) digs in at Plzen.

Niels Albert (BKCP - Powerplus) digs in at Plzen. (Image credit: ispaphoto.com)

The first cyclo-cross World Cup race of the season had a bad start as a TV cameraman was still standing on the course as the riders took off in Plzen, Czech Republic, on Sunday. The cameraman was still filming the riders in the front row, which ended on the left with top favourite Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) and French champion Francis Mourey (FDJ), but UCI officials nevertheless gave the start signal. Riders on the left were blocked while the other riders sped away.