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Superprestige #3 Gavere - C1

Gavere, Belgium , November 16, 2008

2007 results     Stage List     Preview    Start List     Past winners

The Races

  • Race 1 - November 16: Juniors
  • Race 2 - November 16: U23 Men
  • Race 3 - November 16: Elite Women
  • Race 4 - November 16: Elite Men

Down and dirty 'cross in Asper-Gavere

By Laura Weislo

Sven Nys has won four years in a row in Gavere
Photo ©: AFP
Click for larger image

The third round of Belgium's Superprestige cyclo-cross series heads deep into the heart of East Flanders for a messy 'cross in a cow pasture at Asper-Gavere. With rain in the forecast for the weekend, the course should revert to the type of ankle-deep muck that eats drive trains for breakfast of two years ago. The course typically involves the kinds of tight, off-camber turns and muddy ascents which favour the most powerful and skilled riders in the peloton.

For the past four years in a row, that rider has been Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner), but the Belgian champion isn't dominating this season like he has been in recent years. Niels Albert (Palmans-Cras) and Nys are tied one-one in the series, with Nys out-sprinting Albert and Sunweb-Projob's Klaas Vantornout in Ruddervoorde, and Albert putting in a spectacular performance in Veghel-Eerde.

Nys, who raced the last round in the Netherlands with a dislocated finger sustained during his winning ride in Oudenaarde should be all healed up from two weekends of injuries, and will be looking for revenge after taking a sound beating by world champion Lars Boom in the Pijnacker World Cup.

Zdenek Stybar falls victim to the trap
Photo ©: Mario Varrewaere
(Click for larger image)

Speaking of Boom, the young Dutchman is coming on strong, and has been unbeatable in the last two mud-slinging contests, including Tuesday's romp in Niel. Boom is the best candidate to break Nys' string of victories in Gavere, if he can make sure to avoid the devious traps the organisers deliberately include in order to give the beer-drunk fans plenty of crashes to watch. Fortunately for the riders, they've begun adding air bags to the more dangerous sections.

The fun in the mud isn't just for the elite men, as the organisers have UCI fields for U23 men, elite women and juniors, too. The re-emergent American Katie Compton (Spike) overcame a muscular problem which hampered her early season to nearly take the win in Pijnacker. A last-lap mishap ruined her chances at a repeat win there, but in Belgium will be free from her nemesis, Hanka Kupfernagel, the world champion and UCI leader. She will have to contend with Kalmthout World Cup winner, Daphny Van den Brandt.

In the espoirs race, Jan Van Dael (Sunweb Projob) will be hoping to defend his series leader's jersey from the mud and from the threat of German Philipp Walsleben, the winner in Ruddervoorde, and surprise contender, Marek Konwa from Poland, who is in his first year in the U23 ranks. The two are tied in second with 15 points.

Start list

Elite

1 Lars Boom
2 Sven Nys
3 Bart Wellens
4 Niels Albert
5 Zdenek Stybar
6 Richard Groenendaal
7 Klaas Vantornout
8 Sven Vanthourenhout
9 Gerben De Knegt
10 Radomir Simunek
11 Bart Aernouts
12 Kevin Pauwels
13 All Thys
14 Wilant Van Gils
15 Dieter Vanthourenthout
16 Martin Zlamanik
17 Jonathan Page
18 Thys Van Amerongen
19 Jempy Drucker
20 Jan Van Dael
21 Rob Peeters
22 Wesley Van Der Linden
23 Jan Verstraeten
24 Erwin Vervecken
25 Ben Berden
26 Davy Commeyne
27 Jan Soetens
28 Francis Mourey
29 Marco Fontana
30 Kendric Van Grembergen
31 Stephen Dessaint
32 Steven Deschoesitter
33 Freddy De Meester
34 Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga
35 Stijn Huys
36 Tom Vandenbosch
37 Christian Heule
38 Marek Chicosz
39 Magnus Darvell

Women

1 Christine Vardaros
2 Nancy Bober
3 Reza Hormes-Ravenstijn
4 Daphny Van Den Brand
5 Van Nieuwpoort Tessa
6 Francis Keizer
7 Kim Van Renterghem
8 Katrien Pauwels
9 Katie Compton
10 Helen Wyman
11 Sharon Defoor
12 Iris Ockeloen
13 Maaike Lanssens
14 Anja Nobus
15 Ilse Vandekinderen
16 abrina Stultiens
17 Gertie Willems
18 Katia Verstraete
19 Nicolle De Bie-Leyten
20 Mika Ogishima
21 Dorien Raeymaekers
22 Mascha Pijpers
23 Thamara Pijpers
24 Anne Arnouts
25 Patsy Larno
26 Lana Verberne
27 Jo Blanchaert
28 Sophie De Boer
29 Sophie Borra
30 Sarah Liekens
31 Nikki Harris

U23 Men

1 Arnaud Gouffroy
2 Tom Meeusen
3 Lucas Kloucek
4 Robert Gavenda
5 Joeri Adams
6 Stef Boden
7 Marcel Meisen
8 Ramon Sinkeldam
9 Vincent Bastaens
10 Quentin Bertholet
11 Jim Aernouts
12 Kenneth Van Compernolle
13 Geert Van Der Horst
14 Tom De Smet
15 Jan Denuwelaere
16 Lorenzo Messine
17 Jonas De Boey
18 Sonny Van Herve
19 Laurent Moulin
20 Vincent Van Hooste
21 Bart Hermans
22 Peer-Max Gensing-Podschun
23 Kaj Slenter
24 Mitchell Heunders
25 Mickael Winterberg
26 Nico Brungger
27 Matthias Fluckiger
28 Jonathan Bervoets
29 Jelle Brackman
30 Marco Minnaard
31 Dennis Verhoeven
32 Robby Cobbaert
33 Jasper Ockeloen
34 Jan Van Dael
35 Ivar Hartoghs
36 Petrus Lubomir
37 Arnaud Jouffroy
38 Aurelien Duval
39 Philippe Walsleben
40 Dave De Cleyn
41 Bart Bakhuis
42 Simon Geets
43 Christophe Delvaux
44 Matthias Onghena
45 Harm Van Der Sanden
46 Sven Beelen
47 Steven Galens
48 Michiel Dieleman
49 Ruben Veestraeten
50 Davy De Scheemaecker
51 Kristof Zegers
52 Gianni Denolf
53 Cristian Izquierdo
54 Zeb Willems
55 Kevin Citeren
56 Kevin Smit
57 Dany Lacroix
58 Jorn Van Veen
59 Kevin Cant
60 Jackson Vivjarona
61 Thomas Vernaeckt
62 Marek Konwa
63 Kasper Szepaniak
64 Matthias Nilsson

Juniors

1 Niels Koyen
2 Lars Van Der Haar
3 Jens Joosen
4 Gianni Vermeersch
5 Karl Peeters
6 Dieter Peeters
7 Guillaume Van Keirsbulk
8 Daan Meijers
9 Matthias Bossuyt
10 Robin Delanghe
11 Bart Van Dongen
12 Mike Teunissen
13 Floris De Tier
14 Sean De Bie
15 Olivier Van De Vijver
16 Tijmen Eising
17 Robin Wennekes
18 Lukas Muller
19 Peter Joel
20 Gert Ceulemans
21 Elmar Reinders
22 Zeb Veestraeten
23 Corne Van Kessel
24 Wilco Van Beusecom
25 Michiel Van Der Heijden
26 Angelo De Clercq
27 Kenny Bultinck
28 Kenzie Baute
29 Florian Blazard
30 Dimitri Michielsen
31 Flavien Dassonville
32 Wietse Bosmans
33 Sieen Veestraeten
34 Jesper Baelen
35 Xandro Meurisse
36 Ritchie Denolf
37 Olivier Vernaet
38 Kris Vermeir
39 Joshua Omez
40 Hendrik Sweeck
41 Olivier Vandevijver
42 Niels Wytinck
43 Valentijn Van De Velde
44 Milan Van Den Ende
45 Jelle Lugten
46 Mikel Elorza Pagaldai
47 Laurens Van Gansbeke
48 Bas Krauwel

Past winners

2007 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank
2006 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank   
2005 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank
2004 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank
2003 Bart Wellens (Bel) Spaar Select
2002 Bart Wellens (Bel) Spaar Select
2001 Sven Nijs (Bel) Rabobank
2000 Peter Van Santvliet (Bel) Spaar Select
1999 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank
 
Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com