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Cyclo-cross

Nys takes on first race as 'cross world champion

By Cycling News

published 6 February 2013

Wellens beats Nys in sprint

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Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL)(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) has no luck with his chain(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) fights to get his chain on(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Wellens beats Nys in the sprint in Maldegem(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) in Maldegem(Image credit: Photopress.be)

A fresh rainbow jersey on the new champion Sven Nys(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Wellens celebrates his victory over Sven Nys in Maldegem(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Bart Wellens beats Sven Nys in the sprint in Maldegem(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Sven Nys (Crelan) runs in his new world champion's kit(Image credit: Photopress.be)

It's game over for Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) (Image credit: Photopress.be)

Sven Nys said he rode on euphoria in his first race as 2013 world champion(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Two champions: Nys and Vantornout(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Vantornout gets down on his knees to fix his bike(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL) lines up in Maldegem(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL), the new world champion(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL)(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL) is outsprinted by Bart Wellens (Telenet-Fidea)(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL) takes on his first race as world champion(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL) and Belgian champ Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) at the start(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) had chain problems(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Jet lag, a night spent celebrating his world championship title and an early morning doping control may have taken the edge off the sprint of Sven Nys, who lost out in the Augustijn Parkcross Maldegem today to Bart Wellens in their first race back from the USA.

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Wellens was excited to take his first victory in over a year after putting in a fine performance at the world championships in Louisville, Kentucky where he overcame a bad start to finish fourth. In Maldegem today, he said it was tactics that won him the race.

"I cut the last turn sharp in order to reduce the speed. I cannot beat Nys at full speed, but thanks to an explosive acceleration out of the last corner I could," he said.

A close second place wasn't a bad result for Nys, considering he had only arrived in Belgium the previous morning and had spent much of the day celebrating with his family and hometown fans.

"I partied until half past twelve with my fans in Baal," Nys said. "Then at 6am a doping inspector was at my door. Maybe it was my own fault. I could have changed my whereabouts for something better later in the day, but I didn't think to do it."

The new world champion said he was racing on euphoria. "I could immediately take the initiative, because I felt was much better than expected. That must have been the euphoria, it cannot be otherwise."

In other race notes, confusion at the start of the race led to some riders getting a poor start. Niels Albert fought his way back from missing the whistle thanks to loud music, and took third. Klaas Vantornout, the worlds silver medalist, suffered drivetrain problems and did not finish.