In their first duel of the 2013/2014 cyclocross season, Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) won the GP Soudal in Neerpelt, Belgium over his rival, 2013 World Champion Sven Nys (Crelan-Euphony).
Albert attacked in the double sand pit with a lap and half to go while Telenet-Fidea’s Tom Meeusen was leading Nys, but Meeusen faltered with a bad line choice in the sand and held up Nys, creating the decisive gap Albert needed. The 2012 World Champ was gone for good, leaving Nys and company to fight for second.
Think there’s no teamwork in cyclocross? Albert’s teammate, German Philipp Walsleben (former U23 World Champ) expertly moved to the front to thwart any chase once Albert attacked. See the move in the video below at the 1:09:30 mark.
Niels Albert had the legs today to win in Nerepelt (file photo). © Bart Hazen
Nys shed the others in the sand on the last lap, while Walsleben followed closely in third, driving Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) home to finish fourth. Bart Aernouts (AA Drink) and Meeusen followed in for fifth and sixth after spending most of the race in the leading group of six.
“I still miss some sharpness,” Nys explained, suggesting his trip to the States to win Cross Vegas was partly to blame, but said he was still happy with the result.
“It happens here quite often I start badly,” said Albert about his race. “A bit of a lack of concentration, I suspect. It was quite narrow and difficult to pass,” Albert recalled, but was pleased with the win after several heavy training weeks.
American Jonathan Page (Fuji / Competitive Cyclist), fresh off a Charm City win, finished in 23rd, 3:36 back.
The course included a good sized drainage ditch that forced riders to either bunnyhop or dismount. See the leading six tackle this obstacle at the 1:08:20 mark below.
In the women’s race, Sanne Cant (BKCP) took an emotional victory over Sophie de Boer (Telenet-Fidea) one day after her grandfather passed, and she pointed to the sky to dedicate the win to him. “During the race I tried not to think [about his death] too much,” she revealed. “Was once my lead become quite large, though it was difficult, but I managed to stay focused.”
American Christine Vardaros (Stevens) finished in 14th.
Full 2013 Soudal GP Neerpelt results below the video.
Video: 2013 GP Soudal, Neerpelt, Bunnyhopping & Teamwork (in HD):
Soudal GP Neerpelt Cyclocross 2013 Elite Men Results
| Rank | Name | Nat. | Age* | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niels ALBERT | BEL | 27 | 1:02:09 | 40 |
| 2 | Sven NYS | BEL | 37 | 1:02:19 | 30 |
| 3 | Philipp WALSLEBEN | GER | 26 | 1:02:21 | 20 |
| 4 | Kevin PAUWELS | BEL | 29 | 1:02:23 | 15 |
| 5 | Bart AERNOUTS | BEL | 31 | 1:02:23 | 10 |
| 6 | Tom MEEUSEN | BEL | 25 | 1:02:23 | 8 |
| 7 | Lars VAN DER HAAR | NED | 22 | 1:02:47 | 6 |
| 8 | Klaas VANTORNOUT | BEL | 31 | 1:02:51 | 4 |
| 9 | Rob PEETERS | BEL | 28 | 1:02:56 | 2 |
| 10 | Dieter VANTHOURENHOUT | BEL | 28 | 1:02:58 | 1 |
| 11 | Thijs VAN AMERONGEN | NED | 27 | 1:03:02 | |
| 12 | Wout VAN AERT | BEL | 19 | 1:03:06 | |
| 13 | Marcel MEISEN | GER | 24 | 1:03:42 | |
| 14 | Bart WELLENS | BEL | 35 | 1:04:12 | |
| 15 | Jens ADAMS | BEL | 21 | 1:04:24 | |
| 16 | Tim MERLIER | BEL | 21 | 1:04:39 | |
| 17 | Jens VANDEKINDEREN | BEL | 20 | 1:04:44 | |
| 18 | Diether SWEECK | BEL | 20 | 1:04:57 | |
| 19 | Corne VAN KESSEL | NED | 22 | 1:05:01 | |
| 20 | Quinten HERMANS | BEL | 18 | 1:05:01 | |
| 21 | Daan SOETE | BEL | 19 | 1:05:01 | |
| 22 | Sven VANTHOURENHOUT | BEL | 32 | 1:05:41 | |
| 23 | Jonathan PAGE | USA | 37 | 1:05:45 | |
| 24 | Toon AERTS | BEL | 20 | 1:06:08 | |
| 25 | Julien TARAMARCAZ | SUI | 26 | 1:06:24 | |
| 26 | Davy COMMEYNE | BEL | 33 | ||
| 27 | Kenneth VAN COMPERNOLLE | BEL | 25 | ||
| 28 | Micki VAN EMPEL | NED | 23 | ||
| 29 | Vincent BAESTAENS | BEL | 24 | ||
| 30 | Michael VANTHOURENHOUT | BEL | 20 | ||
| 31 | Richard JANSEN | NED | 18 | ||
| 32 | James SPRAGG | GBR | 26 | ||
| 33 | Osmond BAKKER | CAN | 41 | ||
| 34 | Dennis DICTUS | BEL | 23 | ||
| 35 | Christoph AMBROZIAK | GER | 30 | ||
| 36 | Gilles DE JAEGER | BEL | 18 | ||
| 37 | Steve DE SCHOESITTER | BEL | 38 | ||
| 38 | Jonathan VERSCHUEREN | BEL | 21 |
Soudal GP Neerpelt Cyclocross 2013 Elite Women Results
| Rank | Name | Nat. | Age* | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanne CANT | BEL | 23 | 36:58:00 | 40 |
| 2 | Sophie DE BOER | NED | 23 | 37:26:00 | 30 |
| 3 | Pavla HAVLIKOVA | CZE | 30 | 37:44:00 | 20 |
| 4 | Ellen VAN LOY | BEL | 33 | 38:50:00 | 15 |
| 5 | Loes SELS | BEL | 28 | 39:08:00 | 10 |
| 6 | Annefleur KALVENHAAR | NED | 19 | 39:17:00 | 8 |
| 7 | Yara KASTELIJN | NED | 16 | 39:23:00 | 6 |
| 8 | Laura VERDONSCHOT | BEL | 17 | 39:29:00 | 4 |
| 9 | Karen VERHESTRAETEN | BEL | 22 | 39:54:00 | 2 |
| 10 | Jolien VERSCHUEREN | BEL | 23 | 40:28:00 | 1 |
| 11 | Katrien THIJS | BEL | 28 | 40:45:00 | |
| 12 | Jamie BIERENS | NED | 16 | 40:58:00 | |
| 13 | Lotte EIKELENBOOM | NED | 17 | 41:12:00 | |
| 14 | Christine VARDAROS | USA | 44 | 41:21:00 | |
| 15 | Marlène MOREL PETITGIRARD | FRA | 25 | 41:38:00 | |
| 16 | Lindy VAN ANROOIJ | NED | 17 | 42:01:00 | |
| 17 | Cindy BAUWENS | BEL | 39 | 42:18:00 | |
| 18 | Stephanie DE CROOCK | BEL | 34 | 42:35:00 | |
| 19 | Suzie GODART | LUX | 51 | 42:39:00 | |
| 20 | Karine TEMPORELLI | FRA | 40 | 42:41:00 | |
| 21 | Valerie BOONEN | BEL | 20 | 43:12:00 | |
| 22 | Gertie WILLEMS | BEL | 36 | 43:27:00 | |
| 23 | Hilde QUINTENS | BEL | 49 | 43:35:00 | |
| 24 | Lizzy WITLOX | NED | 18 | 43:55:00 | |
| 25 | Shana MAES | BEL | 18 | 44:07:00 | |
| 26 | Caren COMMISSARIS | BEL | 19 | 44:46:00 | |
| 27 | Lena BISCHOFF-STEIN | GER | 21 | 45:06:00 | |
| 28 | Keshia VERBEEK | BEL | 18 | ||
| 29 | Marjolein WIJKEL | NED | 17 |
