Meeusen takes the win at Koppenbergcross. © Thomas van Bracht
report contributed to by Bart Hazen
While there isn’t racing in Europe tomorrow, the weekend started early with Koppenbergcross in Oudenaarde, Belgium. In the men’s race, Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) took the win in this round of the Bpost Bank Trofee series. Behind him, Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) and Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb) rounded out the podium.
“The circumstances suited me today,” said Meeusen. “It was an intensive and explosive race with in each lap lots of recuperation possibilities. Until the end eight riders were equal to each other which made it easier for me to wait for the sprint. It was all or nothing and luckily for me it was all. I can’t believe I just won the Koppenberg after some health issues the past week. ”
Despite not making the podium, the series leader remain current World Champion Sven Nys (Crelan-Euphony).
Wyman wins Koppenbergcross. © Thomas van Bracht
In the women’s race, Helen Wyman (Kona) took the win in a dominant fashion, over Sanne Cant (Enertherm-BKCP) who finished second and Nikki Harris (Telenet-Fidea) in third. The three have been having an incredible early season thus far.
“This is my third win on the Koppenberg. Really amazing,” remarked Wyman. “I have trained on this course earlier this week because I live in Oudenaarde during the season, but the course was a lot tougher than today. Today it was a very fast race but I can enjoy my win and that’s good. Now I will try to defend my European title on Sunday.”
Koppenbergcross Photo Gallery:
Elite Men’s Results:
| Rank | Name | Nat. | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom MEEUSEN | BEL | 59:06:00 |
| 2 | Kevin PAUWELS | BEL | 59:08:00 |
| 3 | Klaas VANTORNOUT | BEL | 59:11:00 |
| 4 | Philipp WALSLEBEN | GER | 59:15:00 |
| 5 | Sven NYS | BEL | 59:16:00 |
| 6 | Rob PEETERS | BEL | 59:30:00 |
| 7 | Corne VAN KESSEL | NED | 59:31:00 |
| 8 | Niels ALBERT | BEL | 59:31:00 |
| 9 | Thijs VAN AMERONGEN | NED | 59:46:00 |
| 10 | Julien TARAMARCAZ | SUI | 59:52:00 |
| 11 | Joeri ADAMS | BEL | 1:00:07 |
| 12 | Bart AERNOUTS | BEL | 1:00:16 |
| 13 | Ian FIELD | GBR | 1:00:25 |
| 14 | Twan VAN DEN BRAND | NED | 1:00:30 |
| 15 | Mariusz GIL | POL | 1:00:34 |
| 16 | Thijs AL | NED | 1:00:44 |
| 17 | Marcel MEISEN | GER | 1:00:50 |
| 18 | Lubomir PETRUS | CZE | 1:01:38 |
| 19 | Dieter VANTHOURENHOUT | BEL | 1:01:40 |
| 20 | Patrick VAN LEEUWEN | NED | 1:01:43 |
| 21 | Patrick GAUDY | BEL | 1:01:50 |
| 22 | Kevin EECKHOUT | BEL | 1:02:17 |
| 23 | Sven VANTHOURENHOUT | BEL | 1:02:30 |
| 24 | Jim AERNOUTS | BEL | 1:02:53 |
| 25 | Kevin CANT | BEL | 1:03:19 |
| 26 | Davy COMMEYNE | BEL | 1:03:24 |
| 27 | Yu TAKENOUCHI | JPN | 1:03:59 |
| 28 | Kenneth VAN COMPERNOLLE | BEL | 1:04:14 |
| 29 | Bart HOFMAN | BEL | 1:04:26 |
| 30 | Vincent BAESTAENS | BEL | 1:04:49 |
| 31 | Jan DENUWELAERE | BEL | 1:05:07 |
| 32 | Tom VAN DEN BOSCH | BEL | |
| 33 | Angus EDMOND | NZL |
Elite Women’s Results:
| Rank | Name | Nat. | Result |
| 1 | Helen WYMAN | GBR | 36:24:00 |
| 2 | Sanne CANT | BEL | 36:32:00 |
| 3 | Nikki HARRIS | GBR | 36:42:00 |
| 4 | Sophie DE BOER | NED | 37:22:00 |
| 5 | Ellen VAN LOY | BEL | 37:44:00 |
| 6 | Pavla HAVLIKOVA | CZE | 37:53:00 |
| 7 | Githa MICHIELS | BEL | 38:10:00 |
| 8 | Gabriella DURRIN | GBR | 38:16:00 |
| 9 | Christel FERRIER-BRUNEAU | FRA | 38:28:00 |
| 10 | Reza HORMES | NED | 39:00:00 |
| 11 | Karen VERHESTRAETEN | BEL | 39:20:00 |
| 12 | Asa Maria ERLANDSSON | SWE | 39:21:00 |
| 13 | Katrien THIJS | BEL | 40:37:00 |
| 14 | Margriet Helena KLOPPENBURG | DEN | 40:45:00 |
| 15 | Jolien VERSCHUEREN | BEL | 40:46:00 |
| 16 | Stephanie DE CROOCK | BEL | 40:50:00 |
| 17 | Bianca VAN DEN HOEK | NED | 40:51:00 |
| 18 | Karine TEMPORELLI | FRA | 41:15:00 |
| 19 | Cindy BAUWENS | BEL | 41:48:00 |
| 20 | Delia BEDDIS | GBR | 42:01:00 |
| 21 | Hilde QUINTENS | BEL | 42:14:00 |
| 22 | Christine VARDAROS | USA | 42:27:00 |
| 23 | Axelle BELLAERT | BEL | 42:38:00 |
| 24 | Petra MERMANS | BEL | 42:44:00 |
| 25 | Lindy VAN ANROOIJ | NED | 43:01:00 |
| 26 | Ilse VANDEKINDEREN | BEL | 43:08:00 |
| 27 | Shana MAES | BEL | 43:36:00 |
| 28 | Gertie WILLEMS | BEL | 43:43:00 |
| 29 | Ilona METER | NED | 44:44:00 |
| 30 | Claire SMITH | GBR | 44:49:00 |
| 31 | Claire BEAUMONT | GBR | 44:59:00 |
| 32 | Femke VAN DEN DRIESSCHE | BEL | 45:07:00 |
| 33 | Brenda KACZMARCZYK | POL | 46:31:00 |
| 34 | Anja GELDHOF | BEL | 47:39:00 |
| 35 | Katleen FRAEYE | BEL | 48:21:00 |
| 36 | Aurlie VERMEIR | BEL | |
| 37 | Sandie VERRIEST | BEL | |
| 38 | Cindy DIERICX | BEL |
