Advertisement

Pauwels has dialed in the World Cup so far this season, joined at the podium with Van der Haar and Walseben. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine

Pauwels has dialed in the World Cup so far this season, joined at the podium with Van der Haar and Walseben. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine

NAMUR, Belgium – Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games Cycling Team) took the win at round four of the World Cup in Namur over Lars van der Haar (Giant-Shimano) with a decisive move in the waning minutes of the race. The win adds to Pauwels series lead, now 77 points ahead of second place Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) with two races remaining.

The big news before the start of the race was Sven Nys (Crelan-AA Drink Team) opting not to participate. Despite a long recovery, the Belgian can’t understand why his legs still feel fatigued, and is staying out of racing possibly until the National Championships, maybe even longer.

Van der Haar leads Walseben through the off-camber descent. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine

Van der Haar leads Walseben through the off-camber descent. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine

Jeremy Powers (Rapha Focus) was able to take a front row call-up, a place now familiar for the American this year at the World Cups. In the center of that row, Meeusen and Van der Haar battled for the holeshot, with the Telenet-Fidea rider grabbing it by the first corner. Powers was able to maintain his position, floating between 10th and 13th in the early half of the first lap.

Swiss rider Marcel Wildhaber (Scott-Odlo Mtb Racing Team) and German Sasha Weber (Veranclassic – Doltcini) took over the race, even creating small gaps after the punchy descents that didn’t allow much room for error. Corne Van Kessel (Telenet – Fidea) dismounted more often than others, which didn’t appear to be a bad strategy as he maintained a top-five position.

Van der Haar and Pauwels spent the last third of the race battling each other for the win. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine

Van der Haar and Pauwels spent the last third of the race battling each other for the win. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine

Almost halfway through the race, Meeusen stormed forward once again, initially with Van Kessel at his side, creating a gap that looked menacing if it stuck. Van der Haar wasn’t going to let Meeusen take the day, and was the first to give a legitimate chase, hopscotching Van Kessel to make the catch. Pauwels, and then Van Kessel, joined the leaders shortly after before Van der Haar made several major breaks to gap the small group. The surges put Meeusen in the red and he lost contact, dropping to fifth position behind German National Champion Philipp Walseben (Bkcp – Powerplus).

Meeusen led early, but was caught by Van der Haar. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine

Meeusen led early, but was caught by Van der Haar. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine

It was now up to Pauwels to close the gap to Van der Haar with Van Kessel right behind. But Pauwels was the only rider able to make the catch as a hard fall suffered by Van Kessel took the wind out of his sails. He did recover but was unable to eradicate the loss, finishing 1:38 down to take fifth place behind Meeusen. Walseben weaved past on his way to third, keeping the lead duo in his sights. In the end, Pauwels was able to take the win with a last minute surge, compounded by a series of mistakes by Van der Haar on a long off-camber section.

American Jeremy Powers came in at 16th, over 3:30 minutes behind the leader, but keeping him in the top-15 for the World Cup standings. Jonathan Page also had an impressive ride, taking 18th. Fellow Americans Jeremy Durrin and Robert Marion were also present, but struggled today as they took 56th and 57th.

An elated and exhausted Pauwels crosses the line for the win. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine

An elated and exhausted Pauwels crosses the line for the win. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine

The women’s elite race and full results are also available.

2014 Men's World Cup Event at Namur

RankNameNat.Age*ResultPaRPcR
1Kevin PAUWELSBEL301:07:43200200
2Lars VAN DER HAARNED231:07:53160160
3Philipp WALSLEBENGER271:08:02140140
4Tom MEEUSENBEL261:09:07120120
5Corne VAN KESSELNED231:09:21110110
6Marcel WILDHABERSUI291:09:29100100
7Rob PEETERSBEL291:09:489090
8Jens ADAMSBEL221:09:538080
9Sascha WEBERGER261:10:077070
10Julien TARAMARCAZSUI271:10:136060
11Francis MOUREYFRA341:10:145858
12David VAN DER POELNED221:10:205656
13Marcel MEISENGER251:11:045454
14Bart AERNOUTSBEL321:11:115252
15Fabien CANALFRA251:11:165050
16Jeremy POWERSUSA311:11:174848
17Gianni VERMEERSCHBEL221:11:244646
18Jonathan PAGEUSA381:11:394444
19Gert-Jan BOSMANNED221:11:434242
20Simon ZAHNERSUI311:11:444040
21Lubomir PETRUSCZE241:11:473939
22Tim MERLIERBEL221:11:503838
23Javier RUIZ DE LARRINAGA IBANEZESP351:11:513737
24Michael BOROSCZE221:12:053636
25Bart WELLENSBEL361:12:123535
26Jim AERNOUTSBEL251:12:253434
27Tomas PAPRSTKACZE221:12:413333
28Niels WUBBENNED261:12:513232
29Andreas MOSERSUI301:12:523131
30Aitor HERNANDEZ GUTIERREZESP321:12:523030
31Thijs VAN AMERONGENNED281:13:192929
32Ian FIELDGBR281:13:422828
33Mariusz GILPOL311:13:522727
34Severin SAEGESSERSUI221:13:562626
35Vladimir KYZIVATCZE321:14:142525
36Lukas WINTERBERGSUI261:14:272424
37Ole QUASTGER252323
38Martin HARINGSVK282222
39Clément LHOTELLERIEFRA282121
40Kenneth HANSENDEN232020
41Twan VAN DEN BRANDNED251919
42Josep BETALUESP371818
43Radomir SIMUNEKCZE311717
44Michael (JR) SCHWEIZERGER231616
45Marco BIANCOITA321515
46Michael WILDHABERSUI241414
47Joachim PARBODEN401313
48Aaron SCHOOLERCAN291212
49Yu TAKENOUCHIJPN261111
50Agustin NAVARRO VIDALESP361010
51Matej LASAKCZE2255
52Mark MCCONNELLCAN2655
53Ramon SAGUES PORTABELLAESP3655
54Angus EDMONDNZL3855
55Garry MILLBURNAUS2755
56Jeremy DURRINUSA2655
57Robert MARIONUSA3255