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Stybar wins on foot. ©Bart Hazen

Stybar celebrates his win. ©Bart Hazen

by David Evans

Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) took advantage of Kevin Pauwels’ (Sunweb-Revor) misstep in Sunday’s World Cup in Liévin to take a solo win. The duo, having dropped all of the field, barring Radomir Simunek (BKCP-Powerplus), after just two laps, looked to be preparing for a sprint before Pauwels’ right foot went under him as he chased Stybar up the stairs.

The wide, grassy course of Liévin ensured a furious and non-technical race. Rob Peeters (Telenet-Fidea) made the hole shot after the longest opening straight in the World Cup series. Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) was the only big name missing from the front end of the peloton as the race moved from tarmac to grass. “The Kannibal” took a bike change shortly after, leaving him in an anonymous position on a course that didn’t suit his particular talents.

Christian Heule (Canondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) made a brief appearance at the front before the end of the second lap, with Pauwels sitting comfortably in first wheel. Simon Zahner (BMC) animated the front to no avail, and the anglophone grouping of Ian Field (Hargroves Cycles), Jeremy ‘J-Pow’ Powers (Rapha-Focus) and Jonathan Page (Planet Bike) could be spotted around fifteen riders from the front. As the brief but steep climbs began creating gaps, Phillip Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus), Simunek and Pauwels upped the pace.

Stybar recognised the danger of their move, bridging up to the move. Once there he seemed content to let Pauwels drive the break and before the end of the third lap the three had over 12 seconds on their chasers. The pace proved too hot for Walsleben who was soon dropped. Simunek seemed to struggle to match the assured power of his companions, but avoided going into the red by not letting his nose touch the wind.

Pauwels spun a smaller gear than Stybar up the climbs, and took advantage of this fluidity to apply pressure to the World Champion. Stybar had the advantage on the stairs and out of corners, so Pauwels’ testing didn’t come to anything. Steve Chainel (FDJ-Big Mat), despite looking fairly haggard with his usual Paula Radcliffe tribute head nod, spent some time in the no man’s land between the leaders and the Sven Nys Supporters’ group that had gathered in replacement of an organised chase.

Stybar began producing punchy efforts at the beginning of the sixth lap. Pauwels proved worthy of these probing attacks, whereas Simunek did not. After several admirable efforts to stay in contact, the Czech focused on securing third place. When it became clear that Stybar couldn’t dislodge the Belgian, they settled into a tempo somewhat slower than the start of the race; 15 seconds a lap slower to be precise.

It seemed that a Nys-less version of of the Zolder World Cup was going to play out. Stybar rode from the front, although the wide and fast corners prevented him from deploying his ultra-defensive slowing of the pace to stop Pauwels coming past. The squeal of cork on carbon could be heard as the pair scrubbed off small amounts of speed around Liévin’s criterium corners.

Pauwels’ fall proved as spectacular as it was unexpected. On replay, his dismount proved fine and he almost had the bike to his shoulder when his right leg disappeared from underneath him. The fall was a heavy one, but he was soon running again with only a mark of mud on his nose to show for it. This wasn’t enough to keep him in contention for the win, Stybar was gone.

Stybar had enough time to blow his nose, check for mud on his white leg warmers, tap his frame and kiss his stem before posting up for the win. After crossing the line, the obviously overjoyed Czech dismounted and raised his bike above his head. Pauwels’ kept second place, building his lead over Nys in the overall standings, Simunek rolled over for a well deserved third, and Nys crushed the sprint for fourth.

On the US side of things, Powers took 14th, followed by Page in 17th, Heule in 20th, Ryan Trebon in 22nd and Jamey Driscoll just making the top 30.

U23 Men: Lars van der Haar continues dominance in Lievin

World Champion Lars van der Haar won his second world cup of the season in Lievin. The leader in the World Cup won solo over the surprising Julian Alaphilippe and Michael Vanthourenhout.

The start was very hectic. Van der Haar crashed on an ice spot in the first corner and lost about twenty places. Belgian Champion Wietse Bosmans had a less-than-perfect start as well. Italian champion Elia Silvestri took the holeshot followed by Vinnie Braet and Stan Godrie.

In the third lap a large group lead the race, including the returned Van der Haar. Van der Haar didn’t wait for long and attacked straight away. Behind Van der Haar was a large chasing group with, amongst others, Mike Teunissen, Stan Godrie, Michael Vanthourenhout, Laurens Sweeck, Julian Alaphilippe, Clement Venturini, Vojtech Nipl and Thomas Paprstka. In the meantime Wietse Bosmans dropped out of the race after crashing into compatriot Gianni Vermeersch.

It looked like Van der Haar was going to win easily, but he crashed again and Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe bridged up. The two turned into the final lap together, but the Dutchman was too strong on the climbs and added another impressive win to his palmares. Michael Vanthourenhout was the best of the rest for third.

“It didn’t go smooth today,” Van der Haar admitted. “I crashed twice. The first time straight after the start and the second time with three laps to go. After my first crash it took me two laps to get back to the front again. I didn’t wait and attacked immediately because the pace was too slow. It was very difficult to ride alone on the course. Especially the asphalt section to the finish was tough. Today I was good but not super. But that is not needed. I hope to have that bit of extra in two weeks at the World Championships.”

Junior Men: Mathieu van der Poel Proved Unstoppable

World Cup leader Mathieu van der Poel took his 20th win of the season in Lievin. The European- and Dutch National Champion won solo. German National Champion Silvio Herklotz and France’s Romain Seigle completed the podium.

French Champion Quentin Jaurequi took the holeshot, followed by Mathieu van der Poel, Silvio Herklotz, Yorben van Tichelt, Romain Seigle and Anthony Turgis. Van der Poel attacked in the second lap on the fast, hilly course and kept his lead on the chasers which never became more than 15 seconds.

The battle for second ended in the final lap when Silvio Herklotz got rid off Seigle and Turgis. Jaurequi and Van Tichelt were dropped already.

“I have worked on my power this year,” said Van der Poel who took his 20th win and only lost three races this season. “What I have achieved as a first year junior is impressive. I have had a good road season and that is the base of what I have achieved now. I am happy with my third world cup win of this season. Next week in Hoogerheide will be very tough to take four out of four because the pressure will be huge in the Grand Prix of my dad. But I will go for it.”

Photos – Bart Hazen

U23 Gallery – Bart Hazen

Junior Gallery – Bart Hazen

Elite Men Results:

RankNameNat.Age*ResultPoints
1Zdenek STYBARCZE271:03200
2Kevin PAUWELSBEL2816160
3Radomir SIMUNEKCZE2930140
4Sven NYSBEL3644120
5Francis MOUREYFRA3244110
6Klaas VANTORNOUTBEL3046100
7Simon ZAHNERSUI294790
8Rob PEETERSBEL274980
9Steve CHAINELFRA295370
10Thijs VAN AMERONGENNED265560
11Dieter VANTHOURENHOUTBEL271:1258
12Niels ALBERTBEL261:3456
13Mariusz GILPOL291:3454
14Jeremy POWERSUSA291:3552
15Julien TARAMARCAZSUI251:3650
16Bart AERNOUTSBEL301:3748
17Jonathan PAGEUSA361:3946
18Egoitz MURGOITIO REKALDEESP291:4344
19Matthieu BOULOFRA231:4842
20Christian HEULESUI371:5440
21Philipp WALSLEBENGER251:5739
22Ryan TREBONUSA311:5838
23Enrico FRANZOIITA301:5837
24Aurelien DUVALFRA242:2336
25Clément BOURGOINFRA252:3435
26Twan VAN DEN BRANDNED232:4534
27Marcel MEISENGER232:5433
28Vladimir KYZIVATCZE302:5632
29Martin ZLAMALIKCZE303:0231
30James DRISCOLLUSA263:0330
31Nicolas BAZINFRA293:1629
32Luca DAMIANIITA283:1628
33Yu TAKENOUCHIJPN243:1727
34Isaac SUAREZ FERNANDEZESP333:1826
35Jiri POLNICKYCZE233:2225
36Niels WUBBENNED243:4224
37Patrick VAN LEEUWENNED273:4523
38Javier RUIZ DE LARRINAGA IBANEZESP334:1222
39Johannes SICKMUELLERGER304:3221
40Marcel WILDHABERSUI274:4320
41Sven VANTHOURENHOUTBEL314:4719
42Martin HARINGSVK264:5218
43Magnus DARVELLSWE304:5417
44Cristian COMINELLIITA244:5516
45Thijs ALNED324:5515
46Mitchell HUENDERSNED245:0814
47Ole QUASTGER235:5413
48Ludovic RENARDFRA286:1312
49Petr DLASKCZE3611
50Ondrej BAMBULACZE2510
51Craig RICHEYCAN285
52Keiichi TSUJIURAJPN325
53Lewis RATTRAYAUS235
54David QUISTNOR415

U23 Results:

RankNameNat.
1Lars VAN DER HAARNED
2Julian ALAPHILIPPEFRA
3Michael VANTHOURENHOUTBEL
4ClŽment VENTURINIFRA
5Mike TEUNISSENNED
6Stan GODRIENED
7Laurens SWEECKBEL
8Vojtech NIPLCZE
9Elia SILVESTRIITA
10Tomas PAPRSTKACZE
11Jan NESVADBACZE
12Arnaud GRANDSUI
13Tim MERLIERBEL
14Vinnie BRAETBEL
15Michiel VAN DER HEIJDENNED
16David VAN DER POELNED
17Yannick MAYERGER
18Zach MCDONALDUSA
19Luca BRAIDOTITA
20Radek POLNICKYCZE
21Gianni VERMEERSCHBEL
22Christophe BALANECFRA
23Arnaud JOUFFROYFRA
24Max WALSLEBENGER
25David MENUTFRA
26Micki VAN EMPELNED
27KŽvin BOUVARDFRA
28Tijmen EISINGNED
29Jakub SKALACZE
30Igor SMARZAROITA
31Camille THOMINETFRA
32Michael (JR) SCHWEIZERGER
33Pierre GARSONFRA
34Maxime HUYGENSFRA
35Luke GRAYGBR
36ƒlie REGOSTFRA
37David THELYFRA
38Dimitri CORRIETTEFRA
39Michel VUELTA IZQUIERDOESP
40Emil Arvid OLSENDEN

Junior Results:

RankNameNat.
1Mathieu VAN DER POELNED
2Silvio HERKLOTZGER
3Romain SEIGLEFRA
4Anthony TURGISFRA
5Yorben VAN TICHELTBEL
6Quentin JAUREGUIFRA
7Dylan KOWALSKIFRA
8Daan HOEYBERGHSBEL
9Victor KORETZKYFRA
10STAN WIJKELNED
11Martijn BUDDINGNED
12Gioele BERTOLINIITA
13Daan SOETEBEL
14Dominic GRABSUI
15Toon WOUTERSNED
16Felix DRUMMGER
17Johannes SIEMERMANNGER
18Hugo ROBINSONGBR
19Kevin SUAREZ FERNANDEZESP
20Wout VAN AERTBEL
21Leo VINCENTFRA
22Tim ARIESENNED
23Matthias VAN DE VELDEBEL
24Quinten HERMANSBEL
25Karel POKORNYCZE
26Jan VASTLCZE
27Mathieu MORICHONFRA
28Pjotr VAN BEEKNED
29Clement RUSSOFRA
30Jir’ REHçKCZE
31Jan BREZNACZE
32Benoit COSNEFROYFRA
33Yohan PATRYCAN
34Raphael GAYFRA
35Steffen M†LLERGER
36Elie GESBERTFRA
37Aurelien PHILIBERTFRA
38Magnus SKJOTHDEN
39Yannick GRUNERGER
40Marco K…NIGGER