Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) beat Kevin Pauwels (Subweb-Revor) and Zdenek Stybar (Quick Step) to the line in Plzen, Czech Republic to take today’s cyclo-cross World Cup opener, after the three largely dominated the race.
Nys used a masterful turn in the final right hand bend to gain the advantage over Stybar, who led most of the final lap. Stybar looked to be in control, but Nys dove between the Czech rider and a tree and got past.
“The last lap was very tactical,” Nys told Het Nieuwsblad at the finish. “After the stairs, Stybar left a hole of twenty centimeters (at the final right hander) and I plunged in. It was touch and go, and he didn’t expect me there. I’m glad I can still win at my age,” the 35-year-old stated.
“This victory means a great deal to me, on a course that doesn’t suit me,” Nys added. “Being explosive is very important here, but I felt good already after the first lap.”
Both Pauwels and Stybar indicated in post-race comments that the tactical expertise of Nys was what made the difference. “We were just as strong, but Nys was the smartest,” Pauwels said.
“Nys was tactically very strong,” Stybar added. “I left a small gap (in the last turn), which is a beginner’s mistake. I didn’t think Nys could squeeze between me and the tree.”
Pauwels, who could only manage thirteenth last week in Ruddervoorde, got the action started with seven laps to go. Stybar covered the Belgian’s attack, followed shortly by Nys. “I had to try really hard to catch Stybar and Pauwels,” Nys admitted. “It took two laps before I was fully recovered.”
Steve Chainel (FDJ) led the chase group, but the leading trio gradually began to pad their lead. Pauwels looked comfortable with the pace, while it was hometown hero Stybar who looked as if he was struggling to keep up.
With six laps remaining, the trio had a handful of seconds on a host of chasers, including Chainel, Bart Aernouts (Rabo-Giant Offroad), Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Revor), and Bart Wellens (Telenet-Fidea). Soon, the lead had ballooned to ten seconds as this chase group began to consolidate, with Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) and Jeremy Powers (Rapha/Focus) a further ten seconds back.
One lap later, Pauwels put in another dig, which Stybar seemed to easily cover. Meanwhile, further back, the multiple chase groups became one, as French national champion Frances Mourey (FDJ) and Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) joined up to create a chasing group of seven. With four laps remaining, it was Wellens who led them across, seventeen seconds behind the leading trio.
As they continued to move away, Pauwels and Stybar shared the pacing at the front, while Nys remained content to be third in line. They seemed happy to simply distance the riders behind, and as the lead grew to 25 seconds, the chase group continued to be powered by the impetus of Wellens.
However, with three to go, the chase bunch lost its primary engine as the Belgian suffered a mechanical. He was forced to run down course to his spare bike and would eventually finish twelfth. Albert took up the work in place of Wellens, and his pace dropped Chainel, but Stybar had pulled his mates out to a thirty-second lead, dashing the hopes of the chasing group.
With two laps to race, Stybar sent the crowd into a frenzy and put in a testing acceleration, achieving a momentary gap over Pauwels, who was driving hard to cover it. He was able to come back, and as the trio hit the finishing stretch to begin the final lap, Stybar tried one more dig, perhaps testing his legs for the sprint to come.
Halfway through the final lap, Nys hit the front for the first time, but it was Stybar who led Nys and Pauwels up the stairs, with just two S-curves and the final right hand bend to go.
The Czech world champion seemed to have the advantage, but it was Nys who ducked past on the final turn and got the gap, leaving time to raise his arms before the line. Pauwels crossed second, and Stybar faded in the finale, acknowledging the crowd and hanging his head across the line.