Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) bounced back from a disappointing showing in Tuesday’s Koppenbergcross to take a convincing solo victory in the Grand Prix de la Region Wallonne in Dottignies. The Belgian champion took the lead early, as most of the field was held up by a crash, and never looked like being caught; he finished 12 seconds clear of World champion Zdenek Stybar (Quick Step), who outsprinted his compatriot, Albert’s BKCP-Powerplus teammate Czech champion Radomir Simunek.
"It was not my intention to immediately pull away,” Albert told Sporza after the race. “But when the others were held up by a crash, I could not wait."
"Thanks to blocking work from my teammates Dieter Vanthourenhout and Simunek I soon had a nice lead,” he explained. “I wanted this cyclocross and not just as training for [the GP Mario De Clercq on] Sunday."
Stybar was one of those to come down in the early crash, along with last year’s winner, French champion Francis Mourey (FDJ). Despite chasing hard, the World champion is still struggling to capture his race-winning form of previous seasons.
"Today was a hard day," explained Stybar. "I never quite managed to find the right pedal stroke; I struggled from the start of the race; I never felt good; I also changed bike several times.
“The route was slightly muddy even though the weather conditions and temperature were favourable,” he added. “Tomorrow I'm riding in the second test for the GVA Trophy, the GP Mario De Clercq in Ronse. The goal is to do well; I hope I'm feeling better than I was today."
Result Grand Prix de la Region Wallonne
1. Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus
2. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Quick Step
3. Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus
4. Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ
5. Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet-Fidea
6. Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco
7. Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus
8. Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike
9. Marco Bianco (Ita) Arcobaleno
10. Tom Van Den Bosch (Bel) AA Drink-Leontien.nl