Brilliant solo by Czech rider seals fate of competitors early; Van den Brand wins women's race
Zdenek Stybar took his first Superprestige win of the season when he delivered a brilliant solo ride at the Hamme-Zogge cross. He had a good gap over the duo of Kevin Pauwels and Sven Nys. Niels Albert was fourth. Albert defended his lead in the Superprestige standings.
Stybar attacked hard half-way through the race and never looked back. "I thought I'd try and maybe somebody would go with me," he told Belgian TV after the race. "But I was alone immediately." On the fast course, he did not hesitate. "For two laps I went 100 percent." He had a good gap but still had doubts. "On the third solo lap, I didn't think I could keep the gap." His rhythm was also interrupted. "I had to change my bike."
None of this made much of a difference and his gap kept hovering between 25 and 30 seconds. In the final lap, he could experience the spectators. "T really enjoyed the last lap. I think I lost 20 seconds by enjoying the last lap, but it was a really nice feeling."
It was a surprise how quickly he created the gap. "I was lucky that nobody rode after me," he admitted. "On such a fast course,10-15 seconds is a lot." The others blamed one another for the solo win by Stybar. Third-placed Nys thought it was up to Pauwels to take up the initiative. "He has been the best racer so far this season, so he should have chased."
Nys understood the tactic that Mario de Clercq had given to Kevin Pauwels. "He was supposed to ride as little on the front as possible. If you want to win you have to go when someone attacks, but he stayed put."
Pauwels agreed with the analysis. "Maybe I could have gone after him [Stybar]. It was a good moment to attack for Stybar. I think I had the legs to go, it's a pity." It was still the best Superprestige result for Pauwels this season. "I was second so I am content."
Albert was dropped in the final lap by Nys and Pauwels, but kept his lead in the Superprestige series. "I was ok with the result [fourth]. My concern was to not lose many points to Nys. I have the lead still, so I am happy." He, too, felt that it was up to the others to make the race behind Stybar. "When Stybar attacked it was up to the others to chase. They gave him a nice present."
Nys inched a bit closer to Albert in the standings, now only three points behind. "I made up one point over Niels, that is very important," the Belgian said.
Bart Wellens attacked strong early, but had to settle for seventh place. His first race after his virus break was ok,although he is still not 100 percent recovered. "Five minutes before the start I was on the toilet," he explained.
Fast course punishes mistakes hard
Zdenek Stybar and Kevin Pauwels had the best start and quickly pushed the pace. On the fast course, the duo strung out the peloton and went through the start-finish area about five seconds ahead of Sven Nys and Niels Albert.
Albert made it to the front early in lap two and attacked hard, followed by Klaas Vantornout and Nys. The gaps were still small, but towards the end of the lap, seven riders built a front group: Pauwels, Stybar, Nys, Albert, Bart Aernouts, Klaas Vantornout, Tom Meeusen. Bart Wellens brought the chasers back and attacked in his first race back after a break due to a virus. Aernouts shadowed him, with the others following close behind.
In lap four it was a hard acceleration by Nys that sent panic through the chasers, who tried to close the gap quickly. Albert was the one who neutralized the attempt.
In lap five it was Pauwels who went, but Nys was quickly on his wheel. World Champion Stybar attacked in lap six and quickly created a large gap. After lap six, he was ahead by 21 seconds over the chasers, the largest gap in the race so far.
The chasers were not in agreement who should push the pace, so riders like Dieter Vanthourenhout or Marius Gil made it back to the front group.
A lap later, Pauwels led the chaser across the line, but now over seconds behind Stybar.
Stybar rode the two fastest laps in lap six and seven. A bike change by Stybar brought the chasers about three seconds closer, with three laps to go.
Nys and Albert rode away from the chasers, with Pauwels trying to close the gap. Pauwels made the junction in the start-finish area, with two laps to go. Stybar was still 25 seconds ahead of the others.
In the penultimate lap, Nys, Pauwels and Albert fought it out. Pauwels edged out Nys, with Albert being dropped in the last lap.
Van den Brand takes women's race
Daphny van den Brand took the women's race of the Superprestige in Hamme-Zogge. Van den Brand won decisively, after riding away solo from the lead group towards the end of the race. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won a tight sprint for second place ahead of Sanne Cant, Sabrina Stultiens and Sophie de Boer.
Van den Brand included the other women into her tactics. "For several laps I just sat in and checked it out," she said after the race, according to hln.be. "I mostly wanted to figure out what the strong points were from Ferrand-Prévot. At a moment when the slightly weaker De Boer was on my wheel, I accelerated." That gave her a decisive gap and she didn't let the others come back to her. "After that it went well to extend my lead," she said.
The lead group consisted of Van den Brand, Ferrand-Prévot, Cant, Stultiens, De Boer and Nikki Harris. The latter dropped out of the running for victory when she had a mechanical problem.
The Dutch team was also successful in the junior ranks (Mathieu van der Poel) and in the beginner's race (Pascal Eenkhoorn ).