Sven Nys takes back the jersey that belongs to him
After his domination of his own GP on New Year’s Day, it was no surprise that Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) took his eighth Belgian national title; seizing the driekleur jersey back from Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus), who has been keeping it warm for him for the last year. Waking up on the morning of the race with severe pain in his back, and having to receive treatment from a local doctor, Nys rode the race in pain but still managed to put on another display reminiscent of his peak years.
Rob Peeters (Telenet-Fidea) and Albert were the fastest starters, with Nys back in midfield, but it wasn’t long before the Kannibaal had made his way to the front. He rode with Albert for a little more than a lap before his superior technique on the muddy surface began to tell. By the end of lap three Nys was ten seconds ahead of Albert, which had opened to almost a minute by the time he took an emotional victory.
Peeters held on to finish third, less than 20 seconds behind Albert, taking his first ever national championship medal.
Belgian national championships
1. Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet
2. Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus
3. Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet-Fidea
4. Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Landbouwkrediet
5. Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet-Fidea
Zdenek Stybar makes it five in a row
Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) took a predictable fifth straight Czech title, finishing well clear of Radomir Simunek (BKCP-Powerplus) his only real challenger in the race.
"I'm really happy to have won in front of my public," said Stybar. "Returning home is always something special for me."
The two-time World champion made his first move on lap one, but was joined by Simunek on lap two; he managed to escape the BKCP-Powerplus rider towards the middle of the hour-long race and managed to open up a lead of 1’35” by the time he reached the finish line; Karel Hnik (Sunweb-Revor) hung on to take third.
"In the beginning the pace was not hard because the conditions of the track weren't so bad," said Stybar. "I decided to make my move in a muddy section and I went alone.
"Now after the national title I will start thinking about the World championship," he added. "I have two more races before the Worlds in which I can set up my condition. We will see in the next days how the situation will evolve."
Czech national championships
1. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
2. Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus
3. Karel Hnik (Cze) Sunweb-Revor
4. Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze)
5. Petr Dlask (Cze) Ruben Birell Specialized
Lars Boom ends his limited season with another Dutch driekleur
Despite riding a limited cyclocross programme this season, and finding himself off the pace of the top Belgians, Lars Boom (Rabobank) remains the class of the Netherlands field and took a sixth straight national title with relative ease. The 26-year-old made his move on the very first lap, briefly taking Rabobank-Giant teammate Niels Wubben with him, but was soon all alone and heading for victory.
Wubben was in the silver medal position for some time, until he was caught and passed by Thijs van Amerongen (AA Drink-Leontien.nl), but held on to take bronze.
With his brief cyclocross cameo now over, Boom now returns to his road career, with victory in April’s Paris-Roubaix the big target in his sights.
Dutch national championships
1. Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank
2. Thijs van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
3. Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team
4. Twan van den Brand (Ned) Orange Babies
5. Thijs Al (Ned) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
Ian Field calls upon Belgian class to take first British title
Two-time under-23 silver medallist Ian Field (Hargroves Cycles) finally took a place on the podium of the senior championships, making to the top step. The 25-year-old, who is the only male British rider to be based in Belgium for the entire season, beat national cross country mountainbike champion Liam Killeen (Giant) in a dramatic finish that saw Killeen come down after they touched wheels on the final off-camber corner.
Field managed to stay upright and sprinted away to take victory by three seconds, with his Hargroves teammate Jody Crawforth taking the bronze 17 seconds back.
Great Britain national championships
1. Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles
2. Liam Killeen (GBr) Giant Factory Racing
3. Jody Crawforth (GBr) Hargroves Cycles
4. Paul Oldham (GBr) Hope Factory Racing
5. David Fletcher (GBr) Boardman Elite
Aurélien Duval confounds the favourites to take French race
With all the pre-race prediction being for a battle between reigning champion Francis Mourey (FDJ-BigMat) and Giro d’Italia fourth place John Gadret (AG2R La Mondiale), Aurélien Duval (Club Champagne Charlott') confounded the favourites with a close victory of his own.
Mourey, who claimed to be less than 100% after the race, was outsprinted for second place by FDJ-BigMat teammate Steve Chainel just three seconds behind Duval, while Gadret slumped to eighth place.
French national championships
1. Aurélien Duval (Fra) Club Champagne Charlott'
2. Steve Chainel (Fra) FDJ-BigMat
3. Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ-BigMat
4. Clément Bourgoin (Fra) Charvieu Chavagneux
5. Matthieu Boulo (Fra) Roubaix-Lille Metropole