Sven Vanthourenhout has had a bad cross year so far and he is pulling the emergency brake. He will spend two weeks in Mallorca for some rest. In the mean time, the Belgians announced the line-up for the World Cup cross in Nommay, France, this weekend.
Vanthourenhout has had a rough two years, with many injuries. This year didn't start much better and after a few mediocre races he had to quit in the World Cup in Plzeň."My first thought was: I'll hang up my bike. Physically and mentally I was a wreck. Fortunately, my brain won," he said to Het Laatste Nieuws.
Vanthourenhout chose another option, a test with friend Paul Van den Bosch, who also coaches Sven Nys. "The results were surprising. I obviously trained to much and with not enough rest. After I had top races the last couple of years, I wanted to play a prominent role again."
The time in Mallorca should give him the rest he needs. He is expected to return to racing on November 22, in Hamme-Zogge.
That leaves the Belgian squad with nine instead of ten riders, as Vanthourenhout will not be replaced. Niels Albert, Sven Nys, Klaas Vantornout, Kevin Pauwels, Erwin Vervecken, Bart Aernouts, Dieter Vanthourenhout, Jan Verstraeten and Rob Peeters are the nominated riders for the World Cup in France.
Women in-fighting
The women's team is smaller, with Sanne Cant, Joyce Vanderbeken, Nancy Bober, Katrien Thys and Kim Van Renterghem. But that's not the only problem, as Cant and Vanderbeken are at odds with each other. "Sanne didn't want to work in the chase of the two French women [in the European Championships -ed]," Vanderbeken said to Het Laatste Nieuws. "So I tried everything to get rid of her and I succeeded."
Supposedly Cant's mother even got into a tangle with Vanderbeken. Cant herself hopes the team can get it together for Sunday. "We probably never will become good friends, but it would be nice if we could congratulate each other after a race."