Belgian Champion Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) took a historical 50th career Superprestige victory today’s in Gieten. Northern Holland’s muddy fields created a difficult race that saw a strong Kevin Pauwels (Telenet-Fidea) claim second after passing a fading Niels Albert (BKCP-powerplus) who had dig deep to hold on to third.
"I immediately knew I was well recovered from yesterday’s Koksijde so I went on the offensive,” said a delighted Nys to hln.be “For a second I thought that Niels Albert would join me at the front but he quickly got dropped.”
A crash by Gerben de Knegt (Rabobank) in the beginning of the race helped Nys distance himself from the field. Only a visibly tired Albert could chase, using every ounce of muscle to claw back to his rival’s wheel only to be popped off by a final acceleration. Albert kept Nys in his sight but the elastic snapped with four laps to go, when the nine-time series winner said adieu and soloed to his fifth win of the season.
In Nys’ muddy tracks the race for second was on. Pauwels was breathing down the young World Champion Albert’s neck, cutting into his margin each lap, eventually catching and passing him with two laps remaining. Behind Albert was Czech Zdenek Stybar, who was still enjoying the champagne taste in his mouth following his third consecutive win in yesterday’s World Cup in Koksijde. Bart Aernouts (Rabobank) led home the main of chasers, escaping their grasp in the final meters. American Jonathan Page had a solid ride to finish a respectable fifteenth.
With today’s win, Nys takes over the lead in the Superprestige standings and will be looking to defend his position next Sunday in Belgium’s Diegem for round six.
1. Sven Nys (Bel/Landbouwkrediet)
2. Kevin Pauwels (Bel/Fidea)
3. Niels Albert (Bel/BKCP)
4. Zdenek Stybar (Cze/Fidea)
5. Bart Aernouts (Bel/Rabobank)
6. Klaas Vantornout (Bel/Sunweb-Projob)
7. Philipp Walsleben (Ger/BKCP)
8. Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel/Sunweb-Projob)
9. Francis Mourey (Fra/Française des Jeux)
10. Enrico Franzoi (Ita/Liquigas)