Niels Albert and Zdenek Stybar are equal on points heading into the last round of the Superprestige cross series on Sunday in Vorselaar. Whoever finishes ahead of the other is secured the overall title. However, the regulation is not clear what happens if neither rider gets points and they end on a tie. Currently, Stybar is listed as first, even though Albert has won more races.
Albert started the season very strongly, but could end the season empty-handed. No World title repeat, no Belgian Champion, the World Cup surrendered to Stybar and the GvA trophy lost to Sven Nys in the end. Albert has won the most races in the season (16), but may not take out one of the season-long competitions. "Well, so be it," he said to Sportwereld.
"I want to win a big cross just for myself. My form is not as good anymore, but Stybar and Nys also aren't at their best. After the Worlds you start with a different feeling."
Albert is definitely ready for a break. "The season was never as long as this time. We are learning our lesson. I will be riding less races and concentrate more on the top competitions." There is only one more important race to go for Albert. "I see the light at the end of a tunnel," he said. "This week was relaxing. Every day I trained for an hour, but mostly I just rested." He also made plans where to spend his holidays, which gave him peace of mind. "March 1 I will travel to Aruba [island in the Caribbean]."
Albert is playing down the importance to win a series. "The overall in the Superprestige is not the icing of the cake. A final win in the last race will make the cake complete." Albert admitted that breaking his rib at Nationals came at a bad time and may have cost him the World Cup. "But Nys also had lost all chances of victory through a mechanical in Diegem," Albert said. Bad luck and uncertainty at every moment is part of cross racing.
But one thing is clear for Albert, he absolutely wants to go for victory on Sunday, not thinking of merely shadowing Stybar. "I don't expect a competition within the competition. I ride to win, the rest would follow automatically."