Zdenek Stybar survived a strong final attempt by Kevin Pauwels to win the second round of the Superprestige series in Zonhoven, Belgium. Pauwels came home less than five seconds after Stybar, who had held a 17-second gap with a lap and a half to go. Sven Nys couldn't follow Pauwels's acceleration and finished third. Bart Aernouts and Niels Albert in fourth and fifth missed out on the podium.
The race in Zonhoven was indeed held under sunny conditions, but it could have easily be named Sandhoven. Several sand traps made the course very tough, despite the dry conditions. The toughest sections came back to back early in the lap that took riders around six minutes to complete. A downhill sand trap was followed by some stairs, another downhill sand trap and then an uphill sand section. Running uphill on the sand carrying a bike is a tough thing to do, especially in a ten-lap race.
Stybar has now won eight of his nine races for the season, missing out only on the Radomir Simunek memorial cross. "I am happy that I was able to score eight of nine," he told Sporza after the race. "It was very tough today." Stybar was referring to the deep sand sections as well as to the last lap, when Pauwels was closing in. But he admitted that when his gap had grown, he wasn't going all out anymore. "I wanted to hold something back for tomorrow." That may spell bad news for all those who hope to beat Stybar in the Koppenbergcross.
Stybar came close to catastrophy in the last lap, when two spectators were busy waving into the TV camera, oblivious to Stybar approaching close to the barrier. Stybar touched the spectators arm, but fortunately stayed upright. "I lost my concentration and speed for a moment, but luckily I still won. The people have to be a bit more careful."
Third-placed Nys was happy with his race. "Today I had the feeling I could win. "That I didn't is maybe a bit my fault." Nys had tried an attack halfway through that didn't work. He was later at the back of the group when Stybar went. "One time I was a bit too far back and Stybar perfectly profited from it. The Czech learned that from me," Nys said.
Nys is on the rise after a bad start to the season. "I felt power in my legs and that makes me happy. I didn't win but I don't think it will stay that way for long. Hopefully already tomorrow in the Koppenbergcross."
Albert was disappointed to miss the podium. "I wasn't going well today, it's that simple. It is a pity I missed the podium but I just never got into my rhythm."
Klaas Vantornout was off even worse, having to abandon the race. He hopes for a turnaround tomorrow. "Zonhoven and the Koppenbergcross suit me very well. I hope to have a good night's rest and then we'll see what happens."
Stybar and Nys had the best start, with Pauwels and Aernouts close by. Jonathan Page was also in a good position. With the first downhill sand trap, four riders separated themselves: Stybar, Nys, Pauwels and Aernouts. Niels Albert was 10 seconds down after one lap. Albert and Wellens were chasing hard behind, sometimes getting closer, sometimes dropping back again.
In the third lap, Nys took over from Stybar. Stybar and Aernouts had to change bikes going into lap four, leaving them a few meters behind. But by the end of the lap the four front runners were back together, with Wellens and Albert still some five seconds behind. The next group - Dieter Vanthourenhout and Philipp Walsleben and Rob Peters - was already 38 seconds down.
In lap five, Nys put in a strong attack, dropping Aernouts and putting Stybar and Pauwels momentarily in trouble. But the three stayed together, chased by Aernouts, Wellens and Albert. In lap seven, the two trios merged, with a momentary lull in the pace.
Albert was the first to make a move in lap eight. Stybar quickly countered and put a small gap between himself and the rest of the group. Wellens was dropped and Nys was also gapped a few meters. With two laps to go, Stybar had six seconds on Albert and Pauwels. Nys and Aernouts were eight seconds back.
Stybar extended his lead to 17 seconds mid-way through lap nine. But an acceleration by Nys put Albert behind and cut the lead to Stybar. Going into the last lap, the Czech rider had 12 seconds on Nys, Aernouts and Wellens. Albert was 23 seconds back.
Stybar defended well against the late surge of Pauwels, who in turn dropped Nys.
The women's race was won by Daphne van den Brand, ahead of Helen Wyman and Sanne van Paassen.
Results SP Zonhoven
1. Zdenek Stybar
2. Kevin Pauwels
3. Sven Nys
4. Bart Aernouts
5. Niels Albert
6. Bart Wellens
7. Tom Meeusen
8. Philipp Walsleben
9. Rob Peters
10 Enrico Franzoi
Superprestige standings after two rounds
1. Zdenek Stybar 30
2. Bart Aernouts 26
3. Sven Nys 26
4. Kevin Pauwels 22
5. Bart Wellens 21
6. Niels Albert 20
7. Tom Meeusen 15
8. Philipp Walsleben 12