Sven Nys took the win in the fourth cyclocross round of the Gazet van Antwerp Trofee in Essen, Belgium, for the sixth time in his career. Nys profited from the bad luck of Niels Albert, who had an untimely flat tire and was fifth in the end, 42 seconds back.
Nys, ever the fair sportsman, acknowledged that Albert deserved to be the winner. "I honestly have to say that Niels was better. He was really strong in the final laps and was gone for the victory. But bad luck with your material is part of racing. I already had my fair share this season. For Niels, it is frustrating," Nys said to Sporza after the race.
With his own racing, Nys was quite content. "I measured myself well and concentrated more on Kevin Pauwels than Albert. I did a real good job and came closer again in the overall standings." Nys is now second, ten points behind series leader Kevin Pauwels.
Albert on the other hand is gone from the contenders. "I put everything on today, as my chance was still there for the GvA ranking," Albert said. "With a win, I could have closed the gap to the top. But that gap is now unbridgeable." Albert is over 30 points back.
Albert was 20 meters pas the material area when disaster struck. "I had a leak in the front wheel. I was riding through a very deep section and must have touched something, since I sat on my rim quickly.
"It is a pity, as I came back from the training camp with a good feeling. Today I surely could have won."
Second-placed Klaas Vantornout rode a conservative race. "I mostly thought about tomorrow [race in Overijse -ed.], since I didn't have anything to defend in Essen." His laid-back approach was his advantage in the end. "In the final lap I felt as strong as in the beginning, and the others were a little less [strong]."
He battled hard with Nys, eventually finishing five seconds behind. "The strongest won," Vantornout said. "In the end he was a tad stronger and it wasn't a real sprint anymore."
Pauwels was third and took over the overall lead, taking advantage from previous series leader, Zdenek Stybar's, absence. The Czech rider has to sit out until the end of the year with his knee problems. "I am content but I felt less strong than the other two," Pauwels said to Sporza after the race. "I started well but in the end I just hung on. I did not think about winning. My ten-point lead over Nys is not enough for final overall victory."
Four races are left in the eight-round competition. The next GvA race is in Loenhout on December 29.
Results GvA Essen
1. Sven Nys in 1h00'21"
2. Klaas Vantornout at 5"
3. Kevin Pauwels 8"
4. Bart Wellens 28"
5. Niels Albert 42"
Series standings after round 5
1 (2) Kevin Pauwels Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 87 points
2 (3) Sven Nys Landbouwkrediet 77
3 (1) Zdenek Stybar Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 70
4 (4) Bart Wellens Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 65
5 (6) Klaas Vantornout Sunweb Revor 62