Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) heads into this winter’s cyclocross season with the clear objective of retaining the World Cup title that he won last year, according to Sporza. The 25-year-old Belgian champion will start tomorrow’s Vlaamse Industrieprijs Bosduin, in Kalmthout, to the north of Antwerp, Belgium, having had a fifth place and a third place so far. Despite the lack of a victory in the current season though, he is right where he wants to be.
"I’m on track for the coming season,” Albert told Het Laatste Nieuws. “Without the puncture in Erpe-Mere I was heading for the podium, and also in Neerpelt I was up there in the last lap. I can’t complain about my current form.”
The Kalmthout race has lost its place in the World Cup, and has moved back to its previous place in the calendar; having been run in the week before Christmas in the two previous years. The event remains an important one though, in terms of prestige, and although it is not part of either of the season-long series it is one where he feels confident of a result.
“I have good memories of Kalmthout,” he said. “In the under-23s I won my first World Cup race there [in 2007 – Ed], and in my first World Cup race in the professionals I finished second [in 2008 – ed]. I’ve never won there as a professional, but the course in Kalmthout suits me well.”
He may feel good about the race, but Albert is being careful not to peak his form too early with the first big race of the year coming up.
“I’d like to have my first peak of the season in about two weeks for the World Cup race in Plzeň,” he explained, “because, like last year, I want to add the World Cup to my name. I consider the coming races as preparation for Plzeň.
“I’ve already made the mistake of being in shape too early and then paying for it in January,” he added. “Now I want to gradually improve into my best form in time for the end of year races.”
Albert was recently criticised in the Belgian press by former World cyclocross champion – and five-time Paris-Roubaix winner – Roger De Vlaeminck, who accused him of not taking his job as seriously as rivals Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) and Zdenek Stybar (Quick Step).
"I find it strange to hear such words from the mouth of a champion like Roger De Vlaeminck,” Albert told Het Laatste Nieuws. “Apparently there is still a lot of frustration among people of the older generation; as if they don’t want to let us have the success.
“How can the hell does De Vlaeminck know how much Niels lives for his job?"