• Cyclocross

Nys wins another Superprestige; Trebon cracks top-ten

by VeloNews.com

• December 10, 2006
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Nys looks to be on track to win the Superprestige, the World Cup, the Belgian national title and World’s. What …

Photo: Agence France Presse (file photo)

If there was any doubt that Sven Nys is on a seemingly endless roll this season, the Belgian ‘cross phenom’ put it to rest as he scored his fifth successive win cyclo-cross’s Superprestige series, taking Round 5 at Hamme-Zogge, Belgium, on Sunday.

Nys further solidified his already formidable series lead over fellow Belgian Bart Wellens, who again finished second on Sunday. For North American ‘cross fans, the big news came in the form of a top-ten finish by Kona’s Ryan Trebon, who came across the line some four minutes back from the hard-charging Nys.

Nys, who lost to Wellens in the World Cup event in Milan on Friday, overcame a nearly disastrous start Sunday to power ahead of the field and solo into the finish line nearly a minute ahead of a shattered field. The feat was doubly impressive as Nys has been battling illness for the past few days.

“I spent the whole day in bed yesterday,” Nys said. “I’ve been feeling really bad this week and it all finally caught up with me yesterday. I honestly had no idea how I was going to do here today. I came here to win, but I didn’t know if I could actually do it.”

But illness wasn’t the main obstacle for Superprestige leader on Sunday. Based on his series points standings, Nys lined up in the front of the field, but popped out of his pedal on his first stroke.

Nys suddenly found himself with a big job, as he hit the first major turn in the 30th spot, nearly race-ending in a discipline where a fast start is amost always decisive.

“I had the same problem in Koksijde and thought we had solved it,” he said. “I guess not, but I didn’t panic.”

With Nys seemingly out of the picture, Wellens sensed an opportunity and charged off of the front of the main field with a surprisingly strong Jan Soetens on his wheel. After eight minutes, the two finished the first lap with a slight lead over an elite chase group of eight: American Trebon, Dutchman Gerben De Knegt, world champion Erwin Vervecken and a cadre of his fellow Belgians Sven Vanthourenhout, Guy Vantornout, Davy Commeyne, Tom Vannoppen and – who else? – Nys.

But Nys was not content to stay with the chase group and went off on his own in pursuit of the two leaders. Nys soon joined up with the two men at the front and the pace proved too much for Soetens. Wellens – who has also been suffering from a mid-season cold – also faded back at the half-way point and Nys went on to win with a comfortable 53-second margin.

For Trebon, the top-ten finish marks a highlight of his European campaign this season. Most recently, he finished 22nd at the World Cup in Milan.

A strong performance at a Superprestige event is a good indicator of form, since that series doesn’t cap participation based on nationality, meaning that those races include a much larger contingent of Belgian riders, who have dominated the discipline for decades. To underscore that point, there were seven Belgians among the top-10 on Sunday.

Results
1. Sven Nijs (B)
2. Bart Wellens (B), at 0:53
3. Erwin Vervecken (B), at 1:37
4. Klaas Vantornout (B), at 1:40
5. Sven Vanthourenhout (B), at 1:42
6. Gerben De Knegt (Nl), at 2:22
7. Jan Soetens (B), at 3:04
8. Maxime Lefebvre (F), at 3:40
9. Davy Commeyne (B), at 4:00
10. Ryan Trebon (USA), at 4:18