Nys, Van den Brand score wins at Kalmthout World Cup

Cyclocross veterans Sven Nys and Daphny Van den Brand scored wins a rough and snowy pre-Christmas UCI World Cup race in Kalmthout, Belgium, on Sunday.

Van den Brand finished four seconds ahead of reigning world champion Marianne Vos, and a full 35 seconds in front of U.S. champion Katie Compton, on a difficult and snow-covered course in the small town of Kalmthout on the Northern border of Belgium.

The sixth round of the World Cup was held in cold conditions, with gusting winds, snow and high humidity adding to the difficulty of a course on which riders were often forced to run.

Nys came back from a late-race flat tire to beat Czech rider Zdenek Stybar by three seconds and reigning world champion Niels Albert by four.

Nys’s win is his first World Cup win of the season, The rider of the Crédit Agricole is the first victory of this World Cup season and the 28th of his career.

Nys said his frustrating World Cup campaign this year gave him extra motivation on Sunday.

“I came in intending to attack,” Nys said. “The others, of course, weren’t willing to let me go and at one point I just frustrated – angry even – and decided to take some risks.”

Nys found his rhythm on the course, but suffered a flat and dropped chain at one point.

“This was not an easy day,” said Nys. “I almost lost this race twice; with the flat and my chain falling off … I’m happy, though, it all worked out.”

FILED UNDER: Cyclocross / News / Race Report TAGS: Cyclocross / Katie Compton / Sven Nys / UCI cyclocross world cup / World Cup-Kalmthout