Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) won the opener in the Superprestige cyclo-cross series yesterday, beating Bart Aernouts (Rabobank-Giant Off-Road) and Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Revor) to the line in Ruddervoorde, Belgium. Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) struggled with problems with his chain and finished fourth, 36 seconds in arrears.
Nys wasn’t the only rider with problems in the early-season race, as even Albert struggled before getting things together. “My pedals were still set quite tight from Saturday's race where we didn't have to get off the bikes as much,” the Belgian said at the finish. “It was my own mistake and it took a lot of time before it was re-adjusted. First I had to inform the mechanics and then wait one more lap to get a good bike. I was really mad at myself.”
After recomposing himself, Albert remained patient while pursuing early leaders Steve Chainel (FdJ) and Zdenek Stybar (Quick Step). After Stybar suffered a mechanical, Aernouts took the lead with Albert close behind. Albert eventually caught and wore down Aernouts, leading the last lap alone and crossing the line six seconds ahead.
“I’m satisfied that I can take my first victory in a race with all the big guns," Albert enthused. “I knew I was doing well, but winning means that I'm on the right track even though I'm not in super form yet. That's for next week.”
Meanwhile, the world champion Stybar was happy with his sixth place. “I think I put in a good race, considering the shape I’m actually in,” he admitted, referring to his recent injury. “I knew I wasn’t going to be competitive for victory right away. I got off to a good start but then lap after lap I couldn’t find my cyclo-cross rhythm. It’s normal if you consider the very little training I was able to do this last week.
“However my knee didn’t give me any problems and this is the positive note for the day. Now I’m going to work day by day to build up my season with the objective of arriving in the best possible condition for the two World Cup cross races in my home-country, the Czech Republic, in Plzen and then in Tabor.”
The next race on the Superprestige calendar comes on October 30, in Zonhoven, Belgium.