24-year-old Belgian Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) celebrated his biggest career success to date at the prestigious Koppenbergcross, the second race of the Bpost Bank Trophy. The race, which world champion Sven Nys (Crelan KDL) describes as one of the most important on the cyclocross calendar, was largely characterized by tactical gimmicks by the favorites.
While the British champion Ian Field was able to break away from the field in the first lap, the favorites around Nys, Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) and the German champion Philipp Walsleben (BKCP Powerplus) kept their feet still. Only on the third lap did Walsleben pick up the pace. Nys followed on his rear wheel, followed by the other favorites. In the end, eight drivers emerged who were ultimately to decide the race among themselves. Meeusen drove the smartest, waiting until just before the end to launch his attack. However, this one sat. While Nys made a driving mistake and Walsleben had to pay tribute to his efforts, Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) and Vantornout only made it to the places in the sprint.
The women's race was more clearly structured. In the end, the reigning European champion Helen Wyman (Kona) won ahead of Sanne Cant (Enertherm – BKCP) and Nikki Harris (VZW Young Telenet Fidea).
//Result men
1. Tom Meeusen (Telenet Fidea) 0:59:06
2. Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb Napoleon Games) 0:00:02
3. Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) 0:00:05
4. Philipp Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus) 0:00:09
5. Sven Nys (Crelan KDL) 0:00:10
//Result women
1. Helen Wyman (Kona) 0:34:24
2. Sanne Cant (Enertherm – BKCP) 0:00:08
3. Nikki Harris (VZW Young Telenet Fidea) 0:00:18
4. Sophie De Boer (VZW Young Telenet) 0:00:58
5. Ellen Van Loy (DNCS/PRO 2012) 0:01:20