Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) seems to be in shape in time for tomorrow's World Cup at the Namur Citadel. There he will aim to repeat his success from last year. His victories in the fourth round of the Bpost Bank Trophy in Essen probably gave him the right motivation for this.
The race started quickly. After two rounds everything initially looked like a one-man show by reigning world champion Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL). On the softened course, he managed to break away from the pursuers around Pauwels, Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) and Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-QuickStep). But just one lap later, Nys lost his comfortable lead. When trying to jump over the barriers, he fell. [Link] Pauwels used this situation to take the lead.
While Nys initially fell behind, Thijs van Amerongen (AA Drink-Leontien.nl) and Rob Peeters (Telenet-Fidea) positioned themselves behind Pauwels. Albert, the German champion Philipp Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus), Stybar and Nys followed at a little distance. However, he recovered in the further course of the race and started to pursue again in the final lap. With success. Because although Nys could no longer challenge the outstanding driving Pauwels for victory, he was able to celebrate second place in the end. Albert followed in third place.
"Without Nys' fall I probably wouldn't have won today", Pauwels commented on his victory. Nys was less pleased: "It hurts, I don't know yet if I can start in Namur tomorrow."
In the women won Sanne Cant (Enertherm-BKCP) ahead of Helen Wyman (Kona) and Nikki Harris (Young Telenet-Fidea).
//Result men
1. Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games)
2. Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL)
3. Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus)
//Result women
1. Sanne Cant (Enertherm-BKCP)
2. Helen Wyman (Kona)
3. Nikki Harris (Young Telenet - Fidea)