Less than a week after winning the Jaarmarktcross, Sven Nys proved that he is about to hit peak condition when he defended his win in the cyclo-cross race in Hasselt. The world champion had his usual slow start but recovered well to respond to repeated attacks from his archrival Niels Albert before winning a three-rider sprint against his compatriot and Belgian champion Klaas Vantornout.

Sven Nys proved that he is still the rider to beat in the world of cyclo-cross when he added a win in the race in Hasselt to the one he took last Monday in the Jaarmarktcross. On a fast, technical course, the world champion rode a smart race, letting Niels Albert using up his energy in numerous attacks before beating his closest rivals in a three-rider sprint.

The race boiled down to a battle between the three best cyclo-cross riders at the moment as Nys, Albert and Klaas Vantornout escaped on their own. Corne Van Kessel and Tom Meeusen briefly managed to join them but when the hammer was put down by Albert on the final lap, the Telenet-Fidea duo was left behind by the three dominant Belgian riders.

Albert tried to put his rivals under pressure but had no success in his mission. Unable to repeat his solo win from last week's Superprestige race in Hamme-Zogge, the Belgian had to be content with a decision from a three-rider sprint.

Nys proved his experience when he sprinted ahead to enter the final turn in the first position. His rivals were unable to come around him and so he added took another win in the race he already won last year.

The race was part of the Bpost Bank Trofee series which is determined on overall time instead of points. Going into the race, Nys already led the series beforehand and so todayøs win allowed his to defend his position. Albert remains 2nd while Vantornout is currently in 3rd.

The series will have a lengthy break, with the next race being scheduled for December 21 in Essen. Cyclo-cross racing continues tomorrow with the next round in the Superprestige series in Gavere.

Vantornout makes fast start

There was no surprise at the start as Klaas Vantornout made his usual fast sprint when the green light signaled the start of the race. While the Belgian champion rode led the peloton in the early part of the race, Niels Albert had got his race off to a bad start, with the former world champion riding in 23rd position early in the race.

Vantornout led the peloton all the way around the first lap, with the peloton strung out in a long line behind him. As he passed the line, he looked back to see what damage he has done and found Philip Walsleben, Kevin Pauwels, Marcel Maisen and Bart Aernouts on his wheel. Tom Meeusen, Sven Nys and Albert were riding further back in the main group.

Vantornout picks up bonus seconds

On the second lap, Martin Bina took the initiative but he was passed by Vantornout when they reached the site of the Belgian sprint. The Belgian champion took the maximum bonus seconds (for the overall standings in the Bpost series) ahead of Walsleben and Bina.

Vantornout, Walsleben and Bina had briefly opened up a gap but things came back together a few moments later. Walsleben had back luck when he stumbled and fell back into the middle of the strung-out peloton.

Albert makes his first acceleration

Albert had recovered from his bad start and had now positioned himself on Vantonout's wheel. He stayed there for a little while before launching his first acceleration. Vantonout was well-placed on his wheel while Nys was still riding far back in the splintering peloton.

The world champion realized the danger posed by Albert's acceleration which had created a front trio consisting of Vantornout, Wietse Bosmans and the BKCP Powerplus rider. He moved to the front of the peloton and started to close the gap to the leader with Bart Aernouts, Tom Meeusen and Pauwels on his wheel.

Nys bridges the gap

Bosmans fell off the pace and was joined by Nys who had dropped his companions. When Albert saw that Nys was approaching, he turned on the screws again and put Vantonout severely under pressure.

However, it was not enough to prevent Nys from joining the front and Albert slowed down a bit. Instead, Vantornout hit the front but when the Belgian champion and Albert changed bikes in the pits, Nys made it his first acceleration.

More riders join from behind

The world champion had no luck and so the front trio came back together. Bosmans, Aernouts and Pauwels joined from behind while Meeusen, Corne Van Kessel and Walsleben were not far behind.

Albert made another acceleration and once again only Nys and Vantornout could keep up with their speedy compatriot. Meanwhile, Bart Wellens who was riding his first race after recovering from an injury, joined the chase group.

Albert slows down

Albert asked for some help and Nys reluctantly went to the front. Behind, Bosmans had separated himself from the chase group and was now in lone pursuit of the leaders.

Albert needed a hard race and went back to the front while Bosmans was still dangling a few metres behind the front trio. Aernouts led the chase group that also contained Meeusen, Van Kessel, Wellens and Pauwels. Walsleben and Thijs van Amerongen were leading the next group.

Van Kessel off in lone pursuit

Bosmans never made the junction and instead he fell back to the chase group. Meanwhile, Albert was still doing all the work in the front group, making repeated accelerations as he tried to put his rivals under pressure.

His hard work didn't pay dividends and as they entered the finishing straight to start the penultimate lap, the front trio looked at each other. Nys hit the front while Van Kessel had opened up a big gap on the chase group which had been joined by van Amerongen.

A front quartet is formed

Nys was clearly not going full gas and this allowed Van Kessel to bridge the gap. Halfway through the penultimate lap, a front quartet had formed while Aernouts was doing most of the work in the chase group. Nys led all the way around the circuit but failed to get rid of any of his rivals.

When they passed the line to start the final lap, Vantornout decided that it was time to try his hand. As he had little success, he left the initiative to Van Kessel while Meeusen had escaped from the chase group and was not far behind the leaders.

Albert makes his last attempt

The Telenet-Fidea rider made the junction just as Albert made his final bid for success. Nys and Vantornout were, however, quick to respond while Van Kessel and Meeusen both lost contacts.

Albert failed to get rid of his rivals and so the race was to be decided in a three-rider sprint. As he often does, Nys accelerated to enter the final corner in first position and that proved to be the right decision. No one was able to come around the world champion who took the win ahead of Albert and Vantornout. Meeusen was 4th, 11 seconds later, while Van Kessel held off Aernouts to take 5th. Wellens had a good comeback to take 6th ahead of Bosmans and Van Amerongen.

Result:

1. Sven Nys 59.52

2. Niels Albert

3. Klaas Vantornout

4. Tom Meeusen +0.11

5. Corne Van Kessel +0.21

6. Bart Aernouts +0.25

7. Bart Wellens +0.29

8. Wietse Bosmans +0.31

9. Thijs van Amerongen

10. Jim Aernouts +0.43