Belgian champion sees ten point deficit to Kevin Pauwels as not insurmountable
Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) has his tenth Superprestige competition all but sewn up after Monday’s floodlit race in Diegem, Belgium. With his entirely unprecedented tenth title under his belt, Nys is now turning his attention to one of the other season-long race series: the Gazet van Antwerpen (GvA) Trofee.
He currently trails Kevin Pauwels (Telenet-Fidea) in the standings by ten points but with 25 points for a victory, and bonus points available for intermediate sprints, Nys feels that the classification is not out of his reach.
The Belgian champion has targeted Wednesday’s Azencross in Loenhout, as well as his own GP Sven Nys in Baal, to try to overhaul Pauwels and set himself on course to increase his own personal record of seven GvA victories.
“I have to try and use the Azencross to reduce the deficit, with the bonus sprint as well as the result,” Nys told Sporza. Then on Saturday I can take the lead in front of my own people; that would be nice.”
Nys failed to finish the series’ first round in Namur, on a rare off day, which put him a long way behind Pauwels, who finished third. The two have since exchanged wins in the other three rounds; Nys taking the Koppenbergcross in Oudenaarde and the GP Rouwmoer in Essen, with Pauwels winning the GP van Hasselt in between.
Nys not only leads Pauwels by two victories to one in the series though, but he also holds the upper hand over his younger rival in terms of recent results. Nys is regarded as one of the best riders on snow and, other than a disappointing 12th place in the Scheldecross on December 18th, has consistently been at the front of every race this month.
The Belgian champion also goes into the next races with the experience of having won the Azencross five times and his own GP nine times.
“We are going into four crosses that Nys likes,” Pauwels said to Sporza. “I shouldn’t fool myself too much, those ten points do not count for too much.”