Bart Wellens cleared to ride on Sunday
Sven Nys is getting ready for the Belgian cyclocross championships this weekend. Like many of the top racers, he used Wednesday to scout out the parcours in Antwerpen. Nys has already won the national title seven times, but he still wants to add an eighth victory. He will have to fight one of his big rivals, Bart Wellens, whose status changed from questionable to certainly at the start.
Nys has done well in races in the second part of the season, after a lackluster start. “I am mentally and physically ready,” he told Sporza. The defending champion is certain that he has more than just Niels Albert to worry about. “The way the parcours is there are also Kevin Pauwels and Tom Meeusen who can win. Four to five racers have a chance on Sunday.”
Nys explained that the easy course leaves the race wide open. “It is really hard to make a difference here, to ride someone off the wheel. I am expecting an exciting last lap.”
The less rivals in the end the better for Nys, but he fears there could be as many as four riders in the finale. “I wouldn’t like it that way. It is better to go with two into the final lap, that way you have more control over the situation. In the other case there is a lot of pushing and there will be three disappointed racers, since only one can win.”
Nys is drawing a lot of confidence from checking out the parcours. “My Christmas period was good and I was fresh in training, an ideal preparation.” Nys has the chance to win his eighth national title. But he could also face losing the driekleur, the black, red and yellow jersey, for the first time in four years. “For me it is no big deal, since I am wearing it all the time. But for the spectators it would be a bit odd to see me without the driekleur.”
Nys knows that the pressure is on him. “Of course I would like to keep the jersey, but sooner or later the day will come when it won’t work out. I am already happy that I have been wearing it seven times.”
Wellens cleared to ride
Bart Wellens was questionable for the event on Sunday, but has now been cleared to ride. Wellens crashed last weekend and hurt his knee.
This trouble seems to be over now. “I don’t have any problems with my knee anymore,” he told Sporza. “I scouted the parcours for the Nationals and there was no problem.”
Wellens sees other trouble come up, though – the circuit. “It is not good for me. If Philippe Gilbert is signed in, he would be my big favorite.” Wellens was referring to the easy course without many difficulties. He sees only one chance. “There is a lot of rain forecast. Hopefully this will make it tougher.”