The last round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup presented by Safety Jogger has been won by Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) and Daphny Van den Brand (the Netherlands).
Both riders succeeded in keeping the respective World Champions at bay during this season’s last World Cup race in Milan, Italy. Nys beat Lars Boom, (the Netherlands) while van den Brand led Hanka Kupfernagel (Germany). Nys and Kupfernagel had already secured the overall win during last week’s round in Roubaix, France.
Nys excels in all-deciding last lap
One week before the World Championships, Belgium’s Sven Nys (photo) boosted his confidence when he surprisingly out sprinted defending World Champion Lars Boom. Earlier in the race, several Belgians had moved to the front without creating any significant gaps. At the half-way stage, about 12 riders were still in contention for the victory.
Belgian rider Sven Vanthourenhout (Sunweb Pro Job Cycling Team) led the leading group for a while but was also unable to break away. The twelve riders were still together going into the last lap and it was at this moment that Boom attacked. The Dutchman powered away on the home straight and had a gap when entering the meadow. However, Nys brought everybody back onto Boom’s wheel and then managed to get ahead after a small mistake from Boom. The latter made up for his error and overtook Nys again when going into the final corners. Despite being in the ideal leading position Boom was unable to convert this into the win: Nys overtook the Dutchman to sign his third World Cup race victory this season. Czech Champion Zdenek Stybar (Fidea Cycling Team) finished third.
Van den Brand outsprints Kupfernagel
Daphny Van den Brand captured her second World Cup win of the season with a strong performance in Milan. The Dutch Champion showed initiative right from the start. At first she was accompanied by World Champion Hanka Kupfernagel and two French women, Maryline Salvetat and Christel Ferrier-Bruneau. Ferrier-Bruneau quickly dropped off the pace, and at the halfway point, Salvetat was the next victim as Van den Brand continued to apply pressure on the fast but technical course.
The race for victory was down to Kupfernagel and Van den Brand, and during the last lap Van den Brand managed to create a little gap before entering the home straight. It proved to be enough to take the victory. Salvetat finished third ahead of her compatriot Ferrier-Bruneau.