Sven Nys takes lead from Zdenek Stybar in Superprestige
Saturday’s Superprestige Hamme-Zogge, the third round of the Belgian cyclo-cross series, was Zdenek Stybar’s biggest loss of the season and Sven Nys’ confirmation that he is as good as he’s ever been.
Nys won the muddy race for the fourth time and managed to relegate Stybar to second place in the Superprestige series so far.
"That is a really nice feeling, on a parcours that didn't really suit me all that well," said Nys to
Sporza. "I was searching for my own pace, quietly building up my race. I was over my limit really only in the last lap, first when Klaas attacked and then during my own attack."
Nys saved his energy for the finale, when he needed it to hold back runner-up Klaas Vantornout who finished four seconds behind, representing the Sunweb-Revor team managed by race organiser Jurgen Mettepenningen.
"That feels good, of course," said Vantornout. "It is a very important race for our squad. After the running section I was clipped in again very quickly. But [Nys] proved today that he is in top condition."
Niels Albert finished in third, 40 seconds behind Nys. Albert was one of the highest-winning riders in cyclo-cross last year, but so far this season he hasn’t taken a single victory, consistently finishing
on the wheels of either Nys or Stybar.
"Sven deservedly won," said Albert. "At the moment he has a lot of power. I always want to win when I am at the start. But I am happy now that I had a podium finish and hope that I can get a better place
from here."
Stybar finished Saturday’s race in sixth with three of his Telenet-Fidea teammates in a group occupying the four spots just behind the three podium finishers. Just days before the race, Stybar injured
himself in his Mallorca training camp.
"In the running sections I felt a lot of pain in my knee. Every step off the bike was really one too many. In short, I am happy with the result. Now I need to recuperate well in the coming week."
Nys had begun the season off-form but has since made up for it, taking three races in the last two weeks and ending Stybar’s winning streak at the Koppenbergcross.
"I am in very good form right now and that boosts my confidence. I am not looking at the overall classifications, I am just looking at things race by race."
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