Niels Albert won the Azencross in Loenhout today. Zdenek was second and is now 12 points behind Kevin Pauwels in the GVA Trophy standings. Pauwels crashed and finished back in sixth.

The best start went to a somewhat surprising Lars Boom, who started from the third row. Zdenek clung to the Dutch champion’s wheel and the duo was out in front of the rest of the pack. But a number of riders caught them after Styby won the intermediate sprint at the end of the second lap.

Zdenek then made a mistake in a muddy section of the course and lost his rhythm. Albert and Boom then took off on their own as Nys also fell back after a crash. Styby caught up to ‘the Cannibal’ and they went in search of the two leaders together.

Nys and Zdenek were later joined by Rob Peeters and his teammate Bart Wellens, but they weren’t able to get any closer than 12 seconds to the leader, not even after Boom fell back. The Rabobank rider would eventually finish back in ninth.

As the riders went into the last lap, it was clear that they’d be fighting for second. The Telenet-Fidea duo ran out of steam and our world champion would go into the final straightaway with Nys. Styby was the fastest and finished in second place.

“It was another tough race,” he said after the finish. “I’m pleased with how it went. I had a bit of a tough time after my slip in the third lap. But in any case, I’m much better than I was two weeks ago. However I’m still waiting for that great feeling.”

Styby’s next race is tomorrow in Bredene.

Photo Š Cyclephotos.co.uk




By on 28/12/2011