Compton and van der Haar Celebrate at Zolder World Cup

Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Collective) has taken her second World Cup win this week at Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, and continues to increase her lead in the overall standings. More importantly, she continues to ride strong against Marianne Vos (Rabobank-Liv/Giant) in her build up towards the World Championships where the to will face off for the muddy rainbow jersey.

After another slow start that saw her drop out of the top 10, the US Champion began to calmly make her way to the front. Meanwhile, Vos and Sanne Cant (Enertherm-BKCP) began to pull away from the field, building up a 17 second lead. Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (BH-SR Suntour-KMC) tried to stay with the leaders, but soon found herself fading due to the fast pace. By the end of the first lap, Compton was about to catch Chainel-Lefevre, with Nikki Harris (Young-Telenet Fidea) led a charging group of riders another 15 seconds back.

During the second lap, Compton continued to calmly push her pace and worked to bridge the gap to the leaders. By the halfway point, the leading duo were caught, and it was the American’s race to win. After a brief rest, Compton jumped Vos and Cant, neither of which were able to respond immediately. The World Champion was able to bridge back to Compton, leaving Cant a few seconds back as the leader started their final lap. Vos was not able to hang on long though, and knew she was racing for second. Compton would win with a 20 second advantage over the World Champion. Cant followed almost a full minute behind, while the chasing group came across a minute and a half back.

In the men’s race, a face pace led by Lars van der Haar (Rabobank Development Team) made for a rare Belgian free podium. The young Dutch Champion has set him self up well to contest for the overall World Cup title with two races remaining, and could be a top contender for the World Championships about a month away.

Never leaving the top 5 van der Haar was in good company with the likes of Martin Bina (Kwadro-Stannah Cycling Team), Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Philipp Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus), Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Napoleon Games), and Rob Peeters (Telenet-Fidea) in a group of 13 riders leading the race. Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) dropped from the front early on after a mechanical on a tight 180 degree turn. The former World Champion tried to pull a Nys like recovery, but was not able to crack the front end of the lead group.  By the second lap, the group was down to 7 riders, thanks to Stybar, who is riding a limited cyclocross schedule this year, and might take a crack at the World Championships.

As the race pushed on, the chasing 7, which included Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL) were able to bridge back to the lead group, while Albert continued to fight on. His teammate, Wietse Bosmans dropped back to help Albert back to the lead group. While he did make contact, the incredible pace set by Peeters, Stybar, and van der Haar meant he was never able to contend for the lead.

On the final lap, Walsleben made a move off the front, but was quickly reeled in. Stybar was the next to challenge, but van der Haar came around the leader and lead the way onto the finishing straight. Before Bina could make his move, van der Haar opened up the sprint and took the win. Bina and Stybar would settle for second and third respectively.

With only two races left, riders will contest the Rome course on 1/5 to close out the Kerstperiode of racing.

World Cup Zolder Women’s Results

1. Katie Compton (USA) Trek Cyclocross Collective 0:38:42
2. Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant 0:00:20
3. Sanne Cant (Bel) Enertherm-BKCP 0:00:57
4. Nikki Harris (GBr) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team 0:01:29
5. Lucie Chainel (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-KMC 0:01:31
6. Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant 0:01:38
7. Ellen Van Loy (Bel) DNCS-Pro 2012 Cycling Team 0:01:57
8. Sophie de Boer (Ned) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team 0:02:14
9. Annefleur Kalvenhaar (Ned) Giant Dealerteams
10. Helen Wyman (GBr) Kona Factory Racing 0:02:25
11. Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol 0:02:27
12. Loes Sels (Bel) DNCS-Pro 2012 Cycling Team 0:02:32
13. Pavla Havlikova (Cze) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team 0:02:37
14. Kaitlin Antonneau (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com 0:02:52
15. Gabriella Durrin (GBr) Rapha-Focus 0:03:07
16. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) RusVelo 0:03:17
17. Yara Kastelijn (Ned) RTC Buitenlust 0:03:21
18. Christine Majerus (Lux) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team 0:03:25
19. Arley Kemmerer (USA) C3-Twenty20 Cycling 0:03:31
20. Crystal Anthony (USA) Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 0:03:38
21. Meredith Miller (USA) Cal Giant Berry Farms-Specialized 0:03:41
22. Martina Mikulaskova (Cze) TJ Stadion Louny 0:03:48
23. Thalita De Jong (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant 0:03:51
24. Nicole Duke (USA) Marin-Spy 0:03:53
25. Githa Michiels (Bel) Toka Print MTB Team 0:04:02
26. Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Selle Italia-Guerciotti 0:04:06
27. Laura Verdonschot (Bel) VZW Lotto-Ladiescycling 0:04:14
28. Reza Hormes-Ravenstijn (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team 0:04:25
29. Elle Anderson (USA) Cal Giant Berry Farms-Specialized 0:04:42
30. Courtenay McFadden (USA) Bicycle Blue Book-HRS-Rock Lobster 0:04:43
31. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) EBE Racing Team 0:04:51
32. Marlene Morel Petitgirard (Fra) VCC Morteau-Montbenoit 0:05:01
33. Monique Van De Ree (Ned) Cyclelive Plus-Zannata 0:05:11
34. Nikola Noskova (Cze) KC Kooperativa SG Jablonec 0:05:12
35. Agnes Naumann (Ger) Focus CX Ladies Team 0:05:13
36. Margriet Helena Kloppenburg (Den) Team BMC Concept Store 0:05:15
37. Jolien Verschueren (Bel) Cycling Team Drogenboom 0:05:19
38. Maureen Bruno Roy (USA) Bob’s Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles 0:05:22
39. Karen Verhestraeten (Bel) Kleur Op Maat Cycling Team 0:05:24
40. Katrien Thijs (Bel) Kleur Op Maat Cycling Team 0:05:28
41. Jessica Lambracht (Ger) Stevens-1A-Crossteam 0:05:31
42. Asa Maria Erlandsson (Swe) Varbergs MTB-Cube 0:05:46
43. Ayako Toyooka (Jpn) Panasonic Ladies 0:05:50
44. Esmee Oosterman (Ned) WRV De Peddelaars 0:06:03
45. Yvonne Fiedler (Ger) Maxxx-Solar Cycling 0:07:43
46. Caroline Mani (Fra) Raleigh-Clement 0:08:17
47. Liv-Susanne Bachmann (Ger) Stevens-1A-Crossteam -1lap
48. Jelena Eric (Srb) DNCS-Pro 2012 Cycling Team
49. Lise-Marie Henzelin (Swi) Cycles Prof
50. Suzie Godart (Lux) Team Pratomagno Women
51. Elena Valentini (Ita) Selle Italia-Guerciotti DNF

World Cup Overall Standings – Women

1. Katie Compton (USA) Trek Cyclocross Collective 290 pts
2. Nikki Harris (GBr) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team 225
3. Sanne Cant (Bel) Enertherm-BKCP 186
4. Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant 160
5. Helen Wyman (GBr) Kona Factory Racing 134
6. Ellen Van Loy (Bel) DNCS-Pro 2012 Cycling Team 132
7. Lucie Chainel (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-KMC 123
8. Pavla Havlikova (Cze) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team 121
9. Sophie de Boer (Ned) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team 94
10. Gabriella Durrin (GBr) Rapha-Focus 88

World Cup Zolder Men’s Results

1. Lars van der Haar (Ned) Rabobank Development Team 1:02:41
2. Martin Bina (Cze) Kwadro-Stannah Cycling Team 0:00:01
3. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 0:00:02
4. Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus 0:00:03
5. Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team 0:00:04
6. Sven Nys (Bel) Crelan KDL Cycling Team
7. Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Napoleon Games Cycling Team 0:00:05
8. Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb-Napoleon Games Cycling Team 0:00:07
9. Thijs van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team 0:00:10
10. Bart Aernouts (Bel) AA Drink Cycling Team 0:00:12
11. Jim Aernouts (Bel) Sunweb-Napoleon Games Cycling Team 0:00:15
12. Michael Wildhaber (Swi) Scott Swisspower MTB Racing Team 0:00:27
13. Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus Cycling Team 0:00:29
14. Wietse Bosmans (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus Cycling Team 0:00:49
15. Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 0:01:12
16. Thijs Al (Ned) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team 0:01:13
17. Eddy van IJzendoorn (Ned) Team Natubalans-Apex 0:01:17
18. Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team 0:01:21
19. Marcel Meisen (Ger) Kwadro-Stannah Cycling Team 0:01:22
20. Arnaud Grand (Swi) BMC Development Team 0:01:23
21. Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank Development Team 0:01:24
22. Simon Zahner (Swi) EKZ Racing Team 0:01:26
23. Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Selle Italia-Guerciotti 0:01:31
24. Ondrej Bambula (Cze) CEZ Cyklo Team Tabor 0:01:32
25. Martin Haring (Svk) CK Banska Bystrica 0:01:34
26. Steve Chainel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
27. Twan van den Brand (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team 0:01:51
28. Mariusz Gil (Pol) Kwadro-Stannah Cycling Team 0:02:06
29. Javier Ruiz de Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa) MMR Spiuk 0:02:18
30. Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa) Specialized-Garmar 0:02:33
31. Micki Van Empel (Ned) Crelan KDL Cycling Team 0:02:48
32. Patrick van Leeuwen (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team 0:03:03
33. Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles-Specialized 0:03:15
34. Robert Gavenda (Svk) Dukla Trencin Trek 0:03:29
35. Jonathan Page (USA) Fuji-Spy-Competitive Cyclist 0:03:30
36. Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Cyclingteam De Rijke-Shanks 0:03:44
37. Michael Schweizer (Ger) Stevens Racing Team
38. Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze) Johnsons Controls AS Mlada Boleslav 0:04:00
39. Kenneth Hansen (Den) Cannondale-Haderslev 0:04:54
40. Sascha Weber (Ger) Team Differdange-Losch 0:05:07
41. Lubomir Petrus (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus Cycling Team 0:05:09
42. Agustin Navarro Vidal (Spa) Ciudad de Oviedo-Nesta 0:05:15
43. Aaron Schooler (Can) Team H&R Block 0:05:47
44. Jeremy Durrin (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 0:06:08
45. Yannick Mayer (Ger) Team Baier Landshut 0:06:10
46. Zach McDonald (USA) Rapha-Focus 0:06:12
47. Max Walsleben (Ger) Nutrixxion Abus 0:06:34
48. Joachim Parbo (Den) Cielo-Challenge-Bicyclista 0:06:36
49. Christoph Ambroziak (Ger) Gunsha Racing Team 0:06:45
50. Robert Glajza (Svk) CK Banska Bystrica 0:07:36
51. Jose Antonio Diez Arriola (Spa) -1lap
52. Angus Edmond (NZl) Stevens-Malteni
53. Alexander Revell (NZl) PNP Cycling Club -3laps
54. Michel Vuelta Izquierdo (Spa) Nestor Martin -5laps
55. Radomir Simunek (Cze) Kwadro-Stannah Cycling Team DNF
56. Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team DNF
57. Ivan Jovanovic (Srb) DNCS-Pro 2012 Cycling Team DNF

World Cup Overall Standings – Men

1. Lars van der Haar (Ned) Rabobank Development Team 337 pts
2. Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus 304
3. Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Napoleon Games Cycling Team 279
4. Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb-Napoleon Games Cycling Team 275
5. Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus Cycling Team 273
6. Bart Aernouts (Bel) AA Drink Cycling Team 227
7. Thijs van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink Cycling Team 219
8. Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ.fr 210
9. Sven Nys (Bel) Crelan KDL Cycling Team 199
10. Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team 198