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October - December 2008: cyclo-cross season
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30.12.2008 Azencross Loenhout
Bad crash for Jempy Drucker
Results:
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Zdenek Stybar
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DNF
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The 2008/2009 winter really is not, or was not a good one for Jempy Drucker. The race in Loenhout, just as the rest of the season, was over for him even before it really began. In a moment, where he had found new motivation to save his bad season begin, in a moment where the good form was about to come, where he felt better from race to race, at this moment, a bad crash stopped his move. At the start in Loenhout, even before the riders entered the course, a collective crash brought Drucker to the ground and he found himself with a broken collarbone: no Nationals, no World championships, most probably not even a single race in his new H20 jersey this winter. Out for good in a season where he didn't really break through. The race itself was a tremendous one and it ended with the victory of Zdenek Stybar. He is known to be really strong on fast, frozen courses and proved it again in Loenhout. Together with his team-mate Kevin Pauwels, Stibby was very active in the big lead group of nearly 20 riders. On the penultimate lap, the Czech rider took control of the race and he split the group: only Sven Nys was able to follow him. In the final sprint, the Belgian champ tried to come around the Czech one, he managed to move up to the same height, but then had to settle down for second place behind Stybar.
29.12.2008 Nordzeecross Middelkerke
Nys dominates on the Belgian coast
Results:
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Sven Nys
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19th at 3'32"
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Scheduled between the races in Diegem and Loenhout, the Nordzeecross of Middlekerke doesn't have today the same extent as his two brothers, but it has nevertheless a great history of 50 years already, with winners like Wolfshohl, De Vlaeminck, Dedeckere or, later on, Paul de Brauwer and Pol Herygers. These former riders, just as Liboton, De Bie or Vermeire, had accepted today to shoulder the bike again for a quarter of an hour on the course of Middlekerke, for an "All-Star cross" won by Eric De Vlaeminck ahead of the much younger De Vos, Herygers and Janssens. After that, the stars of nowadays lined up: Nys, Al, Franzoi and so on who finished the race in that order. Eventually, Sven Nys showed out to be a class of his own today, he attacked in the third lap and stayes away until the end for a solo win. Behind the Belgian champion, Thijs Al had to chase hard after a flat tyre, but he was able to pass Bambula, Bina, Page and finally Franzoi to take second place, 22 seconds behind the winner. Jempy Drucker was also at the Belgian coast on a very fast and technical, icy course. He was able to move up into 15th position after a rather bad start, before loosing again some positions towards the end. On the last laps, the national champion rode together with Willemssens, Ausbuher and Rondelez, all of them riders who have performed well at leas once in races of the ACC Contern. Jempy finished in 19th position, 3'32" behind the winner and in the wheel of the former junior world champion Kamil Ausbuher.
28.12.2008 Superprestige Diegem
Stybar in the spotlight
Results:
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Zdenek Stybar
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29ème à 4'08"
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Diegem certainly is Jempy Drucker's favourite cyclo-cross, the one that he should have won last year in the U23 category, if he hadn't been stopped by a crash in the last lap while being in the lead. On a fast course in the suburbs of Brussels, that includes lots of road sections but isn't easy at all due to some up- and downhill, Jempy has participated for the first time in this crazy event imagined by some organizers, a "night cross" on a circuit that is illuminated by giant spotlights. Well, on his favourite course, Jempy didn't realize any miracle and he still is a bit under his peak level, but he didn't perform badly either with a 29th place. Like usual, the recent winner of the Zolder world cup Thijs Al knew a tremendous start and he immediately took 50 meters of advantage, whereas Drucker was in about 30th position behind Van Gils after half a lap. Sven Nys made the work to reel in Al and at the end of the first lap, around 15 riders were in a big lead group. In the third lap, Zdenek Stybar made an impressive attack and he broke away from the others. At mid-race, the Czech champion had 15 seconds advantage on a group of five with Nys, Al, Sven Vanthourenhout, Klaas Vantornout and Radomir Simunek, with Pauwels, Boom and Wellens being a little bit further behind. Simunek lost all his chances after a mechanical, just like Vanthourenhout a little bit later, but "Stibby" didn't weaken in the lead, maintaining 20 seconds of advantage on the chasers. Despite some late attacks by Nys, Zdenek Stybar remained in front and celebrated the win 8 seconds ahead of Vantornout, Nys and Al. Jempy Drucker finally finished in 29th position at 4 minutes, just behind Soetens, Van Gils and Page, but 2 minutes after riders like Berden, Van Amerongen of Van den Bosch, riders that he hopes to hold in a few weeks time.
26.12.2008 World-cup in Zolder
Al spoils the Belgians on their soil
Results:
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Thijs Al
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38th at 3'51"
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After two weeks and a half of break, partly because of illness, Jempy Drucker has thus resumed cyclo-cross racing at the world-cup of Zolder. A very exciting race, since the organizers, who had to leave their traditionnal course in Hofstade, had chosen as new location the race-circuit in Zolder, on a similar course to the 2002 world-championships, where Mario De Clerq had won the title after a very spectacular race. And there was as much suspense today in Zolder than 7 years ago, since the race was decided only in the very last lap. After a fast start by Thijs Al, 18 (!) riders found themselves in the lead during the first laps on the very fast course. In the fourth lap, a very strong Al accelerated again, taking only Sven Vanthourenhout, Kevin Pauwels and Marco Fontana with him. These four riders decided the victory between themselves, since the big favourites Nys, Boom and Wellens looked at each other rather than to start a real chase. Fontana was eliminated after a crash and Thijs Al took all the risks in the last lap to take the flowers. On a dangerous downhill, the Dutch rider took a few meters advantage and nor Pauwels, nor Vanthourenhout were able to come back to him. Jempy Drucker had a very difficult day, because on such a fast course, it is a real handicap to start at the back of the grid. He tried his best to move up the peloton and managed to get into a group around the 30th position during the first lap. Towards the end of the race however, he felt the lack of race rythm in his legs and fell back several positions. Drucker finished the world-cup event in 38th position, less than 4 minutes down on the winner.
07.12.2008 Grand-prix Julien Cajot Leudelange
Drucker 5th against Belgian dominance
Results:
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Davy Commeyne
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5th at 49"
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Once more, the international cyclo-cross in Leudelange has been dominated by the Belgian riders with 8 of them in the Top 10 and the only rider who was able to endanger the Flemish supremacy was Jempy Drucker. After his disastrous last week-end, Jempy seemed a lot better again in the mud of Leudelange, even if he is still lacking some fluidity and acceleration on the bike, comparing to last year when he was a class of his own on this same circuit. During the first laps, the Luxemburgish champ enjoyed the few spectators by holding on to the first group, together with Commeyne, Berden, Van den Bosch and Verstraeten. Especially Commeyne and Verstraeten were very active in this group and attacked several times, trying to split it. Of course, this constant accelerations have hurt everybody and after mid-race, Drucker and Berden showed some problems holding the pace, followed a little bit later by Van den Bosch. Verstraeten and Commeyne found themselves in the lead, followed a few seconds back by the runner-up of the Grand-prix de la Commune de Contern, then by Berden and Drucker. The last lap would be deciding and Davy Commeyne was able to get rid of Verstraeten and celebrated his second victory in Leudelange, following the win in the U23 World-cup event down in 1999. Van den Bosch finished in third place, whereas Ben Berden held off Jempy Drucker for fourth position.
29.11.2008 World-cup Koksijde
Verwecken wins thriller
Results:
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Erwin Verwecken
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DNF
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After a difficult season start, during which some people called him dead already, Erwin Verwecken has answered today by taking his first major win in the season at the world cup event of Koksijde, a victory that gives him a record of five titles in this race. Just like he has always done, Verwecken is getting better and better throughout the season and is hitting his best form as the big races of the year end and the championships of January approach, and he has won the race after a truly dramatic final, where the decision fell in the last finishing straight. Vantornout, Stybar, De Knegt and Nys had the best start, but were soon joined in the lead by Wellens, Peeters and Groenendaal. These riders dominated in the first laps, then Wellens and Nys took the lead after an acceleration from the Belgian champ. But, a little bit further back, the diesel motor of Erwin Vervecken had reached his operating temperature and the three times world champion was busy fighting his way back to the front, taking with him his team-mates Stybar and Pauwels. Five man were thus together in the last lap (4 Fidea against one Landbouwkrediet) and an emotional Verwecken showed out the be the strongest by outsprinting Nys and Stybar on the line. For Jempy Drucker, things didn't turn out that good. After a very good start, not far away from the Top 10 placings, Jempy quickly didn't have anything left in his legs. He ran out of power, showing the strains of a long road season and his batteries were both physically and mentally empty. After a few laps trying to limit the losses on the tough, sandy course, Drucker preferred to quit the race.
23.11.2008 Superprestige Hamme-Zogge
Nys wins in the snow
Results:
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Sven Nys
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19th at 6'23"
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The cyclo-cross race in Hamme-Zogge has already suffered form the weather conditions in the past (remember the Belgian championships in a mud bath two years ago) and has failed to be cancelled this year. The village in the north of Brussels eventually has been visited by a snow storm on this 23rd of November, fortunately for the organizers, it started only in the late of the afternoon. Most of the race could be held under bearable conditions and only the last laps were really affected by the winter conditions and the riders crossed the line as snowman look-a-likes, shaken by the cold. The first one to finish was, of course, Sven Nys. He followed an acceleration by Klaas Vantornout on the first lap, and both of them took a couple of seconds advantage on the next chasers Peeters, Verwecken, Vanthourenhout and Wellens. The two former winners of the cyclo-cross of the ACC Contern (Nys in 1997 and 1999, Vantornout in 2005) worked well together for several laps, before Nys put the hammer down even more and dropped his main contender with three laps to go. After having had up to 30 seconds of gap, Nys didn't take any risks on the slippery ground in the last lap and finished the race for the fifth time in 7 editions as winner, 11 seconds ahead of Vantornout, whereas Wellens took the third spot on the podium. Jempy Drucker of course also suffered a lot from the cold and he crossed the finish line in 24th position, completely frozen from head to foot. He has done a great race, riding constantly in 20th position together with riders like Groenendaal and Simunek, before having a bit of trouble in the last laps, where he was eventually passed by Van Amerongen, Van den Bosch and Bianco.
16.11.2008 Superprestige Asper-Gavere
Fifth win for Nys
Results:
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Sven Nys
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19th at 6'23"
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In Asper-Gavere took place the 27th edition of the local cyclo-cross, one of the few races, with Diegem, to have been part of the Superprestige series from the beginning until now. A classic Flemish race, even if the course is everything else than typical for the region. No long lines on muddy grass with artificial hills or bridges, but a constant up and down in the wood on a phisically very demanding lap. Tailor-made for Sven Nys of course, who can perfectly use his explosive skills on this type of parcours. Just like last year, the Belgian champion has waited for the ultimate lap to place his deciding attack and just like 12 months ago, nobody was able to follow his phenominal acceleration on the last uphill and so the man from Baal has won for the fifth time in the parc of castel Grenier in Gavere. However, he took advantage from the fact that his major opponents were out of luck today, with Albert suffering from a nasty crash that took him to hospital ans Wellens who had several problems with his bike. The man from Vorselaar nevertheless finished second, ahead of Erwin Verwecken who shows improving form as the year end approaches. Despite a crash in this extremely difficult downhill part, Jempy Drucker finished in the Top 20 of the race. He was forced to chase hard during the whole race after a start in the last row and his crash, but managed to take a nice 19th position at the finish line, just behind Davy Commeyne and 6 minutes later than Nys.
09.11.2008 Coupe du monde Pijnacker
Boom wins at home
Results:
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Lars Boom
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31st at 5'28"
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In the mud of Pijnacker, Lars Boom was able to renew his victory from last year. The world champion, who didn't have a brilliant start into the season after a busy road season, likes to concentrate on a few races and be in tremendous form there. Just like last year, Boom's form is peaking for the first time this season and then it is very difficult to win against him. In Pijnacker, the rainbow jersey was the first to react after an acceleration from Sven Nys in the second lap, and then he took over the lead together with Niels Albert. In the last lap, Boom managed to get rid of the U23 world champion and won the race with 6 seconds advantage on him, whereas Nys finished another 30 seconds later in third spot. Another rider who rode a good race today after a bad season start was Jempy Drucker. He had to start in the last row, but was able to pass nearly half of the field during the race to finish in 31st position, five and a half minutes behind the winner.
02.11.2008 Superprestige Veghel-Eerde
Albert dominates, Drucker crashes
Results:
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Niels Albert
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27th at 6'34"
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Jempy Drucker could have made a very good result in the home town of his boss Hans Van Kasteren in the Netherlands. But this result has been denied to him by two crashes when he was lying around the 20th position in a race dominated by the young riders, Niels Albert and Lars Boom. The U23 world champion started already in the second lap one of this long solo riders that are his trade mark, leaving the chasers Boom, Nys, Vantornout, Pauwels and Wellens behind. At mid-race, the strong Albert had more than 30 seconds advantage on the next riders, whereas Drucker was riding at the penultimate position after he went to the ground. With apparent ease, Niels didn't leave any doubt on a victory that was in his pocket after an hour of racing, with 39 seconds advantage on Boom who took the better of Nys in the sprint for second place. Jempy Drucker, on his side, improved himself towards the end of the race, finishing 6'34" behind Albert in 27th position, just ahead of Björn Rondelez, former winner of the cyclo-cross in Contern
26.10.2008 GP de la Commune de Contern (C2)
First good result
Results:
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Dieter Vanthourenhout
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9th at 2'06"
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The first good result in his third race this season for Jempy Drucker who, after the disaster of Kalmthout, choosed not to travel to the world cup in Tabor, but instead to line up in the Grand-prix de la Commune de Contern, international cyclo-cross organized by ACC Contern. And it was a good option because, if he wasn't able to follow riders like Berden, Verstraeten or Skarnitzl, whom he had beaten 11 months ago in Leudelange, if he wasn't able to match up with a very strong Gusty Bausch for the best home rider, Jempy finished in the Top 10, a good result after a bad season begin. He had a rather poor start, but improved on the next laps and managed to bridg up to the first chasing group behind leader Vantourenhout. This had of course cost him some strength and around mid-race, Drucker lost contact with the best riders and finished the race in his own rythm, crossing the line in 9th position with two minutes deficit on winner Dieter Vanthourenhout. The latter had dominated the race in impressive manner, breaking away on the first lap. He was never seeen again by his opponents, neither by runner-up Tom Van den Bosch, nor by third place Ben Berden.
19.10.2008 World-cup in Kalmthout
Things haven't improved
Results:
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Sven Nys
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DNF
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Second race of the season for Jempy Drucker and again, he didn't see the finish line. Things don't really improve for the national champ who finds the transition from road to cyclo-cross difficult this year. Just like Lars Boom, Jempy has ridden on the road until end september and just like the world champion, he has some trouble to adapt his body to the short, but very intense effort of cyclo-cross. Especially on a parcours like in Kalmthout, a real highway where the average speed approaches 30 km/h, with lots of sharp turns where explosive acceleration is the key to success. This needs of course specific preparation, a preparation that Jempy wasn't able to do since he started cyclo-cross training only shortly and his injury from Ruddervoorde prevented him for doing the necessary intervals this week. This isn't the case for Sven Nys and Niels Albert, both are extremely well prepared and were a class of their own in Kalmthout, battling out the victory until the finish line. The two of them broke away very soon but, even with a minimal advantage, they played tactics until the very last line. Sven Nys suffered from the consequences of a crash on the day before, he wasn't that well and stayed in the wheel of Albert during the whole race, just to beat him narrowly on the line at the end. A strong Kevin Pauwels took third place, only 8 seconds further back.
12.10.2008 Superprestige Ruddervoorde
Bad begin
Results:
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Sven Nys
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DNF
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The cyclo-cross season didn't start very well for Jempy Drucker. After a long road season which provided him with some good results as well as a serious basckdrop for the winter season, expectations were of course high, especially on a very fast course like the one in Ruddervoorde, first big event of the season and opening leg of the Superprestige series. But after a single lap, the race was already over for Drucker, taken to the ground by a broken chain. In addition to considerable time loss, this crash also brought to the Luxemburgish champ a serious injury, a big cut in one of his legs. Jempy remounted on the bike and tried to resume the race, but he stopped after a few laps in order to avoid any risk-taking concerning his injury. The victory was decided between three men: Sven Nys, Klaas Vantornout and Niels Albert. Nys and Vantornout broke away from the others in the fourth lap, whereas Albert took a very poor start and had to chase hard during the whole race to bridge up to the front. He did that in the last lap, but it was already too late: with a long acceleration in the last hectometers, Sven Nys had taken the lead and went fast enough to stay in the lead and win the race, 2 seconds ahead of Vantornout.
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Schleck
Schleck
Kirchen
Zdenek Stybar
Zdenek Stybar
Thijs Al
Davy Commeyne
