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If the snow and the cold surely didn't encourage the spectators to show up in Niederanven, on this Sunday that rather
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difficult conditions in Niederanven
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invited to stay indoors, they didn't prevent the riders to show us an exciting race. Three riders were up at the front on the very tough course and they battled for the victory until the end, with the name of the winner Steve Chainel only being certain in the very last lap..
The sun finally shows up in the sky above Niederanven at 3 o'clock, when 31 riders of 9 countries line up for the 2nd Grand-prix de la Commune de Niederanven, ready to fight against themselves and against the tough course that was very muddy after the rainfalls of the last week and the snow from the morning. If some riders found last year that the course was too fast and not enough selective, they should have been pleased with this year's conditions, where the heavy and slippery ground demanded everything from the riders.
Gusty Bausch gets the hole shot, but Sickmüller takes over as soon as they enter the mud. Soon, the favourites take control of the race: Steve Chainel,
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After the first lap: Chainel leads Weber
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fourth in the Zeddam worlds three years ago, takes the lead, followed by the suprise of the day: young German Sascha Weber, who had a strong start and also confirmed later in the race. Ausbuher isn't far behind, just like Sikmüller, Kyzivat, Van Nuffel, Van den Bosch, Lang and Chrobak, who has a bad day and will abandon the race later on. Among the favourites, David Kasek missed his start, but he will come back to the front again, just like Sascha Wagner and Joachim Parbo, who will approach Top 10 placings. Gusty Bausch, on his side, has to pay for his fast beginning and tries to find his rythm around 15th position, just ahead of Pascal Triebel.
On the second lap, Steve Chainel accelerates, he makes a very big impression, being able to stay on his bike where other riders have to put their feet on the ground, including Kamil Ausbuher.
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The lead group: Ausbuher, Chainel, Sickmüller
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But the world champion from Corva doesn't let the French rider slip away and takes his wheel, just as Sascha Weber. Sickmüller is 30 meters further back, then follow Kyzivat, Van den Bosch, Lang, Tom Flammang and Bausch. The surprising Flammang is best Luxemburgish rider at that moment, but he will drop back later and finishe the race in 21st position. On the third lap, Weber is also dropped at the front, but he is replaced by Sickmüller who finally manages to fight his way back. This gives us a tremendeous trio in the lead, composed by the defending champion plus the two major favourites, Chainel and Ausbuher.
The decision for the podium places eventually seems to have fallen, even if Sickmüller is showing signs of weakness from time to time and if behind them, the chasers are not far behind. David Kasek has
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Kasek and Van den Bosch chasing
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recovered from his bad start and is riding with Tom Van den Bosch, whereas Lang and Van Nuffel are also close. Valdimir Kyzivat is loosing some ground and he is joined by Sascha Wagner. Gusty Bausch has also find a good rythm and despite a mechanical that makes him loose some time, he passes several riders to move up to thenth place: German champion Malte Urban, not really better than in Contern, Lukas Prihoda and Sascha Wagner. Pascal Triebel riders a minute behind Gusty around fifteenth position for the moment, but he doesn't really seem to be at his ease on a course that normally would be tailor-made for him.
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Pirmin Lang and Tim Van Nuffel
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The battle goes on at the front: Sickmüller accelerates, but the other two are able to follow and then, one lap later, it is Kamil Ausbuher who attacks on the long run-up. Chainel follows with apparent easiness, but Sickmüller the winner from previous year has to let it go. Sickmüller looses several seconds, but stays within sight of the two leaders, whereas he is himself under the pressure of Van den Bosch. Tom has dropped Kasek and has come within hundred meters of the head riders by now.
With three laps to go, Steve Chainel accelerates on the most difficult part of the circuit. The rider from Auber 93 takes a small advantage on Ausbuher,
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Steve Chainel flies to victory
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who isn't able to follow and even sees Sickmüller coming closer and closer. At two laps from the finish, whereas Chainel manages his small advance with serenity and is about to be the first French rider to win the international cyclo-cross of the ACC Contern in 34 editions, the former German champion is in contact again with the Czech rider. After an hour of terrible effort, shaken by the cold, Steve Chainel thus wins the 2nd Grand-prix de la Commune de Niederanven with 11 seconds of advantage on Johannes Sickmüller. The German rider has managed to get rid of Ausbuher in the last lap. Tom Van den Bosch finishes in fourth position, whereas Gusty Bausch just enters the Top 10 and is at the same time best Luxemburgish rider, ahead of Triebel (16th), Juncker (17th) and Wolter (18th).
In the junior race, Bob Jungels has the best start and immediately takes 20 meters of advance on Max Michely. Then follow Alex Kirsch and
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Bob Jungels in the junior race
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still 10 more seconds, Lex Reichling together with the two Czech riders Daniel Vesely and Martin Rehak. Michely stays within reach of Jungels in the next laps, but behind the two, the gaps get bigger and Kirsch looses contact. On lap three, the difference between Jungels and Michely is still less than 50 meters, whereas for third place, Daniel Vesely and Lex Reichling have bridged up to Kirsch. But a little bit later, Reichling has to pay for this effort and is dropped again. A mecanical in the worst possible place, just after the material pits, also affects Kirsch, so that the way to third position is free for Vesely. The battle for the victory remains uncertain for a long moment, even if Jungels seems incredibly strong and Michely has to battle hard to stay within sight. But in the last lap, the resistance breaks down and Jungels can celebrate his second victory in his second cyclo-cross of the season, 28 seconds ahead of the Youngest out of the Michely dynasty.
The race of the novice category turns into a demonstration from the riders of Alzingen, who take the lead from the beginning. Thomas Berns is making the
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LG Alzingen domninates novice category
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pace ahead of his team-mate Pierre Lux, whereas Richard Della Schiava and Ben Krux hang on to their wheels and the duo from Preizerdaul, Fritsch and Glies, follow several meters behind. On the second lap, Berns and Lux are alone in the lead, while Della Schiava is dropped just like Krux, who had to pay for his efforts later on and drops down to 6th place, whereas the Tooltime riders are also loosing ground. The two riders from LG Alzingen cross the line hand in hand, with Pierre Lux leaving the victory to his team-mate, who of course deserves it on behalf of all the work that he has done during the race. Thomas Berns thus wins the 21st Grand-prix Comat, a few centimeters ahead of Lux and less than
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Nathalie Lamborelle is best lady
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a minute ahead of Della Schiava.
In the women category, the suspense doesn't last very long. Even if Nathalie Lamborelle is affected by a medical operation in hospital several weeks ago, she takes the victory in her first cyclo-cross of the season. It took her lots of courage to resume racing on such a difficult course after a few weeks without racing and she was well aware of her poor form. Her start wasn't very good, but she never had to fear her only opponent Anja Nalbach, who had lost more ground in the first lap. Lamborelle found a better rythm in the next laps and moved up a little bit against the boys, finishing three minutes behind the best novices.
Grand-prix de la Commune de Niederanven 2008 >>
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