UCI Worldcup Namur 22.12.2013

Just as every year, on the last weekend before christmas the UCI Worldcup is about to stop at the Citadelle of Namur for the most spectacular and hardest race of the whole season. Rain changed the steep hill of the citadel into a deep and demanding track, as it did so often before. The parcours challenges all racers both for technical skills as well as power. Whoever may sign a victory on his palmares here, can be counted as one of the great. Francis Morey could proudly note his first victory in one of the major events, today.

But just as sports is from time to time, it was not the winner but someone completely different who was about to write history of cyclocross. It seemed that reining world-champion Sven Nys had to drop all of if hopes for a good result when his front-tyre ran flat during the first round. But whoever thought that the day was over for Nys, should have been mistaken. Nys fell back to rank 57 reaching the depot even behind Alexander Revell from New Zeland, but the champion just started a chase beyond compare. Just two laps before the end, the cheer of the crowd exploded as Nys reached the chasing group which was running roundabout 30 seconds behind the leader. But even that was not the end for Nys, he took the lead an started to chase Mourey, the only one who was running between the world-champion and a victory. Nys was fighting with full risk, just as Gerrie Knetemann once said “De Dood of de Gladiolen (either death or gladioli)” , but that was too much. During the last traversal he slipped and touched the ground. So Klaas Vantornout and Niels Albert managed to pass him and they gained the last two places on the podium.

But what is left on this day is to note that the world-champion was the strongest driver by far. The chase starting from rank 57 and running up to rank two is outstanding even though he lost two positions again at the end.