Boom takes World Cup race in France

• Results

By Staff and wire reports

The Dutch national champion says he’s primed for world’s

Photo: Agence France Presse (File Photo)

Dutchman Lars Boom (Rabobank) won the seventh and penultimate round of the UCI World Cup of cyclocross on Sunday, scoring his second win of this year’s series in a race in Léivin, France.

Last year’s winner of the world under-23 cyclo-cross and road championships has enjoyed a solid year in his first year in the elite ranks, winning a World Cup round in Pijnacker, in the Netherlands, in November.

Boom said the win puts him in solid position for a podium spot at the world’s in Treviso, Italy, later in the month.

The world’s No. 1 cyclocross racer and World Cup leader Sven Nys, a teammate of Boom’s, finished a disappointing eighth.

The day’s early leader was Frenchman Francis Mourey who, enjoying home-field advantage, appeared to be the man to beat on Sunday. The Francaise des Jeux rider rode strongly until a crash on the last lap, opening the door for Boom and former world champion Bart Wellens to fight it out for the top spot at the finish.

Mourey came across the line in third place at 47 seconds. Reigning world champion Erwin Vervecken took fourth, while France’s John Gadret rounded out the top five.

Nys, who continues to lead the overall standings in the nine-race World Cup series, finished at 1:56 in eighth.

“I just didn’t have the legs,” said Nys. “”After winning the Belgian championship title won eight days ago, I competed in two races before this week, just to meet obligations to sponsors. Whatever the reason, I just didn’t have the snap when I needed to accelerate. It happens.”

American Jonathan Page finished in 13th place at 2:12, the top North American finisher for the day.

The final World Cup event is scheduled for Sunday, January 20, in Hoogerheide, in the Netherlands. The following week, the field will be in Treviso, Italy, for the world championship.

Results

2008 UCI World Cup of cyclocross
January 13, 2008, Léivin, France
1. Lars Boom (Nl), Rabobank 1:04:18
2. Bart Wellens (B), Fidea, at 0:17
3. Francis Mourey (F), Française des Jeux, at 0:47
4. Erwin Vervecken (B), Fidea, at 1:36
5. John Gadret (F), AG2r – La Mondiale, at 1:48
6. Kevin Pauwels (B), Fidea, at 1:51
7. Zdenek Stybar (Cz), Fidea, at 1:57
8. Sven Nys (B), Rabobank, at 1:56
9. Radomír Simunek (Cz), Palmans-Cras, at 1:58
10. Gerben De Knegt (Nl), Rabobank, at 1:59
11. Bart Aernouts (B), Rabobank, at 2:08
12. Thijs Al (Nl), BeOne , at 2:10
13. Jonathan Page (USA), Sunweb Pro Job, at 2:12
14. Richard Groenendaal (Nl), AA Sport Drinks, at 2:30
15. Dieter Vanthourenhout (B), Easypay, at 2:36
16. Marco Aurelio Fontana (I), Selle Italia-Guerciotti 2:46
17. Wilant Van Gils (Nl), ZZPR.nl, at 3:22
18. Julien Belgy (F), Bouygues Télécom, at 3:32
19. Marek Cichosz (Pol), CWKS Legia Warszawa, at 3:47
20. Jan Verstraeten (B), Sunweb Pro Job, at 4:05
21. Steve Chainel (F), Auber 93, at 4:19
22. Nicolas Bazin (F), US Domont, at 4:24
23. Pirmin Lang (Swi), Delta, at 4:34
24. Christian Heule (Swi), Stevens Racing, at 4:37
25. Tim Johnson (USA), Leer/Cannondale/world.com, at 4:48
26. Sven Vanthourenhout (B), Sunweb Pro Job, at 4:57
27. Michael Müller (Swi), Empella Suisse, at 5:02
28. Petr Dlask (Cz), Fidea, at 5:11
29. Marius Gil (Pol), at 5:23
30. David Derepas (F), Roubaix Lille Metropole, at 5:37
31. Milan Barenyi (Svk), CK ZP Sport a.s. Podbrezova, at -1 lap
32. Jan Chrobák (Cz), Johnson Controls AS, at -1 lap
33. Marco Bianco (I), Arcobaleno Carraro, at -1 lap
34. Sébastien Hansen (F), US Domont, at -1 lap
35. Václav Metlicka (Svk), Kral R.C. Pfeil, at -2 laps
36. Gusty Bausch (Lux), at -2 laps
37. Jeremy Powers (USA), world.Com, at -2 laps
38. Andreas Moser (Swi), Hormann-Kramer, at -2 laps
39. Bart Dirkx (Nl), TWC Tempo/BMV, at -3 laps
40. Roy Van Heeswijk (Nl), at -4 laps
41. Osmond Bakker (Can), Stevens Cross, at -4 laps
42. Aron Schooler (Can), at -4 laps
43. Martin Vestby (N), Time – Van Hemert, at -5 laps
44. Pascal Bussieres (Can), at -5 laps

Women
1. Hanka Kupfernagel (G), Focus 35:01
2. Maryline Salvetat (F), VSLL Castres, at 0:12
3. Laurence Leboucher (F), Sarthe-Gasseau, at 1:03
4. Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau (F), Les Pruneaux D’Agen, at 1:15
5. Wendy Simms (Can), Kona-Yor Key Mortgage, at 1:28
6. Stephanie Pohl (G), Getränke-Hoffmann, at 1:36
7. Pavla Havlikova (Cze), KC Kooperativa SG Jablonec, at 1:44
8. Nadia Triquet-Claude (F), UC Bassin Houiller, at 1:46
9. Caroline Mani (F), CR Franche Comté, at 1:49
10. Helen Wyman (GB), Global, at 1:53
11. Saskia Elemans (Nl), WV de Meteoor, at 2:05
12. Rachel Lloyd (USA), Proman-Paradigm, at 2:21
13. Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Nl), Flexpoint, at 2:36
14. Loes Sels (B), Vlaanderen-Capri Sonne-T Interim, at 2:43
15. Sanne Van Paassen (Nl), DSB Bank, at 2:45
16. Reza Hormes-Ravenstijn (Nl), ZZPR.nl, at 2:45
17. Susanne Juranek (G), RSC Oldenburg 1965, at 2:58
18. Sue Butler (USA), River City Bicycles, at 3:04
19. Veerle Ingels (B), AVB-USspa, at 3:25
20. Elke Riedl (Nl), Restore 3:32
21. Abke Francissen (Nl), Brabant 2000, at 3:39
22. Wendy Williams (USA), River City Bicycles, at 3:42
23. Arenda Grimberg (Nl), Ton van Bemmelen Sports-OdySis, at 4:00
24. Gabriella Day (GB), Global 4:03
25. Katrien Pauwels (B), Empella Czech, at 4:10
26. Sanne Cant (B), ASD Selle Italia Guerciotti, at 4:20
27. Jasmin Achermann (Swi), VC Rain Toshiba, at 4:29
28. Katrien Aerts (B), Benelux, at 5:50
29. Mika Ogishima (Jpn), UWTC de Volharding, at 6:12
30. Kelly Jones (Can), Sugoi-Cannondale-Bontrager, at, at6:19
31. Suzie Godart (Lux), Fenixs-HPB, at 6:22
32. Veronica Alessio (Ita), Desenzanese Asd, at 6:36
33. Lise Müller (Swi), Cyclophile Sédunois, at 6:54
34. Céline Wittek (F), CV Liévinois, at 7:20
35. Aline Parsy (F), Pédale Madeleinoise, at -1 lap
36. Joanie Caron (Can), at -1 lap