Nijs and Belgian brotherhood spanks Groenendaal — sort of — in Superprestige stop

Rabobank’s Sven Nijs proved Sunday’s edition of the Superprestige cyclo-cross series in Diegem, Belgium, belonged to the hometown favorites. Nijs finished at the top Belgian sweep of the top five spots. Hey, maybe his teammate, Richard Groenendaal isn’t invincible after all. Don’t bet on it … even after the man who has dominated the 2000-2001 cyclo-cross season finished sixth, giving the Dutchman the day’s top non-Belgian spot in the seventh race in the eight-race series.

While Groenendaal had a tougher time than usual — finishing in a group, 1:20 behind Nijs — he remains in charge of the series, at the front of the World Cup and a solid favorite to repeat his world title early next month in Tabor in the Czech Republic.

SUPERPRESTIGE No. 7, Diegem, Belgium. December 31, 2000.

1. Sven Nijs, (B), 1:01:35; 2. Erwin Vervecken (B), at 0:55; 3. Mario de Clercq (B)1:20; 4. Tom van Noppen (B); 5. Marc Janssens (B); 6. Richard Groenendaal (Nl); 7. Peter Van Santvliet (B); 8. Kipcho Volckaerts (B); 9. Gerben De Knegt (Nl), all s.t.

OVERALL after 7 of 8 rounds:

1. Groenendaal, 169 points; 2. Vannoppen, 120; 3. Vervecken, 119; 4. Van Santvliet, 118; 5. De Clercq, 114; 6. Bart Wellens (B), 113; 7. Nijs, at 108; 8. Janssens, 89; 9. Volckaerts, 83; 10. De Knegt, 69.