The World Cup in Kalmthout – A Jason Sumner Gallery

With the beer-induced haze of cyclocross World Cup No. 1 finally burning off, we figured it was time to empty the digi-cam in preparation for round two Saturday in Tabor, Czech Republic. Scroll down and check out some of the sights and scenes from the season opener held Sunday in Kalmthout, Belgium. In the men’s race Fidea’s rising star Zdenek Stybar took a commanding win, besting home-country hero Sven Nys (Rabobank) by 33 seconds. On the women’s side, it was Dutchwoman Daphny Van Den Brand topping American Katie Compton by just three seconds. There’s no women’s race at Tabor, but Nys

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By Jason Sumner, VeloNews.com

The Lions of Flanders are a fixture at a ‘cross race, no matter where it’s held.

Photo: Jason Sumner

With the beer-induced haze of cyclocross World Cup No. 1 finally burning off, we figured it was time to empty the digi-cam in preparation for round two Saturday in Tabor, Czech Republic. Scroll down and check out some of the sights and scenes from the season opener held Sunday in Kalmthout, Belgium.

You have to pay to watch the pro’s play.

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In the men’s race Fidea’s rising star Zdenek Stybar took a commanding win, besting home-country hero Sven Nys (Rabobank) by 33 seconds. On the women’s side, it was Dutchwoman Daphny Van Den Brand topping American Katie Compton by just three seconds.

There’s no women’s race at Tabor, but Nys will be there trying to rebound from his surprising defeat. It could be tough for the reigning World Cup overall champion who won seven of 11 races last season. At Kalmthout the star-stacked Fidea team flexed its powerful muscles, sending Stybar off the front while teammates Bart Wellens, Klaas Vantornout and Kevin Pauwels took turns blocking Nys and the rest of the would-be chasers during their in-vain attempt to bring the former under-23 world champion back.

…Belgium’s deep-fried delicacy

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Look for more of the same team tactics in Tabor, a course Nys says is one of his least favorites.

“It is very fast with nothing technical,” he said. “That makes it more difficult [for me] because there is nothing cyclocross. It’s straight on. Everybody can ride fast with the bike among the professionals. I’ve won there but not so many times. Sometimes the finish comes and I say I feel I was the best but I couldn’t win.”