Under-23 Championships, February 3, 2001

Vanthourenhout wins in icy Tabor

Belgian Sven Vanthourenhout managed to give the local riders a beating on their home ice in the U23/Espoirs World Cyclocross Championship. In the 22.89 kilometre race, 20 year old Vanthourenhout was too strong for Tomas Trunschka and David Kasek, both of the Czech Republic. Teammate, Wim Jacobs took fourth and Aurelien Clerc (Swi) fifth. It was the fifth time in six editions of the Espoirs Championship that a Belgian had won.

Vanthourenhout said that he was "super nervous before the race" and "did not feel good during the race, it was hard to find good lines." However, his ride was relatively free of mechanical problems, with only a dropped chain on the second lap causing him to lose position.

He was luckier than Frenchman Francis Mourey (Fra), who was leading up until lap 5 when a technical problem caused him to lose a significant amount of time, eventually finishing 34th. Vanthourenhout remained in the lead from then on, and had plenty of time to celebrate his gold medal.

Despite being only 20 years old, there has been a good deal of interest in him from teams including Mapei, Domo and Spar. However, he wants to continue to focus on cyclocross for the time being, and will return to defend his title in Zolder, Belgium next year.

Results - 22.895 km

1 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel)           51.55
2 Tomas Trunschka (Cze)                0.16
3 David Kasek (Cze)                    0.36
4 Wim Jacobs (Bel)                     0.38
5 Aurelien Clerc (Swi)                 0.40
6 Wilant Van Gils (Ned)                0.43
7 Martin Zlamalik (Cze)                0.53
8 Davy Commeyne (Bel)                  
9 Josef Soukup (Cze)                  
10 Freek De Jong (Ned)               
11 David Rusch (Swi)                   1.36
12 John Gadret (Fra)                   1.39
13 Marek Cichosz (Pol)                 1.42
14 Gusty Bausch (Lux)                  1.48
15 Michael Baumgartner (Swi)           2.01
16 Leo Kartsens (Ger)                  2.08
17 Wesley Van Der Linden  (Bel)        2.22
18 Marco Baggenstos (Swi)              2.31
19 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned)               2.33
20 Thomas Lecuyer (Fra)                2.34
21 Michael Muller (Swi)                2.37
22 Alan Obye (USA)                     2.42
23 Thijs Verhagen (Ned)                2.49
24 Björn Schröder (Ger)                2.58
25 Sebastian Hannover (Ger)            3.01
26 Jaromir Komon (Cze)                 3.14
27 Roel Van Houtum (Ned)               3.18
28 Franceso Case (Ita)                 3.23
29 Michele Sbetta (Ita)                3.29
30 Tommy Nielsen (Den)                 3.36
31 Isaac Suarez (Spa)                  3.47
32 Bart Aernouts (Bel)                 3.53
33 Maxim Gogolev (Rus)                 3.55
34 Francis Mourey (Fra)                4.02
35 P. Baranowski  (Pol)                4.10
36 Stefano Toffoletti (Ita)         
37 Peter Riis Andersen (Den)           4.15
38 Hannes Genze (Ger)                  4.25
39 Haitz Ortiz (Spa)                   4.41
40 Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe)            4.50
41 Julen Zubero (Spa)                  5.20
42 Tim Morley (GBr)                    5.28
43 Joshua Anthony (USA)                5.56
44 O. Gerashchenko  (Ukr)              6.01
45 Maksym Mikeychuk (Ukr)              6.20
46 Philip Dixon (GBr)                  6.47
47 Zugaitz Ayuso (Spa)                 6.52
48 Keiichi Tsujiura (Jpn)              6.52
49 Shaun Snodden (GBr)                 7.20

1 lap behind

50 Mickael Fourez (Fra)

DNF Enrico Franzoi (Ita)
DNF Rodolfo Marcos (Spa)
DNF Kim Petersen (Den)
DNF Daniel Hufnagel (Aut)