Photo by Luc Claessen | ISPAphoto.be
With no available start list, or website for that matter, this special edition of predictions will be short and sweet. We’re getting in to that time of year where midweek races start to pop-up in Europe. While I will do my best to include them in my usual predictions, every once in awhile I’ll have to do a one off edition. Kermiscross, in Ardooie, Belgium (west of Gent) will act as a pre-World Cup tune-up for many of Europes top riders. Last year, Zdenek Stybar out sprinted Sven Nys to take the win. Here’s what I think will happen this year:
The Winner
Sven Nys – Nys has never won this race, which is a rarity for the winningest cyclocross racer of all time. The past two years, Nys has been beat by Zdenek Stybar. Those two times are the only times Nys has started this race, despite it being run for 18 years. With Stybar’s absence and Nys’ desire to win, I think victory is his.
The Podium
Niels Albert – it appears to be an Albert v. Nys season and that trend will continue in Ardooie today. Albert should give Nys a run for his money, but with the World Cup looming and Nys’ form right now, I don’t expect a victory from Albert.
Dieter Vanthourenhout – I consider this an educated guess. While any number of riders could land on the podium, Dieter Vanthourenhout has done well at Kermiscross in the past. I look for him to land on his first podium this season.