KOKSIJDE, Belgium (VN) — Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet-Euphony) staged an incredible come-from-behind performance on Saturday to snatch a World Cup victory from a stunned Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus).
Barely inside the top 20 early on, Nys rode himself into contention with three laps to go, riding where others had to run on the damp, sandy 3km circuit. Two riders who had enjoyed better starts — Sunweb-Revor teammates Kevin Pauwels and Klaas Vantornout — both hit the deck on a slick, greasy stretch, and it was that same section that gave Nys the edge he needed as he closed in on the front of the race, picking off rider after rider until he sat second behind the world champion.
Albert slid out there, too, just barely managing to stay upright. Nys had no such trouble and slipped past into the lead, then rode a sandy hill that set the rainbow jersey afoot.
And then the world champion simply gave up — he watched in disbelief as Nys accelerated up and over the hill and then rode away from him, toward a solo victory that seemed impossible only a few minutes earlier.
Albert finally got himself back in order and recovered to finish second, while Francis Mourey (FDJ-Big Mat) crossed third.
Editor’s note: Stay tuned for more from Koksijde.
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