OPQS rider Zdenek Stybar, UCI World Cyclocross Champion, encountered a highly supportive public as he finished 8th in his first race of the 2014-2015 cyclocross season on Sunday.
Stybar started off strong, finishing off the first lap at the front of the group. However, Sven Nys rode away from his fellow competitors almost immediately after that lap. With eight laps to go the Belgian cyclocross champion had almost 10 seconds on Stybar and the first group of chasers. By the last lap, Nys had 48" on his closest chaser and he went on to victory.
Mathieu van der Poel was 2nd, and Klaas Vantornout was 3rd.
Bpost Bank Trophy Cyclocross Ronse
1. Sven Nys in 1u00'58"
2. Mathieu van der Poel
3. Klaas Vantornout
4. Kevin Pauwels
5. Lars van der Haar
6. Tom Meeusen
7. Wout Van Aert
8. Zdenek Stybar
9. Thijs van Amerongen
10. Joeri Adams