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World Champion Niels Albert showed his stripes with a dominant performance in the C1 'cross in Leuven. The BKCP-Powerplus rider stormed away from the field in the second lap and soloed to the win by almost a minute over Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Revor) and Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet).
As Albert put on his one-man show, Pauwels emerged alone from the chasing group about halfway through the race, but never threatened the lead of Albert.
Nys, who suffered a slow start, eventually put the rest behind him in pursuit of the podium, beating out the Telenet-Fidea riders Rob Peeters and Tom Meeusen.
The only bit of drama in the race was a frightening face-plant by Bart Wellens on the barriers. The former world champion stood dazed for a moment, but despite having pain in his head and neck he continued, finishing in 10th place.
| 1 | Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus | 0:59:15 | |
| 2 | Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb-Revor | 0:00:30 | |
| 3 | Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony | 0:00:52 | |
| 4 | Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet - Fidea | 0:00:54 | |
| 5 | Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea | 0:00:58 | |
| 6 | Bart Aernouts (Bel) AA Drink Cyclocross Team | ||
| 7 | Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus | ||
| 8 | Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony | ||
| 9 | Wietse Bosmans (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus | 0:01:06 | |
| 10 | Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet - Fidea | 0:01:12 | |
| 11 | Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team | 0:01:19 | |
| 12 | Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Revor | 0:01:37 | |
| 13 | Thijs van Amerongen (Ned) AA Drink Cyclocross Team | 0:01:41 | |
| 14 | Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP - Powerplus | 0:01:54 | |
| 15 | Marcel Meisen (Ger) BKCP - Powerplus | 0:02:11 | |
| 16 | Aurelien Duval (Fra) UV Aube | 0:02:25 | |
| 17 | Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team | 0:02:45 | |
| 18 | Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet - Fidea | 0:02:53 | |
| 19 | Lars van der Haar (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team | 0:02:58 | |
| 20 | Jim Aernouts (Bel) Sunweb-Revor | 0:03:10 | |
| 21 | Jonathan Page (USA) | ||
| 22 | Wout van Aert (Bel) Telenet-Fidea | 0:03:15 | |
| 23 | Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-KDL | ||
| 24 | Joeri Adams (Bel) Telenet - Fidea | 0:03:37 | |
| 25 | Diether Sweeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-KDL | ||
| 26 | Martin Zlamalik (Cze) Landbouwkrediet-KDL | 0:04:40 | |
| 27 | Mariusz Gil (Pol) Baboco | 0:04:58 | |
| 28 | Toon Aerts (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-KDL | 0:05:15 | |
| 29 | Daan Soete (Bel) Telenet-Fidea | ||
| 30 | Thijs Al (Ned) Telenet - Fidea | ||
| 31 | Bart De Vocht (Bel) | 0:06:25 | |
| 32 (-1 lap) | Arnaud Grand (Swi) Telenet - Fidea | ||
| 33 | Patrick Gaudy (Bel) | ||
| 34 | Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony | ||
| 35 | Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) Telenet - Fidea | ||
| 36 (-2 laps) | Hendrik Sweeck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-KDL | ||
| 37 | Davy Commeyne (Bel) | ||
| 38 (-3 laps) | Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) | ||
| 39 | Berne Vankeirsbilck (Bel) | ||
| 40 | Aaron Schooler (Can) Norco Bicycles - SRI Importing | ||
| 41 | Ingmar Uytdewilligen (Bel) | ||
| 42 (-4 laps) | Niels Koyen (Bel) | ||
| 43 | Lorenzo Pepermans (Bel) | ||
| 44 | Alexander Revell (NZl) Revolution Bicycles |
For more about this week's racing see Cycling News HD
