Another world champion in Averbode!
After Julien Absalon, Sven Nys and Bart Brentjens also Roel Paulissen has confirmed his participation in the Belgacom Mountainbike Official Benelux Champs on 10 May in Averbode.
"I am pleased with the fact that people in Flanders finally take the initiative to stage a top event like this one ", according to Roel Paulissen. "The field of contenders and the fact that the VRT will broadcast this race are added values for our sport."
"It might not be a course suited for my possibilities, I am happy that it is a fast track. Eyeing the World Cup races that follow Averbode the race is a welcome change and a perfect preparation. I'm already looking forward to be riding for a home audience!"
Besides Paulissen some other national champions already confirmed their participation in Averbode:
Periklis Ilas (national champion Greece - Balcan Champion 2007)
Sergiy Rysenko (national champion Ukrain)
Enrique Avancini (national champion Brasil - Panamerican Champion)
"It might not be a course suited for my possibilities, I am happy that it is a fast track. Eyeing the World Cup races that follow Averbode the race is a welcome change and a perfect preparation. I'm already looking forward to be riding for a home audience!"
| Roel Paulissen |
| Olympic Games: 4th in 2004 WC Cross-Country: bronze in 2003 WC Marathon: world champion in 2008, silver in 2007 and bronze in 2006 EC Cross-Country: bronze in 2000 Belgian Champion in 2008 in Malmedy (ahead of Sven Nys) |
Besides Paulissen some other national champions already confirmed their participation in Averbode:
Periklis Ilas (national champion Greece - Balcan Champion 2007)
Sergiy Rysenko (national champion Ukrain)
Enrique Avancini (national champion Brasil - Panamerican Champion)
Nys versus Absalon in Averbode
Averbode is already enjoying the fact a strong field of contender will be participating in the Belgacom MTB Official Benelux Champs of 10 May. Besides Sven Nys defending Olympic champion Julien Absalon and former Olympic champion Bart Brentjens will be present.
In August Julien Absalon won the golden medal at the Beijing Olympics. Four years earlier, in Athens, the Frenchman took the Olympic title as well.
Last year Absalon became French champion and he won five out of nine World Cup races. He already took the French championships six times, European championships once and Worlds four times. He has won the final overall of the World Cup four times.
Bart Brentjens will start in Averbode as well. The tenfold Dutch champion is known best from his 1996 Olympic title in Atlanta. In Athens in 2004 he won bronze. Brentjens already won a European and World championships as well as the World Cup.
The current Belgian champion Nicolas Vermeulen (elite marathon) and Dries Govaerts (espoirs XC) will also take part in the race on 10 May.
Last year Absalon became French champion and he won five out of nine World Cup races. He already took the French championships six times, European championships once and Worlds four times. He has won the final overall of the World Cup four times.
Bart Brentjens will start in Averbode as well. The tenfold Dutch champion is known best from his 1996 Olympic title in Atlanta. In Athens in 2004 he won bronze. Brentjens already won a European and World championships as well as the World Cup.
The current Belgian champion Nicolas Vermeulen (elite marathon) and Dries Govaerts (espoirs XC) will also take part in the race on 10 May.
Cyclocross top will participate in Averbode
The Belgacom Mountainbike Official Benelux Champs will see a lot of cyclocross stars appear. Riders like Zdenek Stybar and Kevin Pauwels will start in Averbode on Sunday 10 May.
In the past season, Kevin Pauwels won the Druivencross in Overijse and he is currently number 5 on the UCI ranking. Zdenek Stybar is runner up there, behind the untouchable Sven Nys, who already earlier confirmed his participation in the Belgacom Mountainbike Official Benelux Champs. Stybar is national Czech champion and is the current silver medal holder of the cyclocross worlds.
Tom Meeusen (Belgian champion cyclocross with the espoirs in 2008) and Gerben De Knegt (former Dutch national champion) will take part in the Averbode event. Another striking new name on the participation list is Thijs Al. The Dutch rider won the World Cup race cyclocross in Zolder and is Dutch champion MTB 2008.
Earlier on Sven Nys and Sven Vanthourenhout confirmed their presence. The Belgacom Mountainbike Official Benelux Champs will also see a whole range of names from the world of MTB appear as well: Julien Absalon, Bart Brentjens and Roel Paulissen already confirmed their participation for the 10 May race.
Tom Meeusen (Belgian champion cyclocross with the espoirs in 2008) and Gerben De Knegt (former Dutch national champion) will take part in the Averbode event. Another striking new name on the participation list is Thijs Al. The Dutch rider won the World Cup race cyclocross in Zolder and is Dutch champion MTB 2008.
Earlier on Sven Nys and Sven Vanthourenhout confirmed their presence. The Belgacom Mountainbike Official Benelux Champs will also see a whole range of names from the world of MTB appear as well: Julien Absalon, Bart Brentjens and Roel Paulissen already confirmed their participation for the 10 May race.
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