From the preview:
I've tried every way to gnome "bollekescross" and prove that it's bollocks Cross. No luck. But I know in my heart that it's true. What tgsgirl said...
It's time for a smidgeon of sanity in our cyclocross season - or else we'll all be bonkers by the time Omloop comes 'round again. We've had the entertaining craziness of Koppenberg and Zonhoven the past weekend, so how about we play it a bit more sane this time around? Let us be normal Belgians, and let's have a race with beer in the name. Yeah, that sounds sane. The Bollekescross hands out a really big glass of beer to the winner, which always makes for fun pictures.
Oh, and in case you were wondering about the actual race: some steep hills, but pretty fast none the less. It's not too bad, but it's not often a highlight of the season either. Except that one time when the country flooded and the riders basically had to swim the course. That was fun.
So it's a solid race, full of comforting cultural markers (beer) and fine competition. The race is perhaps lacking in craziness, but not punchiness, or narrow lanes, or loveliness for that matter. Also a pretty massive bridge. And like any course, if it rains enough...
Hamme: chance of rain 70%
Superprestige GC
1. Sven Nys 29
2. Klaas Vantornout 28
3. Niels Albert 25
4. Lars van der Haar (Ned) 24
5. Tom Meeusen 22
6. Bart Aernouts 21
7. Philipp Walsleben (Dui) 14
8. Kevin Pauwels 12
9. Thijs van Amerongen (Ned) 9
10. Wietse Bosmans 9