Twenty-three-year-old Radomir Simunek Jr. (Palmans-Collstrop) won the third round of the UCI World Cup cyclo-cross series held Saturday in the Czech Republic.

Simunek celebrated his first World Cup win in front of a Czech crowd at the site of the 2001 World Championships in Tabor.

Simunek joined an early attack by Bart Wellens (Fidea)and rode with the former world champion for the bulk of the hour-long event. Simunek, however, proved to be the stronger of the two on Saturday and he powered away from the Belgian on the final lap.

"I tried a little acceleration," Simunek said, "and I found I had a gap. I had expected it would come down to a sprint, but in the end I managed to hold my advantage until the finish."

Simunek finished ten seconds ahead of Wellens and a healthy 35 seconds ahead of a strong chase group that included reigning world champion Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) and World Cup leader Sven Nys (Rabobank).

Nys continues to lead the series, having won the opening two rounds, emerging the victor last week in Kalmthout, Belgium, and on October 1 in Aigle, Switzerland.

Results - World Cup Round III - Tabor, Czech Republic
1. Radomir Simunek (Cz), Palmans-Collstrop, 1:03:40
2. Bart Wellens (B), Fidea, 00:10
3. Erwin Vervecken (B), Fidea, 00:35
4. Klaas Vantornout (B), Fidea
5. Sven Nijs (B), Rabobank
6. Zdenek Stybar (Cz), Fidea
7. Sven Vanthourenhout (B), Rabobank, 00:45
8. Kamil Ausbuher (Cz), at 00:48
9. Gerben De Knegt (Nl), Rabobank, 00:50
10. Bart Aernouts (B), Rabobank, 00:56