Reigning world champion Sven Nijs (Rabobank) took the opening round of the cyclo-cross World Cup Sunday, beating fellow Belgian Bart Wellens by 42 seconds in Kalmthout, Belgium.

Czech `crosser Peter Dlask took third, outsprinting Belgian Erwin Vervecken and Tom Vannoppen just a few seconds behind Wellens.

Out of a group of nine riders to slip off the front of the filed early on in the race, only Dlask and Wellens could respond to a powerful acceleration by Nijs. Dlask faded back as after he was forced to change bikes due to a mechanical. Wellens himself encountered troubles and changed bikes twice as he fought to keep Nijs within his sights.

Nijs’s win continues his phenomenal 2004/`05 season almost where he left off. Nijs won the Belgian national championship, the world championship and the overall World Cup title last season.

Photo: AFP

The next round of the ten-race World Cup series is scheduled for October 29th in Tabor, in the Czech Republic.

Results
1. Nijs Sven (B) Rabobank, 1:01:07
2. Wellens Bart (B), Fidea Cycling, at 0:42
3. Dlask Petr (Cz), at 0:46
4. Vervecken Erwin (B), Fidea Cycling, at 0:46
5. Vannoppen Tom (B), Mrbookmaker, at 0:46
6. Groenendaal Richard (Nl), Rabobank, at 0:48
7. Vanthourenhout Sven (B), Rabobank, at 1:41
8. De Knegt Gerben (Nl), at 1:41
9. Franzoi Enrico (I), Lampre - Caffita, at 1:44
10. Jacobs Wim (B), Fidea Cycling, at 1:55
11. Van Den Bergh Camiel (Nl), Stevens Racing, at 2:02
12. Aernouts Bart (B), Rabobank, at 2:13
13. Commeyne Davy (B), Mrbookmaker, at 2:21
14. Mlynar Zdenek (Cz), at 2:26
15. Heule Christian (Swi), Stevens Racing, at 2:26
16. Gadret John (F), Jartazi Revor, at 2:26
17. Zahner Simon (Swi), at 2:26
18. Simunek Radomir (Jr) (Cz), Mrbookmaker, at 2:26
19. Mourey Francis (F), Française Des Jeux, at 2:26
20. Chainel Steve (F), at 2:26
21. Ausbuher Kamil (Cz), at 2:45
22. Verstraeten Jan (B), Fidea Cycling, at 2:45
23. Stybar Zdenek (Cz), Fidea Cycling, at 2:45
24. Baumgartner Michael (Swi), at 2:45
25. Van Gils Wilant (Nl), Skil - Moser, at 3:26
26. Van Ijzendoorn Eddy (Nl), Van Vliet, at 3:44
27. Labbe Arnaud (F), Auber 93, at 3:44
28. Urban Malte (G), Stevens Racing, at 3:44
29. Struch Thorsten (G), at 3:50
30. Derepas David (F), at 3:53
31. Schwedler Jens (G), Stevens Racing, at 3:53
32. Al Thijs (Nl), Giant-Racing-Team, at 3:53
33. Zlamalik Martin (Cz), at 4:06
34. Isaac Suarez (Sp), at 4:06
35. Belgy Julien (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 4:26
36. Cichosz Marek (Pol), at 4:26
37. Page Jonathan (USA), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, at 4:35
38. Bianco Marco (I), at 4:35
39. Bina Martin (Cz), at 4:39
40. Dirkx Bart (Nl), at 4:39
41. Barenyi Milan (Svk), at 5:18
42. Seco Amundarain David (Sp), at 5:33
43. Bausch Gusty (Lux), at 5:33
44. Ramsauer Jan (Swi), at 6:14
45. Brezinski Fabian (G), 1 Lap
46. Benoist Guillaume (F), 1 Lap
47. Glajza Robert (Svk), 1 LapDid not Finish
 Pospisil Jiri (Cz), Stevens Racing
 Nijland Maarten (Nl), Eurogifts.Com
 Powers Jeremy (USA), Jelly Belly - Pool Gel
 Metlicka Vaclaf (Svk)
 Coughlin David (Can)
 Presslauer Peter Aut Stevens Racing
 Korzeniewski Tadeusz (Pol)
 Kaiser Andres (Pol)