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VeloBriefs: Former world champion Knetemann dead at 53; Nys tops at Koppenbergcross

Published: Nov. 2, 2004
Nys is in top form
Nys is in top form
Photo: Marcel Van Hoecke

The Netherlands’ 1978 world cycling road race champion Gerrie Knetemann died of a heart attack on Tuesday aged 53, the Dutch Cycling Federation (KNWU) announced.

According to the federation he died while out riding a bike with three friends at his birthplace of Bergen in the north west of the Netherlands.

Knetemann's career spanned 15 years (1974-89) which saw him win 10 stages in the Tour de France and he was regarded as one of the finest classics riders in the world, winning the Amstel Gold Race twice and the Paris Nice once.

Knetemann, who leaves a wife and two children, recorded 130 victories in all and after his retirement became the selector for the Dutch cycling team, a post he still held.

"He was an outstanding athlete and an example to everyone," said Joop Atsma, president of KNWU.

Rabobank’s Michael Boogerd, one of Holland’s current cycling stars, said he couldn't believe that Knetemann had died.

"It is a huge shock. 53 years of age is too young to die," he said.

Knetemann at last year's world's in Hamilton
Knetemann at last year's world's in Hamilton
Photo: AFP (file photo)

Gerrie Knetemann
Born: March 6, 1951
Died: November 2, 2004
 
Pro career: 1974-1989
Major victories (130 wins as a professional)
World Championship Road Race  (1978)
Amstel Gold Race (1974 and 1985)
Frankfurt GP (1977)
Ten stage wins - Tour de France (between 1975 and 1982)
Paris-Nice (1978)
Three days of La Panne (1982)
Four days of Dunkerque (1977)
Ruta del Sol (1976)
Tour of Belgium (1980)
Tour of Holland (1976, 1980, 1981, 1986)
Mediterranean Tour (1978, 1980, 1983)
 
Teams
Gan-Mercier (1974-75)
Ti-Raleigh (1976-83)
Europ Decor (1984)
Skill Sem (1985)
PDM (1986-89)

Nys wins Koppenbergcross
Just as he predicted he would, Belgian Sven Nys took the famed Koppenbergcross Monday, winning the opening round of the Gazet van Antwerpen trophee for the second time of his career.

Nys, who finished second to fellow Belgian Tom Vanopppen in Sunday’s Superprestige event in Holland, attacked early on a course that has a reputation for being one of cyclo-cross’s most difficult challenges of the season.

Nys quickly built a lead on the field and managed to hold off all challengers, including reigning world champion Bart Wellens, the winner of the race last year. Indeed, Wellens lost four minutes to his compatriot raising questions about his fitness and his ability to defend his world title.

Nys, meanwhile, rode the majority of Monday’s event on his own, taking time to turn his final trip around the course into a victory lap of sorts, finishing well ahead of second-place Richard Groenendaal.

"It was never so easy for me to win the Koppenberg,” he said after celebrating his sixth major victory of the season. “If I try to do this again for a hundred times, I might succeed only once, but my legs were tremendous today. To win after such a tough weekend, is very satisfying."

Wellens, meanwhile, said he was disappointed in that he had hoped to be in top form for the Koppenberg, but now says it may be another two weeks or so before he reaches peak form.

Wellens: The end of the rainbow... or just a slow start?
Wellens: The end of the rainbow... or just a slow start?
Photo: Marcel Van Hoecke

"Tabor (in the Czech Republic) made me realize that I was not yet as good as I wanted to be,” Wellens remarked. “Mid-November is my new target. Then it has to work."

Wellens’s father Lucien said the ‘cross-focused family is not too concerned about the younger Wellens’s performance at this point of the year.

"Only two things matter this season: the jersey with three colors and the one with five,” he said referring to the Belgian and world champion’s jerseys.

Nys, too, said he looks forward to the time when Wellens emerges from his apparent slump.

"I hope that he returns quickly,” he said. “Because he is usually my most serious competition and I enjoy that a lot." -- by Marcel Van Hoecke

Navigators adds strength to '05 Roster
David O'Loughlin, Ireland’s reigning national road champion and 2003 national time trial champion, is the latest addition to the Navigators Insurance Cycling Team's 2005 roster.

The Irishman is no stranger to the U.S. peloton, having completed a two-year stint with the American Division 3 Ofoto-Lombardi Sports Team, before returning to the European peloton for 2004.

O'Loughlin's 2004 successes include victories in GP Begijnedijk in Belgium, the Lincoln International GP in Britain, and Ireland's classic Shay Elliot Memorial, as well as a stage-6 win on the way to a third place GC finish in Ireland's national tour, the FBD Milk Ras.

The team also announced the signing of American neo-pro Shawn Milne of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The 23-year-old will make his professional debut with the Navigators.

Milne had a successful 2004 as an amateur, winning several races in New England and proving his ability in an International arena with a victory at Altea, Spain. His third place overall finish in the NRC Tour of Connecticut proved his ability to compete with America's top professionals.

Returning to the team, after dedicating the 2004 season to his Russian National team in preparation for the Athens Olympics, is former Russian National Champion Oleg Grishkine.

Grishkine had several road victories in Europe during the 2004 season as he focused his efforts on preparing for the Olympic track events, and will again be able to concentrate on the road in 2005.

The Navigators Insurance Cycling team is completing its negotiations with several other riders, and expects to release a full roster next week.

Honda signs Lehikoinen
Team G-Cross Honda announced Tuesday that Finnish downhiller Matti Lehikoinen will be joining Greg Minnaar to contest the full UCI schedule in 2005.

The 20-year-old Lehikoinen will be replacing 18-year-old junior rider Cyrille Kurtz of France.

Lehikoinen is the 2001 Junior European Champion, and in 2004 has placed consistently in the top 10 at World Cup races, included seventh in Livigno, Italy, which plays host to the 2005 World Championships.

"This is a huge honor for me and I am very happy to be racing on such a top quality program with all the support I need to progress further in my career, and of course to be back with Greg is great,” Lehikoinen said, recalling his time with Minnaar in 2001 and 2002. “I’m really looking forward to our first testing session in 2005!"

Team officials said that recent testing in Japan with Minnaar has been “extremely positive.”

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