Nolan Huysmans and Thibaut Bernard are still in the lead in the U23 AVS Cup after the third night. Their 63 points kept them ahead of Britain’s Elliot Rowe and William Salter (38) on Wednesday night. Stan Dens and Tom Crabbe are in third place with 37 points.
Rowe won the first points race, ahead of his compatriot Sam Fisher and Frenchman Lucas Menanteau. Huysmans had to settle for fifth place. In the second points race, Matijs Van Strijthem kept Salter and Denmark’s Albert Holm at bay. Huysmans and Bernard won the 500-metre time trial and set a new U23 track record. Huysmans finished in 27.810.
“It wasn’t even our best day”, said Bernard. “I was ill when I woke up and Nolan was suffering from heavy legs in the first points race. But the track record makes up for a lot. We now have a 25-points lead on the Brits, but they are also very strong. For me, the Six Days of the Future don’t start until Friday. That’s when we ride our first Madison. That will be the pivotal event. Let’s see where we get to tomorrow night.”
Rankings:
1. Nolan Huysmans/Thibaut Bernard (Bel) 63 points
2. Elliot Rowe/William Salter (GB) 38
3. Stan Dens/Tom Crabbe (Bel) 37
4. Julian Vergouw/Elmar Abma (Ned) 32
5. Mathieu Dupe/Lucas Menanteau (Fra) 29
6. Victor Vaneeckhoutte/Liam Van Bylen (Bel) 22
7. Nicolas Aernouts/Mathijs Van Strijthem (Bel) 21
8. Renzo Raes/Raphael Kokas (Bel/Aus) 19
9. Finaly Tarling/Sam Fisher (GB) 17
10. Albert Holm/Peter Beki Laursen (Den) 9
11. Benjamin Boos/Leon Arenz (Ger) 7
12. Tommaso Alunni/Niccolo Galli (Ita) 6
