At the traditional season opener for the cyclocross season in Erpe-Mere, Belgium, World Champion Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus)  rode easily to victory aboard a bike equipped with Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 electronic groupset.

The Belgian will ride the whole season on the group as will his main competition, Sven Nijs (Landbouwkrediet) and Lars Boom (Rabobank).  This marks an interesting challenge for the Dura-Ace Di2 group as the demands of cyclocross are quite different to that of road cycling.  Could this be the begining of a move to make a true electronic off-road group?  If Dura-Ace Di2 can survive riding cyclocross, then maybe!  Watch this space…