The Cyclo-cross World Championships have been a source of pain for Sanne Cant in recent years. The Belgian has been one of the most prominent performers for the past four years but hadn’t been able to transform that into the much-desired rainbow jersey.
In 2015, she was edged out by Pauline Ferrand Prevot to the title, leading her to complain about, what she called part-timers, road riders who competed little during the rest of the cyclo-cross season. Last year, she found herself outgunned by Thalita de Jong, despite a commanding season that saw her take the World Cup title.
Pain turned to joy this weekend when she played her cards perfectly, helped by a little bit of luck and a breath-stopping move on the final lap, and beat seven-time world champion Marianne Vos to don the rainbow jersey for the first time. The win had been a long time coming and beating Vos to take it gave it a little more meaning for Cant.
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“This jersey is mine for a whole year,” Cant said following her victory. “I have dreamed of it since I was six years old. This is the first Belgian world title for the women, here I have written history. And then, I even grab the title by beating Marianne Vos, a seven-time world champion and a legend. It means a lot to me it gives my jersey shine… I'm happy that Marianne on the start, otherwise people would have again said that I could only win because she was not there.”
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Throughout her career, Cant has won the Belgian national title eight times, two European titles, two World Cup series victories and six World Cup race victories. Cant’s world championship victory has led to comparisons to her compatriot Sven Nys in the Belgian media. Nys retired at the end of last season, with four World Cup series victories and nine national titles, as well as a whole load of other successes.
— IKOEnertherm-Beobank (@IKOEne_Beo) January 29, 2017
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