Sanne Cant (IKO Enertherm-Beobank) won her eighth consecutive Belgian cyclo-cross title in Ostend on Sunday afternoon. On a tough course Cant narrowly held off a surprisingly strong Laura Verdonschot (Marlux-Napoleon Games). More than a minute later Ellen Van Loy (Young Telenet-Fidea) captured the final podium spot ahead of team-mate Jolien Verschueren (Young Telenet-Fidea).
“It was a hard-fought battle," Cant told Sporza. "It’s been one of the hardest editions I’ve ridden. It would’ve been massively disappointing if I would’ve lost."
All the female categories raced together in Ostend, with the U23-Women and the Elite women racing six laps over the entertaining course. At the start Verschueren missed her pedal and behind her several young riders crashed. The riders quickly reached the spectacular bridge that was created for these championships, reaching an altitude of eight metres after climbing with a gradient of 21 degrees.
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After the fast drop from the massive bridge riders reached the beach next to the North Sea. UCI-rule 5.1.023 states that sand pits must have a level entrance and that was clearly not the case here. Unsurprisingly many riders crashed when entering the sand pit at high speed. Four riders powered strongly through the sand and rode the rest of the opening lap together, featuring Cant, Verdonschot, Van Loy and Alicia Franck (Marlux-Napoleon Games).
Verschueren, Loes Sels (Young Telenet-Fidea) and Karen Verhestraeten followed at nine seconds. Verschueren her chances for the win quickly vanished when she crashed in the sand after the descent from the bridge.
Franck and Van Loy were quickly dropped in the second lap. Surprisingly it wasn’t top favourite Cant but 20 year-old Verdonschot who set the pace in front. Van Loy failed to bridge back up, trialing the two leaders by three seconds after the second lap. Franck followed at thirteen seconds, with Verschueren coming up at 21 seconds.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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