Vandenbulcke surprises with Belgian women's road title
Hometown win for 23-year-old
Jesse Vandenbulcke (Doltcini-Van Eyck) is the surprise winner of the Belgian championships on a 120km-long, flat course in Ghent. After three hours of racing, the 23-year-old out-sprinted Ann-Sophie Duyck (Parkhotel) and Julie Van de Velde (Lotto-Soudal) and teammate Mieke Docx.
"Winning the jersey was something that I only thought about in my dreams. I live in Ghent and now I win here. My son turns two in two weeks. It's my first real win, apart of a time-trial victory," Vandenbulcke told Sporza in the post-race flash interview. "I was crying at the finish line and so did my son, Fabian, because he didn't know what was going on. This is the most beautiful thing that could happen."
It was Laura Verdonschot, mainly known from her cyclo-cross performances, who set up the large breakaway group of 12 riders shortly after Walter Godefroot fired the race underway in Ghent. Top favourite Jolien D'Hoore lacked teammates to control the breakaway group and co-favourites Lotte Kopecky and defending champion Annelies Dom had Van de Velde in front.
The breakaway group collected a bonus of four minutes and Vandenbulcke realised that she had a chance to win. During the penultimate lap, only Duyck, Van de Velde, Vandenbulcke and Mieke Docx survived a few accelerations. The four leaders were still more than two minutes ahead of the beaten peloton. A few late attempts to avoid the sprint ended up going nowhere, with Docx keeping the pace high for Vandenbulcke. Already at 500m from the finish line, Vandenbulcke already started her sprint.
She quickly gapped Duyck and Van de Velde but started to struggle in the final metres. Duyck came back to half a bike length from Vandenbulcke who narrowly held on for the win. Alana Castrique (Lotto-Soudal) finished solo ahead of the first chase group to grab the Women Under 23 title. Defending champion Dom won the sprint of the main chase group for sixth place.
Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Jesse Vandenbulcke (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport | 3:00:59 |
2 | Ann-Sophie Duyck (Bel) Parkhotel Valkenburg | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Julie Van De Velde (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Mieke Docx (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport | 0:00:09 |
5 | Alana Castrique (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies | 0:01:10 |
6 | Annelies Dom (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies | 0:01:18 |
7 | Kaat Hannes (Bel) | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Kelly Druyts (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Nathalie Bex (Bel) | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Ellen Van Loy (Bel) | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Shari Bossuyt (Bel) | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Karen Verhestraeten (Bel) | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Laura Verdonschot (Bel) | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Saartje Vandenbroucke (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Ditte Lenseclaes (Bel) | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Lynn Marien (Bel) | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Fien Delbaere (Bel) Health Mate-Ladies Team | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Britt Knaven (Bel) | 0:01:22 |
19 | Kim De Baat (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport | 0:03:04 |
20 | Loes Sels (Bel) | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Nathalie Verschelden (Bel) | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Femke Verstichelen (Bel) Memorial-Santos | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Kelly Van Den Steen (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Sofie De Vuyst (Bel) Parkhotel Valkenburg | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Lenny Druyts (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Julie Stockman (Bel) | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Jessy Druyts (Bel) | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Shana Dalving (Bel) | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Sarah Inghelbrecht (Bel) | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Lotte Rotman (Bel) Health Mate-Ladies Team | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Jinse Peeters (Bel) | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Kim Van Den Steen (Bel) | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Cameron Vandenbroucke (Bel) | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Isabelle Beckers (Bel) | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Glacia Dhont (Bel) | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Noa Selosse (Bel) | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Tara Gins (Bel) | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Marthe Truyen (Bel) | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Ellen Feytens (Bel) | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Laura Van Geyt (Bel) | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Lone Meertens (Bel) | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Katie Van Geyte (Bel) | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Nele Armee (Bel) | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Valerie Demey (Bel) CCC-Liv | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Fien Van Eynde (Bel) | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Malou Van Hooste (Bel) | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Isabel Vandewalle (Bel) | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Julie Debock (Bel) | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Naïka Deneef (Bel) | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Amber Lacompte (Bel) | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Maxime Roes (Bel) | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Suzanne Verhoeven (Bel) Health Mate-Ladies Team | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Silke D´Hont (Bel) | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Marie Dessart (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Amber Aernouts (Bel) | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Alicia Franck (Bel) | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Lensy Debboudt (Bel) | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Lotte Kopecky (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Jolien D`Hoore (Bel) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Jana Dobbelaere (Bel) | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Sanne Cant (Bel) | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Marjon Claus (Bel) | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Demmy Druyts (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Aiko Uyttenhove (Bel) | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Sarah Ten Hartog (Bel) | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Evelien Debboudt (Bel) | 0:03:14 |
67 | Sarah Borremans (Bel) | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Lara Defour (Bel) Health Mate-Ladies Team | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Lynn Vanhoof (Bel) | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Tinne Vermeiren (Bel) | 0:03:17 |
71 | Caren Commissaris (Bel) | 0:03:30 |
72 | Tiana Troch (Bel) | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Delphine Brits (Bel) | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Laura Bragano (Bel) | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Margot Bourguignon (Bel) | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Elise Anthonissen (Bel) | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Liena Vanderheyden (Bel) | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Fleur Vandecaveye (Bel) | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ines Malfait (Bel) | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Eveline Baele (Bel) | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nancy Wittock (Bel) | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Anke Van Rompay (Bel) | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jasmien De Boeck (Bel) | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Katrien Rubbens (Bel) | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Eline Coudeville (Bel) | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Eveline Dergent (Bel) | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tine Rombouts (Bel) | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Riena Vermunicht (Bel) | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Naomi De Roeck (Bel) | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Fien De Paepe (Bel) | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nele De Vos (Bel) | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Inge Nys (Bel) | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Myrthe De Ruysscher (Bel) | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Axelle Bellaert (Bel) | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lisa Vermeire (Bel) | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Herlinde Coudeville (Bel) | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Joyce De Loof (Bel) | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Elien Mercier (Bel) | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marjolijn Boerjan (Bel) | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tiana Poffé (Bel) | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sine Van Win (Bel) | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sarah Vloemans (Bel) | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Aurelie Vermeir (Bel) | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Meg De Bruyne (Bel) | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Paquita Derie (Bel) | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mieke Leeman (Bel) | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alyssa Lurquin (Bel) | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marjolein Moreau (Bel) | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Amber Spriet (Bel) | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Brenda Goessens (Bel) | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lana Petit (Bel) | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Leonie Vanderjeugt (Bel) | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ayse Van Laethem (Bel) | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Chayenne Vranken (Bel) | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sofie Driesen (Bel) | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Carolien Haers (Bel) | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Liliane Leenknegt (Bel) | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lies De Vleminck (Bel) | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marisa Dirks (Bel) | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Celestien Van Ael (Bel) | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Shana Van Glabeke (Bel) | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Yasmine De Wulf (Bel) | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Evy Tillaert (Bel) | Row 122 - Cell 2 |
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