Ronse victory for de Boer
Wyman and Verscheuren round out podium
Dutch rider Sophie de Boer (Kalas-NNOF) won the first round of the Bpost Bank Trophy cyclo-cross series in Ronse, Belgium. The win at the GP Mario De Clercq is the first victory for the 23-year-old who turned professional back in 2008.
At the finish line on top of the Hotondberg, de Boer had a bonus of seven seconds on Helen Wyman (Kona). Thanks to the 15 bonus seconds gained at the intermediate sprint Wyman is the first leader of the series. Belgian rider Jolien Verscheuren (Decock Woningbouw Vandekerckhove) was a surprising name in third place.
“I’m extremely happy for myself and the team. I suffered a lot. The running sections were extremely hard and Helen kept putting me under pressure. Still I was confident I could hold on to my lead,” De Boer told Sport.be after her win.
Disaster struck early on when several riders crashed in the first left-hand corner of the race. Among the casualties were Sanne Cant (Enertherm-BKCP), Elle Anderson (Kalas-NNOF), Ellen Van Loy (Young Telenet-Fidea) and Loes Sels. In front, Wyman didn’t wait and the British champion sped away with only Verscheuren and Nikki Harris (Young Telenet-Fidea) able to keep up.
Bad luck struck Wyman on the slopes of the steep Hotondberg when a chain problem cost her the front position. Harris was the first to pass her compatriot with De Boer and Verscheuren being the first chasers at short distance.
Further back Wyman and Van Loy were coming closer on the mostly dry but extremely demanding course.
With three laps to go, Harris seemed to be heading for the win but another mechanical took out the race leader. A delighted De Boer profited and grabbed her first big win just ahead of Wyman.
Verscheuren claimed third place at 20 seconds back, just like the 24-year-old Belgian did at the final Superprestige round in Middelkerke last season.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Sophie De Boer (Ned) Kalas-NNOF Cycling Team | 0:47:14 |
2 | Helen Wyman (GBr) Konfa FFSA Factory Team | 0:00:07 |
3 | Jolien Verschueren (Bel) Wielerteam Decock-Woningbouw Vandekerckhove | 0:00:16 |
4 | Ellen Van Loy (Bel) VZW Young Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 0:00:20 |
5 | Elle Anderson (USA) Kalas-NNOF Cycling Team | 0:01:17 |
6 | Githa Michiels (Bel) | 0:01:43 |
7 | Aida Nuno Palacio (Spa) | 0:02:05 |
8 | Pavla Havlikova (Cze) VZW Young Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 0:02:18 |
9 | Nikki Harris (GBr) VZW Young Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 0:02:34 |
10 | Karen Verhestraeten (Bel) Kleur Op Maat cyclingteam | 0:02:36 |
11 | Loes Sels (Bel) VZW Young Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 0:02:41 |
12 | Sanne Cant (Bel) Enertherm - BKCP | 0:02:42 |
13 | Bianca Van Den Hoek (Ned) | 0:03:45 |
14 | Laura Verdonschot (Bel) AA Drink-B.R.I.S. Cycling Team | 0:04:14 |
15 | Lizzy Witlox (Ned) Kleur Op Maat cyclingteam | 0:04:46 |
16 | Monique Van De Ree (Ned) | 0:05:53 |
17 | Lindy Van Anrooij (Ned) | 0:05:54 |
18 | Katrien Thijs (Bel) Kleur Op Maat cyclingteam | 0:06:09 |
19 | Maud Kaptheijns (Ned) AA Drink-B.R.I.S. Cycling Team | 0:06:13 |
20 | Hannah Payton (GBr) | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Christine Vardaros (USA) | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Femke Van Den Driessche (Bel) VZW Lotto-Ladiescycling | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Lotte Eikelenboom (Ned) AA Drink-B.R.I.S. Cycling Team | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Cindy Bauwens (Bel) | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Shana Maes (Bel) AA Drink-B.R.I.S. Cycling Team | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Ilse Vandekinderen (Bel) | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Anja Geldhof (Bel) | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Axelle Bellaert (Bel) AA Drink-B.R.I.S. Cycling Team | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Kim Van De Steene (Bel) Afdeling Oost-Vlaanderen WBV - VZW | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Meg De Bruyne (Bel) VD Hauwe CT - Gentse VS | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Jessika Timmermans (Bel) Hageland Cycling Team | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Chris Van Dorsselaere (Bel) Rudyco-Janatrans Cycling Team | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Jana Dobbelaere (Bel) | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Cindy Diericx (Bel) Coolens Cycling Team | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
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