Cyclocross Gullegem: Blanka Kata Vas wins women's race

Race Results
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Hungarian beats Van der Heijden and Sanne Cant

Hungarian Blanka Kata Vas celebrates as she crosses the finish line and wins the womens elite race of the Gullegem Cyclocross cycling event in Gullegem on January 2 2021 Photo by DAVID STOCKMAN BELGA AFP Belgium OUT Photo by DAVID STOCKMANBELGAAFP via Getty Images
Kata Blanka Vas celebrates victory (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Blanka Vas (Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport) repeated her early aggressiveness, which earned the 19-year-old a victory at Ethias Cross Bredene three days ago, and took her second consecutive solo victory Saturday, this time at Cyclocross Gullegem. Inge van der Heijden (777) and Sanne Cant (Iko-Crelan) would battle at the line to complete the podium, Van der Heijden taking second in the head-to-head battle.

French national champion Marion Norbert Riberolle (Starcasino cx Team) charged to the lead early by making a move in the first part of sand. She was followed by teammate Anna Kay, Vas, Van der Heijden, and Cant, until a mistake allowed all the chasers to pass. Vas used this break in momentum to her advantage taking control at the front on the second lap and then distanced herself more on each ensuing lap.

 “I really wanted to win because the first game was of the new year. It was a technical course, but the mud wasn't too difficult today. The mud was difficult in Dendermonde,” said Vas in a Wierlerflits report after her win Saturday.

Midway through the muddy course it looked like Cant would be the only rider to have a chance to even catch sight of, but Van der Heijden clawed her way back and marked all of Cant’s moves.

By the final lap, Cant set the pace in the final twisting turns of the course with Van der Heijden on her wheel. In the final straightaway the Belgian champion was unable to match Van der Heijden’s acceleration at the line to snatch second place. Both riders finished 30 seconds behind Vas, and Briton Kay taking fourth, more than a minute back of the Hungarian national champion. Riberolle would roll across the line in fifth, another 13 seconds after Kay.

Like the men’s race, many of the top women opted not to take part at Cyclocross Gullegem in order to rest for Sunday’s World Cup, including Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Fenix), Denise Betsema (Pauwels Saauzen-Bingoal), Lucinda Brand (Telenet Baloise Lions) and Clara Honsinger (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld).

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Vas Kata Blanka (Hun) 0:45:47
2Van der Heijden Inge (Ned) 777 0:00:30
3Cant Sanne (Bel) Iko - Crelan
4Kay Anna (GBr) Starcasino cx Team 0:01:15
5Norbert Riberolle Marion (Fra) Starcasino cx Team 0:01:28
6Van Alphen Aniek (Ned) Credishop-fristads 0:02:05
7Verhestraeten Karen (Bel) Iko - Crelan 0:02:29
8Fahringer Rebecca (USA) 0:02:55
9Meistrok Susanne (Ned) Proximus - Alphamotorhomes - Doltcini Ct 0:03:03
10Vanderbeken Joyce (Bel) 0:03:12
11Wright Sophie (GBr) 0:03:20
12Verhoeven Suzanne (Bel) 0:03:38
13De Wilde Julie (Bel) Iko - Crelan 0:04:03
14Van Anrooij Lindy (Ned) Starcasino cx Team 0:04:33
15Peeters Jinse (Bel) 0:04:44
16Van Wunsel Lise (Bel) 0:05:12
17Compton Katherine (USA) 0:05:23
18Brouwers Julie (Bel)
19Dobbelaere Jana (Bel) 0:05:42
20Maes Shana (Bel) Tormans Cyclo Cross Team 0:07:05
21De Bruyne Meg (Bel)
22Zwaenepoel Tessa (Bel) Proximus - Alphamotorhomes - Doltcini Ct
23Greenhalgh Laura (GBr)
24Kelly Siobhan (Can)
25Cueto Vega Sara (Spa) 2 laps
26Geoghegan Michelle (Irl) 2 laps
27Coogan Cisek Corey (USA) 2 laps
28Vermeir Aurélie (Bel) 3 laps
DNFGonzalez Blanco Lucia (Spa) Nesta - Skoda Alecar cx TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
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