Cyclocross Gullegem: Blanka Kata Vas wins women's race

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).