Cyclocross Gullegem: Blanka Kata Vas wins women's race

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.

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.

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

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