Blanka Vas wins Ethias Cross Bredene

19-year-old Blanka Vas (Doltcini Van Eyck Sport) stepped up from her series of recent placings to win the Ethias Cross in Bredene, attacking from the start and powering away to a solo victory. 

The Hungarian national champion has already impressed at under 23 level and took advantage of the absence of Lucinda Brand, world Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Marianne Vos to take a major elite win.

Sanne Cant (Iko-Crelan) fought back to take second place, while Alicia Frank (Proximus-Alphamotorhomes-Doltcini) beat US national champion Clara Honsinger (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld) for the final podium spot in a sprint. 

Honsinger seemed ahead in the final hundred metres but Frank took the final podium spot by inches with a perfectly-timed bike through. 

Vas crashed at speed mid-race, sliding out on the muddy grass, but she picked herself up and pushed on to win by a significant 1:14 ahead of Cant. 

“I’m really happy. It’s my best result this season and in my career,” she explained.