Sanne Cant (Crelan-Corendon) scored the 125th victory of her career with a solo ride to the line at the fourth round of the Exact Cross series in Loenhout.
The result, her first win since the Belgian Championships back in January, came ahead of Czech rider Kristyna Zemanóva (Brilon Racing Team MB) and Crelan-Corendon teammate Manon Bakker.
"It's been a long time since I won a 'cross," Cant said after the race, according to WielerFlits. "I really wanted to win, but I was one of the few who rode three days in a row here. So, I had doubts at the start.
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"I think I always start as the favourite at the Belgian Championships," she said of the upcoming race on January 14, one of her season goals. "Still, an extra win isn't going to change my career.
"Those fourteen Belgian jerseys in a row are a great achievement. Yet my victories at the European Championships and World Championships are more important to me. Whether it is 15, 16 or 10 jerseys does not make much difference."
The likes of Fem van Empel, Puck Pieterse, and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado weren't at the start line on Friday, leaving open a major opportunity in the absence of three riders who have racked up 20 wins so far this season.
It was Cant who ended up with the victory, though Zemanóva and Bakker put up a major fight through the mud of the rain-hit race.
Zemanóva was first to hit the front, with Bakker joining her to make it two up front early on. At that point, Cant was stuck further back, but worked her way up to make it a trio in the lead by the end of the opening lap.
The Belgian champion decided to make her move as the riders passed the pits for the second time. Only Zemanóva was able to match Cant's acceleration, making it a two-woman battle for victory heading into the third of four laps.
Behind them, Bakker was the clear best of the rest, riding on with a large gap back to next best riders Anna Kay (Cyclocross Reds) in fourth and Jana Dobbelaere (Duolar-Chevalmeire) in fifth.
The fight for first place was decided on the penultimate lap by Cant as the 33-year-old put in the decisive move to distance Zemanòva. Rather than one major burst of speed, Cant edged away to gain a gap, building her lead to 10 seconds by the start of the final lap.
She'd continue solo to the line without any problems to capture the victory, while also solo behind her, Zemanóva and Bakker rounded out the podium.
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