Cant takes Superprestige Diegem win

World Champion Sanne Cant (Beobank-Corendon) won a floodlit edition of the Superprestige Ladies Trophy in Diegem, her first victory in the series this season. A tight race for second saw Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Canyon-SRAM) prevail, finishing 21 seconds back. Maud Kaptheijns (Crelan-Charles) finished third at 35 seconds.

Diegem was a special race in more ways than one. Firstly, it was a standalone, being seven weeks since the last round in Gavere and six until the penultimate round in Hoogstraten. It was also the only evening race on the calendar, and the first this year to welcome cycling stars Marianne Vos (WaowDeals) and Ferrand-Prevot (Canyon-SRAM).

A bigger story, though, was the fight for the overall title, with Cant (62 points) trailing close behind Kaptheijns (64) going into the round. After Kaptheijns’ 12th place in Gavere, the rankings were blown wide open, despite her winning the opening four Superprestige rounds.

It looked as though the Dutchwoman had a point to prove at the start, going out hard in the mud in order to thin the field. A select chasing group soon formed, consisting of Cant, Ferrand-Prevot, Vos, Annemarie Worst (Era-Circus) and Laura Verdonschot (Marlux-Napoleon Games).

In contrast to her earlier dominant displays this season, Kaptheijns didn't stay away but was quickly brought back. She looked among the strongest, though, riding at the front in the mud and stringing out the group at the end of the first lap.

Not long after she was off the front again, accompanied by Cant, and then on the uphill road section by Ferrand-Prevot. Verdonschot gave chase, but the lead trio enjoyed a 10-second gap at the end of lap two, a lead which would only increase.

The race's decisive move came in the sand on lap three as Cant pushed the pace. Kaptheijns was gapped, and just in front of her Ferrand-Prevot had to dismount and run; it was game over.

Cant eked out a lead metre by metre, ensuring an impressive victory, while Ferrand-Prevot stuck with Kaptheijns until the road section on the final lap. The Crelan-Charles rider had no answers, and so the podium was set.

As for the overall rankings, Cant and Kaptheijns are now tied on 77 points ahead of the final two rounds. The Superprestige Ladies Trophy will resume in mid-February.

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