Marianne Vos wins in Valkenburg
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Arley Kemmerer on course.
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Alice Maria Arzuffi fighting fatigue to finish on the same lap as Vos.
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Sanne Cant is the Belgian Champion.
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Vos takes the top step, again.
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Now that definitely hurt! Caroline Mani (Raleigh-Clement) catches her breath after outsprinting Gabby Durrin for 10th place
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Ellen Van Loy (DNCS-Pro 2012 Cycling Team) on foot in Valkenburg.
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Ayako Toyooka was the sole Japanese representative on the day.
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Vos is congratulated by Katie Compton.
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The elite women's podium from the first World Cup of the season (L-R): Katie Compton, Marianne Vos and Nikki Harris
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Riders rugged up quickly after the race
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Lindy Van Anrooij finished one lap behind Vos.
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Vos and Nikki Harris shake hands.
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Marianne Vos leads the World Cup standings after taking the opening round.
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Vos did not let up, even with the finish in sight.
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Elena Valentini cresting a hill.
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Lambracht on foot.
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Jamie Bierens enjoyed home crowd support in The Netherlands.
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Nikki Harris would go on to finish third.
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Jessica Lambracht prepares to re-mount her stead.
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Lucie Chainel-Lefevre finished 12th in Valkenburg.
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Alice Maria Arzuffi finished inside the top 20.
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Marianne Vos on her way to winning the first 'cross World Cup of the season
(Image credit: AFP)
Marianne Vos wins the first 'cross World Cup of the season
(Image credit: AFP)
Marianne Vos (Rabobank Liv/Giant) lived up to her status as world champion and absolute favourite, winning the women's race at the first round of the World Cup cyclo-cross series with a display of classy 'cross racing.
"I have absolutely no regrets at all for extending my campaign after the road season in order to be able to ride here," Vos told NOS right after her win. "I like riding here a lot, and I like winning a lot, too."
"This course is so hard. I tried hard to maintain the same pace throughout the race and stay focused. There's not a single flat section and no time to recover."
The race started with a minute of silence in memory of Amy Dombroski. Not present in the line-up at the start was 2010-2011 World Cup winner Sanne van Paassen (Rabo Women Cycling Team), who is sidelined with leg injuries and is expected to miss most of this 'cross season.
Vos dominated on the hilly course in Valkenburg in the southern Limburg region of the Netherlands. She quickly opened a gap on the rest of the field and then used her speed, power and cycling skills to extended her lead all the way to the finish.
Behind Vos, five women fought for second place. They were US national champion Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Collective), French rider Christel Ferrier-Brunea (Faren Kuota) and British riders Nikki Harris (Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team) and Helen Wyman (Kona Factory Team).
Compton broke away from the group during the second lap, steadily riding away from her rivals. She finished 1:35 behind Vos.
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The other chasers were battling for third place. An acceleration from Harris during the penultimate lap first distanced Ferrier-Bruneau and then also compatriot Wyman. Harris eventually trailed Compton by 17 seconds, holding off Wyman by 12 seconds and Ferrier-Bruneau by 19 seconds.
Logically, Vos is the first leader in the World Cup standings, but she will not defend the white jersey in the next round in Tabor, Czech Republic next week.
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