Van Den Brand wins in Kalmthout

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Daphny Van den Brand won the fourth round of the women's World Cup in the snow of Kalmthout, in the North of Belgium. Along with World Champion Marianne Vos, she left the rest of the field behind from the opening lap of the race.

The two Dutch women dominated most of the technical race, but in the final lap Vos faltered to give Van den Brand the lead. Despite a tight race until the finish Van den Brand held on to her advantage and grabbed her first big win of the season.

Katherine Compton entered the race as World Cup leader and freshly crowned US-champion, but she didn't have the best start on 'home soil'. A resident of Kalmthout when in Belgium, Compton was still 10 seconds behind Vos and Van den Brand by the time she had worked her way through the chaos of the field behind. A lap later, Compton was riding solo 20 seconds from the leaders, a margin that would only grow before the end of the race.

Compton held on to finish third, 35 seconds from winner Van den Brand. However, it was enough for the American to maintain a narrow advantage in the overall World Cup standings.

Behind the top-three, Belgian talent Sanne Cant battled hard with experienced Hanka Kupfernagel for fourth place. Cant appeared to have the better of the duel, but it was Kupfernagel who threw her wheel first over the line.

Briton Helen Wyman abandoned the race after four laps.