European Cyclocross Championships: Leonie Bentveld leads from start to finish to dominate women's under-23 race
Defending champion Célia Gery finishes second with Amandine Muller third
Leonie Bentveld attacked on the opening lap and led all the way to the finish to claim a convincing victory in the women's under-23 race at the 2025 European Cyclocross Championships.
The Dutch rider was a heavy favourite alongside reigning champion Célia Gery (France) coming into the race, but showed superior form and skill in the sand to win by more than a minute.
Gery, who in September won the first standalone women's under-23 road world title in Kigali, trailed 1:13 behind in second place, with her French team-mate Amandine Muller taking third.
Bentveld struck out early on the opening lap, building up a significant advantage over lone pursuer Gery, with the race blown apart in ones and twos behind. Belgian Shanyl De Schoesitter briefly bridged to Gery on the second lap to form a chasing duo, half a minute down on Bentveld.
The Dutchwoman continued to set an unrelenting pace with her lead continuing to grow as Gery was solo in the chase once again in the mid-part of the race.
Bentveld was the only rider on course consistently covering the laps in under nine minutes and came through as a runaway winner in Middelkerke.
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Dan is a freelance cycling journalist who has written for Cyclingnews since 2023 alongside other work with Cycling Weekly, Rouleur and Escape Collective. Dan focuses much of his work on professional cycling beyond its traditional European heartlands and writes a regular Substack called Global Peloton.
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