Cant takes first win of the season in Waaslandcross

Sanne Cant (Iko-Crelan) (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Sanne Cant claimed her first victory of the 2019-2020 season in Sint-Niklaas, winning the DVV Trofee Waaslandcross. The world champion overcame a last-lap crash to out-sprint Dutch rider Aniek van Alphen.

Cant was on strong form, making the selection early in the race with Van Alphen the only rider able to hold onto her surge.

It looked as if the Dutch rider would challenge Cant thanks to her ability to bunny-hop the barriers and a second obstacle, but midway through the race she slid out on a descent and Cant seized the opportunity to attack.

Cant came into the penultimate lap with a large gap, but Van Alphen made a strong push to get back on terms.

Van Alphen opened up the lead by hopping the barriers, but Cant fought back only to side out on a muddy transition. Fortunately her mistake forced Van Alphen off her bike and the pair went into the final sand section together.

The world champion showed her class with a perfect re-mount to get ahead of her Dutch rival and then out-sprint her to take the win.

Hungarian rider Kata Blanka Vas was third.

"After my fall, I wanted to go past Van Alphen again, but that didn't work. Then I focused on the sprint. Whoever was fastest to clip in after the sand section would win."

"I didn't get into my pedal with my right foot, so I had to sprint with one leg but luckily I could get it."

Full Results
Pos.	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
1	Sanne Cant (Bel) Iko – Crelan	0:39:47
2	Aniek Van Alphen (Ned)	0:00:06
3	Kata Blanka Vas (Hun)	0:00:21
4	Laura Verdonschot (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal	0:00:44
5	Karen Verhestraeten (Bel) Iko – Crelan	0:01:04
6	Loes Sels (Bel) Iko – Crelan	0:01:09
7	Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned)	0:01:38
8	Kim Van De Steene (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex	0:02:00
9	Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel)	0:02:33
10	Suzanne Verhoeven (Bel)	0:02:44
11	Mascha Mulder (Ned) Group Hens - Maes Containers	0:02:49
12	Veerle Goossens (Ned)	0:03:24
13	Elodie Kuijper (Ned)	0:03:31
14	Marlies Vos (Ned)	0:03:46
15	Fem Van Empel (Ned)	0:03:55
16	Mari-Liis Mõttus (Est)
17	Camille Devigne (Fra)	0:04:16
18	Tessa Zwaenepoel (Bel)	0:04:24
19	Hannah Van Boven (Ned)	0:04:39
20	Didi De Vries (Ned)	0:04:43
21	Famke Van Waterschoot (Ned)
22	Mirthe Van Den Brande (Bel)	0:04:53
23	Emily Werner (USA)
24	Esther Van Der Burg (Ned)	0:04:59
25	Ffion James (GBr)	0:05:09
26	Shana Maes (Bel)	0:05:22
27	Letizia Borghesi (Ita)	0:05:32
28	Giada Borghesi (Ita)	0:05:39
29	Kätlin Kukk (Est)
30	Lotte Baele (Bel)
31	Lise Van Wunsel (Bel)	0:05:49
32	Rebecca Gross (USA)	0:06:07
33	Tinne Vermeiren (Bel)	0:06:13
34	Siobhan Kelly (Can)
35	Yenthe Van Lommel (Bel)
36	Meg De Bruyne (Bel)
37	Marie Lynn (GBr)
38	Jolien Verschueren (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal
39	Nele De Vos (Bel)
40	Naomi De Roeck (Bel)
41	Guzel Akhmadullina (Rus)
42	Lina Beirinckx (Bel)
43	Sara Beeckmans (Bel)
44	Michelle Geoghegan (Irl)
45	Karen De Keulenaer (Bel)
46	Nathalie Verschelden (Bel)
47	Rosalie Janssens (Bel)
48	Imke Storms (Bel)
DNF	Jinse Peeters (Bel)