Preview: Cyclocross Championships for women 2024 – Can anyone beat Sanne Cant in Meulebeke?

Saturday is the day, the Cyclocross Championships for women. There has been a lot of talk about it lately, because it could well be the most exciting BC in years. Sanne Cant is looking for her fifteenth title, Laura Verdonschot is eligible for her first. Or will Marion surprise Norbert Riberolle? CyclingFlits looks ahead.

History

Latest winners BK cyclocross women
2023: True Cant
2022: True Cant
2021: True Cant
2020: True Cant
2019: True Cant
2018: True Cant
2017: True Cant
2016: True Cant
2015: True Cant
2014: True Cant

Last year

Cyclocross Championships Lokeren
Women’s results
1. Sanne Cant (Crelan-Fristads) in 52m00s
2. Marion Norbert Riberolle (Crelan-Fristads) at 1m20s
3. Alicia Franck (De Ceuster-Bonache) on 2m5s
4. Peters Jeans (Proximus-AlphaMothorhomes-Dolticini) op ​​4m39s
5. Jana Dobbelaere (Duolar-Chevalmeire) on 5m2s

Course

In 2021, Wout van Aert and Sanne Cant became Belgian champions in the West Flemish municipality. That was in a typical meadow cross, something we will also see this year. “The course is largely the same. Compared to the previous edition of the cross (not the BC, ed.) we have made a few adjustments. We have chosen, among other things, to expand the route a little more. That is mainly in function of the audience,” says Anthony Verwilst, general coordinator in Meulebeke.

“In addition, a sandbox and a passage over beams have been added. But in general it remains the same cross. Meulebeke is and remains a fast and technical cross. The previous weeks it was of course very muddy, but that has changed again. The surface will be mainly hard this weekend. A number of lanes will be a bit heavier than usual, but in principle we will not see a slow cross.”

The two sandboxes, one of which is new, are both 40 meters long. “We have chosen not to lay tracks in the sandbox. Before and after each cross we will remove all existing tracks, so that the sandboxes are not too easy to get to. I therefore expect that the decision will be made at the latest in the second sandbox. It is not too far from the finish.”

“After that sandbox there is also a long strip without too many bends, which can make a difference. This is followed by the right-angled bridge and the passage on the sloping side. Afterwards they run on the athletics track, where they ride half a lap. After the bend on the piste it is still about 100 meters to the line, which is still on the piste. If there are still riders together, it will be a strange sprint.”

However, Verwilst does not expect the latter scenario. There are enough points on the course to make a difference, such as the sandbox for example. Who does he put forward on the course? “I know that Eli Iserbyt is looking forward to the Belgian Championships on this course, but Michael Vanthourenhout will also be able to do this well. He has won here before. Among women I cannot immediately say who has the most advantage. I expect a battle between Sanne Cant or Laura Verdonschot.”

Program and information

Program Saturday January 13, 2024
11 a.m.: Junior women
1.45 pm: Junior men
3.15 pm: Elite women and promises

Location
Domain Ter Borcht, Ingelmunstersesteenweg 11, Meulebeke

Public information
Tickets for Saturday costs 10 euros. Children up to 12 years old can enter for free.

Practical info
Website organization
Attendees

Favorites

Just out of respect we start with True Cant. This season, Cant seems to have taken another step. For a while a crash seemed to throw a spanner in the works, but in recent weeks she has ridden strongly several times. This also happened in Loenhout, where she was able to win in an international field of participants for the first time in a long time. With that victory in his pocket, Cant will undoubtedly be at the start of the Belgian Championship with confidence.

Her big challenger has to Laura Verdonschot become. Verdonschot has been in the spotlight a number of times this season, especially in sand crosses. In Mol, for example, she was on stage. The Limburg native seems to have more confidence than ever and can therefore take a shot at gold. Will we get a real battle this time?

The course in Meulebeke does not necessarily play into the hands of either of the two. There are two passages through the sand, which Verdonschot will of course like to see. But Cant can also cut through the sand well, and she can also handle the rest of the course. Because of her experience, we give the Crelan-Fristads rider just that little bit more chance of victory.

After Cant and Verdonschot we are looking forward to it Marion Norbert Riberolle. She was on the podium for the first time this season in a classification cross, but has been in a slump in recent weeks. The Crelan-Fristads rider fell ill and lost a lot of weight. If she still gets fit, she will be a formidable opponent, especially if the course is tough.

Alicia Franck is the third and last real challenger to Cant. Franck, Verdonschot’s teammate at De Ceuster-Bonache, must have a very good day to compete for gold. She can certainly aspire to a podium place.

After the four names mentioned earlier, we end up with many women who have approximately the same level. We are thinking of Suzanne Verhoeven, Jinse Peeters and Jana Dobbelaere, among others. The U23 women also participate in the elite women’s competition. For example, Fleur Moors, Julie BrewersLore De Schepper and Xaydee Van Sinaey could easily end up in the top 10 of the elite competition. That is why we include them in this preview.

Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** True Cant
** Laura Verdonschot, Marion Norbert Riberolle
* Alicia Franck, Xaydee Van Sinaey, Julie Brouwers

Participant list

Weather and TV

It will be a particularly cold day in Meulebeke on Saturday. Weatheronline expect temperatures around 3 to 4 degrees Celsius. The riders should not expect precipitation or strong winds. That will not alter the fact that the riders will have to make an effort to keep warm.