Sanne van Paassen attacks Sophie de Boer and Nikki Harris. ©Bart Hazen
ASPER-GAVERE, BELGIUM — Sanne van Paassen (Brainwash) won the women’s cyclocross classic in Gavere on Sunday, and marked her win by giving voice to discontent felt by the women’s peloton. The women’s race was run in cold and dewy conditions, very early in the morning. The early start time, lack of a truly equivalent Superprestige series for women, and lack of facilities open to the field drew fire from Van Paassen.
The super fast and largely dry course prevented those involved in crashes from regaining contact with the front. Thus, Helen Wyman (Kona), Sanne Cant (Telenet-Fidea) and Amy Dombroski (Crank Brothers Race Club) had their chances of victory scuppered.
Nikki Harris (Telenet-Fidea) was dropped by Van Paassen on the course’s long climb. A crash caused by Van Paassen in the last lap allowed the Brit to bridge back up, the same crash damaging Sophie de Boer’s (Telenet-Fidea) derailleur, preventing her from sprinting in her desired gear, although she still managed to come within a bike length of the eventual winner. Harris held on for third.
Superprestige Asper-Gavere 2011 Elite Women
| Rank | Name | Nat. | Age | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanne VAN PAASSEN | NED | 24 | 40:17:00 |
| 2 | Sophie DE BOER | NED | 22 | 40:17:00 |
| 3 | Nikki HARRIS | GBR | 26 | 40:21:00 |
| 4 | Sabrina STULTIENS | NED | 19 | 40:34:00 |
| 5 | Pavla HAVLIKOVA | CZE | 29 | 40:45:00 |
| 6 | Helen WYMAN | GBR | 31 | 40:51:00 |
| 7 | Sanne CANT | BEL | 22 | 41:05:00 |
| 8 | Amy DOMBROSKI | USA | 25 | 41:34:00 |
| 9 | Joyce VANDERBEKEN | BEL | 28 | 42:01:00 |
| 10 | Nikoline HANSEN | DEN | 25 | 42:30:00 |
| 11 | Gabriella DAY | GBR | 28 | 42:52:00 |
| 12 | Hilde QUINTENS | BEL | 48 | 43:02:00 |
| 13 | Tessa VAN NIEUWPOORT | NED | 21 | 43:24:00 |
| 14 | Christine VARDAROS | USA | 43 | 43:48:00 |
| 15 | Lana VERBERNE | NED | 20 | 44:12:00 |
| 16 | Ilona METER | NED | 34 | 44:37:00 |
| 17 | Nicole DE BIE - LEYTEN | BEL | 37 | 44:59:00 |
| 18 | Margriet Helena KLOPPENBURG | DEN | 24 | 45:10:00 |
| 19 | Kim VAN DE STEENE | BEL | 26 | 45:10:00 |
| 20 | Katrien THIJS | BEL | 27 | 45:10:00 |
| 21 | Vicki THOMAS | CAN | 40 | 46:45:00 |
| 22 | Madara FURMANE | LAT | 20 | 48:54:00 |
| 23 | Anja GELDHOF | BEL | 39 | |
| 24 | Lelde ARDAVE | LAT | 27 | |
| 25 | Maaike LANSSENS | BEL | 20 |
