Advertisement

HEUSDEN-ZOLDER – On a sunny, mostly-dry course, Marianne Vos (Rabobank) shook off her crashes at World Cup Namur and stormed across the grassy terrain to lead solo from the first lap to the last, taking her first World Cup win of the season.

Marianne Vos has returned to cyclocross with her win today at World Cup Zolder © Bart Hazen

Marianne Vos has returned to cyclocross with her win today at World Cup Zolder © Bart Hazen

Katie Compton (Trek), who had a near-flawless race to win Namur, got off to a poor start that saw her sitting twenty riders back in the opening turns. As Compton made her way forward, her luck continued to be poor as she crashed on the steep, bumpy descent while trying to pass Swiss champion Jasmin Achermann (Rapha-Focus), taking Achermann down in the process. As Vos rode a flawless race ahead, Sanne Cant (BKCP), Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Suntour), and Katerina Nash (Luna) made up a formidable chase, with Compton slowly making her way up to, and ultimately past, the chasers.

Compton would never see Vos again, however, as a second crash on the same descent cost her precious momentum, and brought Sanne Cant back into striking distance of second place. Indeed, Cant nearly overtook Compton at the end as the American champion crashed for a third time on the final, short drop right before the finish. Compton held the Belgian off, however, and came across the line in second, expanding on her World Cup series lead. That last week Vos took third despite two crashes, and this week Compton took second with three, speaks volumes to the abilities of the two champions, promising an exciting build up to the World Championships in Louisville.

Katie Compton's skinsuit showing the challenges of the course © Bart Hazen

Katie Compton’s skinsuit showing the challenges of the course © Bart Hazen

“After the last world cup in Namur, I thought I had to ride from the start and race my own race,” said Vos after the race. “That’s what I did, and I’m happy I could ride that to the finish. Today I knew that the course suits me and knew I could use my speed here. If Katie finds her rhythm, it’s really hard for me to keep up with her. That’s why I was so happy today to find my own rhythm from the start and keep Katie back a little bit. But I think Katie is the favorite for worlds. It’s nice for my confidence, I felt good in Namur, and it’s good to keep the rhythm. I go for Louisville.”

“I got a bad start and then was stuck in traffic,” said Compton, via Velonews. “There’s not anywhere to pass anyone until it opens up halfway through. So I was probably mid-pack at that point, and then I crashed in that first downhill. Then I did the same thing on the next drop. So I just tried to do my best, and thought, ‘Well, it’s a soft landing and I’m pretty good at tucking and rolling.’ It was just frustrating. But I just didn’t have a good race.”

Kaitlin Antonneau came in at 19th, then a trio of Americans – Nicole Duke, Crystal Anthony, and Maureen Bruno-Roy – nabbed 25th through 27th, with Meredith Miller coming in a few further down at 29th. Amy Dombroski finished 33rd, Andrea Smith 36th and Christine Vardaros in 46th.

Bart Hazen Photo Gallery:

Results

2012 World Cup Zolder - Women

RankNameNat.Result
1Marianne VOSNED39:36:00
2Katherine COMPTONUSA40:46:00
3Sanne CANTBEL40:51:00
4Katerina NASHCZE41:11:00
5Lucie CHAINEL-LEFEVREFRA41:25:00
6Nikki HARRISGBR41:53:00
7Helen WYMANGBR42:08:00
8Pauline FERRAND PREVOTFRA42:12:00
9Ellen VAN LOYBEL42:18:00
10Jasmin ACHERMANNSUI42:20:00
11Julie KRASNIAKFRA42:21:00
12Sabrina STULTIENSNED42:29:00
13Gabriella DAYGBR42:31:00
14Pavla HAVLIKOVACZE42:41:00
15Annefleur KALVENHAARNED42:48:00
16Eva LECHNERITA42:59:00
17Christel FERRIER-BRUNEAUFRA43:16:00
18Caroline MANIFRA43:21:00
19Kaitlin ANTONNEAUUSA43:25:00
20Sabrina SCHWEIZERGER43:31:00
21Annie LASTGBR44:09:00
22Joyce VANDERBEKENBEL44:11:00
23Martina MIKULASKOVACZE44:24:00
24Ayako TOYOOKAJPN44:31:00
25Nicole DUKEUSA44:57:00
26Crystal ANTHONYUSA45:00:00
27Maureen BRUNO ROYUSA45:20:00
28Nancy BOBERBEL45:40:00
29Meredith MILLERUSA45:42:00
30Lotte EIKELENBOOMNED45:57:00
31Elisabeth BRANDAUGER45:58:00
32Asa Maria ERLANDSSONSWE46:08:00
33Amy DOMBROSKIUSA46:13:00
34Githa MICHIELSBEL46:14:00
35Margriet Helena KLOPPENBURGDEN46:24:00
36Andrea SMITHUSA46:31:00
37Lana VERBERNENED46:39:00
38Bianca VAN DEN HOEKNED46:48:00
39Evy KUIJPERSNED46:57:00
40Reza HORMESNED47:05:00
41Marlene PETITFRA47:14:00
42Katrien THIJSBEL
43Hilde QUINTENSBEL
44Genevieve WHITSONNZL
45Lise-Marie HENZELINSUI
46Christine VARDAROSUSA
47Kim VAN DE STEENEBEL
48Jelena ERICSRB
49Zuzana VOJTASOVASVK