
Maud Kaptheijns upsets World Champ Sanne Cant at 2017 Krawatencross, Lille. © M. Hilger / Cyclocross Magazine
Stakes were high in the final round of the Ijsboerke Ladies Trophy series, as world-dominating Sanne Cant took the line. With Thalita de Jong out of contention due to injuries suffered at Hoogerheide, and Cant slotted first in the Trophy series, winner at Krawatencross the past three years, first position on the line, and lest we forget, first in the world, it seemed improbable that she would give up her lead.
2017 Krawatencross Lille - Course Map - DVV Verzekeringen TrofeeA terrifying crash at the start gave the first 20 riders a head start, as Nikki Brammeier’s rear wheel quick release looked to have slipped, and with the rear wheel against the frame, slammed her forward into her stem and then into the course barriers.

The start was marred by a bad crash starting with Nikki Brammeirer. Elite Women, 2017 Krawtencross, Lille. Ijsboerke Ladies Trophy series.
While the field tried to avoid further carnage, Sophie de Boer hammered the long starting straightaway to take the holeshot. The fierce pace at the start, and a quick series of sandy turns into the run up resulted in a strung-out race along the lake-side straightaway. The drizzly rain had caused the lake to encroach onto the course, and riders splashed through to keep up the chase.

The start was marred by a bad crash at the back. Elite Women, 2017 Krawtencross, Lille. Ijsboerke Ladies Trophy series.
The rain also made the first wooded section dicey, with a set of slick incline right-hand turns. Coming into this section it was Ellen Van Loy (Telenet Fidea Lions) at the front of the pack, with Sophie de Boer (Breepark), Sanne Cant (IKO Enertherm-Beobank), Laura Verdonschot (Marlux-Napoleon Games), and Maud Kaptheijns (Team Steylaerts) on her tail. Loes Sels (Telenet Fidea Lions) was shot off the back, as the lead group appeared to be pushing a huge gear. Sels seemed comfortable in the mixed conditions, smoothly riding the first sandy turn after the run up that many other riders were attempting, only to dismount awkwardly, one foot down, as the deep sand sucked them in.
By the end of the first lap, Cant, Kaptheijns, and De Boer had driven a wedge between Verdonschot and Van Loy, with Sels 30 seconds back, and Katie Compton (KFC Racing) quick on Sels’ heels.
Van Loy had a few mishaps — trouble clipping back in after the larger sandbox, and a crash in another sandy corner — and she shook her head as she attempted to catch back onto the group. Soon after, Kaptheijns also had a small mishap before the long power straight, which lead into a wooded chicane section. De Boer made an aggressive pass on Cant in this chicane section, causing Cant to dismount and run up the incline.

Sanne Cant leads Laura Verdonschot with Maud Kaptheijns hiding out back. 2017 Krawatencross, Lille. © M. Hilger / Cyclocross Magazine
The lead ladies shuffled for position in lap two, but by the end of lap three, De Boer and Cant had four seconds over Kaptheijns, 10 seconds over Verdonschot, 40 seconds over Van Loy, and 48 seconds over Compton. Compton’s eyes were set on Van Loy as she ascended the run-up, which at this point was coated in the sticky wet sand.
As the racers rounded the first corner with the lake in sight, De Boer overshot the turn a bit, hitting a mud slick, and going down, taking Verdonschot with her as Verdonschot attempted to avoid running de Boer over. Verdonschot was up quickly, but De Boer trailed for the remainder of the race.

Sophie de Boer hit the deck, taking down Laura Verdonschot. Elite Women, 2017 Krawtencross, Lille. Ijsboerke Ladies Trophy series.
The rain increased coming into the final lap, and the sand tracks widened, giving racers better opportunities to ride sections that were previously riddled with deep running holes. Verdonschot, Cant, and Kaptheijns stormed onto the finishing straight away. Verdonschot glanced over her shoulder to eyeball Cant’s attack, and neither Verdonschot nor Cant were watching the opportunistic Kaptheijns.
The young Dutch racer sprung out of her saddle, swung wide onto the right, and crushed the sprint to take first, roaring as she crossed the finish line.

Maud Kaptheijns upsets World Champ Sanne Cant at 2017 Krawatencross, Lille. © M. Hilger / Cyclocross Magazine
Een reactie van een dolgelukkige @MaudKaptheijns na haar zege in Lille: https://t.co/BGFeBDvbOL Foto: @Photopress.be pic.twitter.com/sk0ES91E8Q
— Steylaerts-Verona (@St_Ve_CX) February 4, 2017
Four Americans took to the start with Compton finishing in 5th, Elle Anderson in 12th, Kaitie Antonneau (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld) in 14th, and Erin Faccone in 41st.
Sanne Cant wrapped up the overall series win with her second place today.
Missed the live video via Trek? Watch the highlights of the women’s race below.
Full results and final overall Ijsboerke Ladies Trophy standings below the video.
2017 Krawatencross – Lille Video Highlights:
2017 Krawatencross – Lille Full Race Video:
2017 Krawatencross, Lille Elite Women's Results - Ijsboerke Ladies Trophy
Pl | Name | Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Maud Kaptheijns | Team Steylaerts | 45:08:00 |
2 | Sanne Cant | IKO Enertherm-Beobank | 0:00:01 |
3 | Laura Verdonschot | Marlux-Napoleon Games | 0:00:02 |
4 | Sophie De Boer | Kalas-NNOF | 0:00:36 |
5 | Katherine Compton | Trek Cyclocross Colective | 0:00:55 |
6 | Ellen Van Loy | Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:01:15 |
7 | Loes Sels | Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:01:18 |
8 | Manon Bakker | 0:01:35 | |
9 | Karen Verhestraeten | Lares-WoawDeals | 0:01:46 |
10 | Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado | 0:02:09 | |
11 | Helen Wyman | Kona Factory Team | 0:02:20 |
12 | Elle Anderson | 0:02:27 | |
13 | Pauline Delhaye | 0:02:40 | |
14 | Kaitlin Antonneau | Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com | 0:02:48 |
15 | Veerle Goossens | 0:03:01 | |
16 | Lindy Van Anrooij | 0:03:19 | |
17 | Joyce Vanderbeken | AA Drink-Kalas | 0:03:31 |
18 | Alicia Franck | 0:03:35 | |
19 | Linda Ter Beek | 0:03:36 | |
20 | Suzanne Verhoeven | 0:03:41 | |
21 | Shana Maes | AA Drink-Kalas | 0:03:49 |
22 | Amira Mellor | 0:04:09 | |
23 | Maaike De Heij | 0:04:23 | |
24 | Marthe Truyen | 0:04:31 | |
25 | Jolien Verschueren | Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:04:57 |
26 | Eva Maria Palm | AA Drink-Kalas | 0:05:20 |
27 | Julie Wright | 0:05:31 | |
28 | Stefanie Paul | 0:05:48 | |
29 | Mascha Mulder | 0:06:08 | |
30 | Laur Krans | 0:06:13 | |
31 | Kristien Nelen | 0:06:14 | |
32 | Lena Bischof-Stein | 0:06:18 | |
33 | Meg De Bruyne | 0:06:49 | |
34 | Gertie Willems | 0:07:06 | |
35 | TInne Vermeiren | 0:07:38 | |
36 | Sabine Hey | 0:07:39 | |
37 | Yenthe Boons | 0:07:54 | |
38 | Jinse Peeters | 0:08:33 | |
39 | Caren Commissaris | 0:08:47 | |
40 | Lise Van Wunsel | 0:09:09 | |
41 | Erin Faccone | 0:09:18 |
2016 / 2017 Ijsboerke Ladies Trophy Overall Standings
Pl | Name | Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Sanne Cant | IKO Enertherm-Beobank | 5:50:35 |
Thalita De Jong | Rabobank-Liv | 04:28 | |
3 | Ellen Van Loy | Telenet Fidea Lions | 05:48 |
4 | Maud Kaptheijns | Team Steylaerts | 07:32 |
5 | Laura Verdonschot | Marlux-Napoleon Games | 08:11 |
6 | Sophie De Boer | Kalas-NNOF | 10:30 |
7 | Jolien Verschueren | Telenet Fidea Lions | 13:10 |
8 | Loes Sels | Telenet Fidea Lions | 15:49 |
9 | Karen Verhestraeten | Lares-WoawDeals | 16:52 |
10 | Nikki Brammeier | Boels-Dolmans | 18:27 |
11 | Pavla Havlikova | MRM Avalon Pro Cycling | 21:10 |
12 | Marianne Vos | Rabobank-Liv | 23:42 |
13 | Elle Anderson | 24:16 | |
14 | Lindy Van Anrooij | 27:10 | |
15 | Alicia Franck | 27:22 | |
16 | Kaitlin Antonneau | Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com | 27:45 |
17 | Lucinda Brand | 28:34 | |
18 | Githa Michiels | 29:09 | |
19 | Manon Bakker | 29:51 | |
20 | Pauline Delhaye | 30:54 | |
21 | Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado | 31:44 | |
22 | Shana Maes | AA Drink-Kalas | 31:53 |
23 | Geerte Hoeke | 32:18 | |
24 | Evie Richards | 32:26 | |
25 | Yara Kastelijn | 32:29 | |
26 | Inge Van Der Heijden | 32:58 | |
27 | Emma White | 33:02 | |
28 | Bianca Van Den Hoek | 33:03 | |
29 | Nikola Noskova | AA Drink-Kalas | 33:16 |
30 | Fleur Nagengast | Telenet Fidea Lions | 33:30 |
31 | Katarina Nash | Luna Pro Team | 33:37 |
32 | Anne Terpstra | 33:38 | |
33 | Ceylin Alvarado Del Carmen | 33:39 | |
34 | Annemarie Worst | Rabobank-Liv | 33:45 |
35 | Katherine Compton | Trek Cyclocross Colective | 33:47 |
36 | Veerle Goossens | 33:50 | |
37 | Monique Van De Ree | 33:53 | |
38 | Alice Maria Arzuffi | 34:34 | |
39 | Christine Majerus | Boels-Dolmans | 34:42 |
40 | Floor Weerink | 35:08 | |
41 | Ellen Noble | Ridebiker Alliance | 35:10 |
42 | Helen Wyman | Kona Factory Team | 35:12 |
43 | Joyce Vanderbeken | AA Drink-Kalas | 35:19 |
44 | Amanda Nauman | 35:30 | |
45 | Kim Van De Steene | 35:31 | |
46 | Ffion James | 35:32 | |
47 | Juliette Labous | 35:38 | |
48 | Linda Ter Beek | 35:40 | |
49 | Lucia Gonzalez Blanco | 35:57 | |
50 | Alicia Gonzalez Blanco | 36:01 | |
51 | Sunny Gilbert | 36:20 | |
52 | Suzanne Verhoeven | 36:33 | |
53 | Lizzy Witlox | 36:42 | |
54 | Alice Maria Arzuffi | 36:49 | |
55 | Ida Jansson | 36:49 | |
56 | Anais Morichon | 36:50 | |
57 | Susanne Meistrok | 36:54 | |
58 | Audrey Menut | 36:59 | |
59 | Aurelie Vermeir | 36:59 | |
60 | Eva Maria Palm | AA Drink-Kalas | 37:00 |
61 | Amira Mellor | 37:01 | |
62 | Axelle Bellaert | AA Drink-Kalas | 37:03 |
63 | Julia Boschker | 37:05 | |
64 | Megan James | 37:06 | |
65 | Asa Maria Erlandsson | 37:08 | |
66 | Maaike De Heij | 37:15 | |
67 | Helene Clauzel | 37:15 | |
68 | TInne Vermeiren | 37:22 | |
69 | Marthe Truyen | 37:23 | |
70 | Jinse Peeters | 37:25 | |
71 | Gertie Willems | 37:29 | |
72 | Mascha Mulder | 37:32 | |
73 | Kristien Nelen | 37:38 | |
74 | Emily Wadsworth | 37:50 | |
75 | Julie Wright | 37:52 | |
76 | Stefanie Paul | 37:52 | |
77 | Laur Krans | 37:52 | |
78 | Lena Bischof-Stein | 37:52 | |
79 | Meg De Bruyne | 37:52 | |
80 | Sabine Hey | 37:52 | |
81 | Yenthe Boons | 37:52 | |
82 | Caren Commissaris | 37:52 | |
83 | Lise Van Wunsel | 37:52 | |
84 | Erin Faccone | 37:52 | |
85 | Shari Bossuyt | 37:52 | |
86 | Julia Nikolopoulos | 37:52 | |
87 | Tine Verdeyen | 37:52 | |
88 | Lisette Schoon | 37:52 | |
89 | Anke Van Rompay | 37:52 | |
90 | Diana Steffenhagen | 37:52 | |
91 | Katharina Hinz | 37:52 | |
92 | Jo Blanchaert | 37:52 | |
93 | Karen De Keulenaer | 37:52 | |
94 | Femke Kuijpers | 37:52 | |
95 | Mieke Docx | 37:52 | |
96 | Britta Werners | 37:52 | |
97 | Rebecca Locke | 37:52 | |
98 | Sarah Berkane | 37:52 | |
99 | Christine Vardaros | 37:52 | |
100 | Kelly Greefs | 37:52 | |
101 | Stacey Riedel | 37:52 | |
102 | Naomi Williams | 37:52 | |
103 | Irene Trabazo Bragado | 37:52 | |
104 | Nikola Bajgerova | 37:52 | |
105 | Miyoko Karami | 37:52 | |
106 | Saga Molin | 37:52 | |
107 | Laure Michels | 37:52 | |
108 | Hannah Van Boven | 37:52 | |
109 | Madeleine Gammons | 37:52 | |
110 | Virginia Cancellieri | 37:52 | |
111 | Birgit Massage | 37:52 | |
112 | Elodie Kuijper | 37:52 | |
113 | Sarah Lomas | 37:52 | |
114 | Ilona Van Ginneken | 37:52 | |
115 | Xan Crees | 37:52 | |
116 | Tine Rombouts | 37:52 | |
117 | Sinead Burke | 37:52 | |
118 | Emilie Thy | 37:52 | |
119 | Marie Jackson | 37:52 | |
120 | Pepe Phillips | 37:52 | |
121 | Lara Van Wunsel | 37:52 | |
122 | Marijke Tache | 37:52 | |
123 | Esther Van Der Burg | 37:52 | |
124 | Zoë Mulder | 37:52 | |
125 | Nele Van Maldeghem | 37:52 | |
126 | Ella Conolly | 37:52 | |
127 | Lara Defour | 37:52 | |
128 | Brenda Kaczmarczyk | 37:52 | |
129 | Justine Louchaert | 37:52 | |
130 | Chantal Verstraten | 37:52 | |
131 | Evie Richards | 37:52 | |
132 | Julie Van de Velde | 37:52 | |
133 | Jara Noël | AA Drink-Kalas | 37:52 |
134 | Jana Dobbelaere | 37:52 | |
135 | Sandie Verriest | 37:52 | |
136 | Bethany Crumpton | 37:52 | |
137 | Senna Feron | 37:52 | |
138 | Soetkin Vertenten | 37:52 | |
139 | Mara Schwager | 37:52 | |
140 | Katleen Fraeye | 37:52 | |
141 | Tine Vandenheede | 37:52 | |
142 | Elena Valentini | 37:52 |