The UCI C1 Koppenbergcross race is always a unique event. The long, cobbled climb, its November 1 date (often midweek) and its ability to unseat favorites and have less famous racers climb to glory all make for unpredictable racing.
In the Elite Women's race, the first stop of the DVV Trofee series lived up to its history. While Kim van de Steene (Tarteletto-Isorex), fifth place in 2017, motored off the front on the first lap, fans were searching for the last two winners in Helen Wyman (Xypex – Verge Sport) and Jolien Verschueren. Wyman was chasing, while Verschueren did not start after undergoing brain surgery to remove a tumor this past April.
Van de Steene at the front before her first lap bobble. 2018 Koppenbergcross Elite Women. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Behind Van de Steene, the "AM" teammates Alice Maria Arzuffi and Annemarie Worst (Steylaerts-777) led the chase, until Van de Steene slid out in a corner and dropped her chain.
Suddenly, a two-woman team time trial looked to put the rest of the field in trouble. Sanne Cant (IKO Beobank), Katie Compton (KFC Racing/Trek/Panache) Ellen van Loy (Telenet Fidea) and Nikki Brammeirer (Mudiiita) gave chase, while Van de Steene remounted and hoped to best her fifth from last year.
Worst leads the race up the Koppenbergcross with teammate Alice Maria Arzuffi, with Van de Steene lurking behind. 2018 Koppenbergcross Elite Women. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Up front, Worst and Arzuffi took one-lap turns at the front, with Worst leading for the rest of lap one and two, and Arzuffi taking over for lap three.
Van de Steene, however, wasn't content to give the Steylaerts-777 pair a free ride to cobbled glory. She climbed back into the race, and then into the lead with one lap to go, gapping the teammates entering the final lap.
Kim van den Steene wins the 2018 Koppenbergcross. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Geerte Herke (Creafin-TÜV) and Van Loy led a furious chase, and would finish fourth and fifth, respectively.
For the second year in a row, Elle Anderson finished in the top ten. 2018 Koppenbergcross Elite Women. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Compton swapped bikes and faded out of the top ten, while Elle Anderson (Milwaukee - Alpha Motorhomes) nearly matched her ninth last year with a tenth place.
Kim van den Steene wins the 2018 Koppenbergcross. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Arzuffi, Van de Steene and Worst. 2018 Koppenbergcross Elite Women. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Just as with any Koppenbergcross edition, many racers showed the results of their efforts on the final climb.
Hoeke after her fourth-place effort. 2018 Koppenbergcross Elite Women. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Full results and photo gallery below.
2018 DVV Trofee Koppenbergcross Results: Elite Women
| Rank | BIB | Last Name | First Name | Country | Team | Age | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | VAN DE STEENE | Kim | BEL | TARTELETTO - ISOREX | 32 | 0:47:24 |
| 2 | 10 | ARZUFFI | Alice Maria | ITA | STEYLAERTS - 777 | 24 | 0:47:45 |
| 3 | 11 | WORST | Annemarie | NED | STEYLAERTS - 777 | 23 | 0:47:51 |
| 4 | 7 | VAN LOY | Ellen | BEL | TELENET FIDEA LIONS | 38 | 0:48:11 |
| 5 | 17 | HOEKE | Geerte | NED | CREAFIN TÜV SUD | 28 | 0:48:16 |
| 6 | 1 | CANT | Sanne | BEL | CORENDON - CIRCUS | 28 | 0:48:22 |
| 7 | 6 | BRAMMEIER | Nikki | GBR | 32 | 0:48:40 | |
| 8 | 4 | WYMAN | Helen | GBR | 37 | 0:48:46 | |
| 9 | 3 | LECHNER | Eva | ITA | CREAFIN TÜV SUD | 33 | 0:49:00 |
| 10 | 12 | ANDERSON | Elle | USA | 30 | 0:49:10 | |
| 11 | 8 | SELS | Loes | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN - VASTGOEDSERVICE | 33 | 0:49:18 |
| 12 | 2 | COMPTON | Katherine | USA | 40 | 0:50:15 | |
| 13 | 29 | FLYNN | Anna | GBR | 16 | 0:51:19 | |
| 14 | 25 | MOULLEC | Louise | FRA | 16 | 0:51:43 | |
| 15 | 16 | DELHAYE | Pauline | FRA | 29 | 0:51:52 | |
| 16 | 35 | THACKRAY | Sophie | GBR | 19 | 0:52:55 | |
| 17 | 39 | PORHEL | Laura | FRA | 19 | 0:53:12 | |
| 18 | 40 | WADSWORTH | Emily | GBR | TP RACING | 19 | 0:53:33 |
| 19 | 36 | NELSON | Josie | GBR | 16 | 0:53:59 | |
| 20 | 41 | WADSWORTH | Maddie | GBR | 16 | 0:54:12 | |
| 21 | 22 | DOBBELAERE | Jana | BEL | 22 | 0:55:44 | |
| 22 | 38 | LYNN | Marie | GBR | 18 | 0:56:21 | |
| 23 | 18 | KUIJPER | Elodie | NED | 18 | 0:57:02 | |
| 24 | 31 | ROMBOUTS | Tine | BEL | 18 | -1 LAP | |
| 25 | 20 | BROUWERS | Julie | BEL | 16 | -1 LAP | |
| 26 | 42 | DE VOS | Nele | BEL | 20 | -1 LAP | |
| 27 | 33 | GREENHALGH | Lily | GBR | 18 | -1 LAP | |
| 28 | 27 | COOKE | Poppy | GBR | 17 | -2 LAPS | |
| 29 | 28 | BLANCHAERT | Jo | BEL | 48 | -3 LAPS | |
| 26 | NORBERT RIBEROLLE | Marion | FRA | 19 | DNF |
2018 Koppenbergcross Photo Gallery - Elite Women:
Kim van de Steene grabbed the holeshot, took a spill and then climbed back to the top. 2018 Koppenbergcross Elite Women. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
