Kastelijn Krushes Kobbled Koppenbergcross Klimbs – Report, Results

The first month of the European cyclocross calendar has been by-and-large dominated by a trio of young Dutch riders in Annemarie Worst (777), Yara Kastelijn (777) and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Corendon – Circus). Between the 3 of them, they won a total of 7 races in the month of October.

On Friday, the DVV Trofee series kicked off with the annual classic on the slopes of the famed cobbled hill at the annual November 1 Koppenbergcross. The three young Dutch riders entered as favorites, but as the past has shown, the famed cobbled hill can humble even the best riders and it has often been the site of memorable triumphs by heroes for at least a day.

Mixing things up even more this year compared to some recent editions were slick conditions on the long descent through the field and mud and moisture accumulating on the cobbles of the steep hill climb riders had to each lap.

7s Wild on the Koppenberg

Leading the charge up the Koppenberg at the start of the Elite Women’s race was Italian Eva Lecher (Creafin – Fristads). Kastelijn joined her in powering up the first of five climbs for the race, and when they made the hard right into the field at the top, the top already had a gap on the first group of chasers.

As the day’s affair would show, Lechner’s biggest strength was on the climb, but once over the top, Kastelijn stayed aggressive while the Italian faded. As she navigated the slick downhill off-cambers and straights, she quickly gained separation from Lechner and the rest of the field. At the DVV Trofee time check before Pit 2, Kastelijn already had a 15-second advantage on Lechner, Alvarado, Worst and others.

As Lechner dropped back, Alvarado stepped up as the rider to lead the chase of Kastelijn, but when she had some troubles and dropped back, Worst took up the charge of leading the charge toward her streaking teammate.

One nearly 12-minute first lap into the 4-lap race, Kastelijn’s advantage was 16 seconds over Worst, who in turn led Lechner by 14 seconds. The famed Koppenberg had already shattered the Elite Women’s field into muddy pieces.

The second lap showed that thanks to the conditions, there would be no perfect rides on the Koppenberg this slick afternoon.

Still well off the front, Kastelijn slipped out while dismounting on a slick downhill off-camber and crashed to the ground. With the field portion of the course requiring total focus, it appeared to be the kind of mistake that could fluster the young rider and allow Worst to get back in the game, but at the top of the next climb and the end of Lap 2, Kastelijn still held a 13-second advantage.

There was, however, plenty of cyclocross left to go.

In the penultimate lap, Kastelijn seemed determined to cement her advantage and at the bell, she extended her advantage to 21 seconds on Worst. After Lechner put in a big dig on the climb at the end of Lap 2, Alice Maria Arzuffi (777) dropped her through the field and the Italian 777 member crested the 2nd-to-last climb in solo 3rd.

The final trip around the course would be anything but a Kastelijn Koppenation. Chasing 20+ seconds at the top of the climb, Worst found a 2nd or even 3rd gear in the last lap and started to quickly close the gap to the leader.

Worst drew close enough to be able to say “Hallo” to her teammate on some of the 180 turns, but Kastelijn still hit the cobbles for the final time with a gap, and she held it on the final grueling climb up the Koppenberg to take her second-straight big win after winning Superprestige Gavere on Sunday.

Worst finished second and Arzuffi third.

Kaitie Keough (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld) passed Alvarado on the final climb to secure fifth. Katie Compton (KFC Racing p/b Trek Knight) finished 11th, Rebecca Gross (Zero D Racing) took 27th and Corey Coogan Cisek (CCC Racing) 30th.

Full results are below. Stay tuned for a Men’s race report.

Elite Women Results: 2019 Koppenbergcross

Rank	BIB	Last Name	First Name	Country	Result
1	15	KASTELIJN	Yara	NED	0:42:35
2	2	WORST	Annemarie	NED	0:42:46
3	6	ARZUFFI	Alice Maria	ITA	0:43:17
4	8	LECHNER	Eva	ITA	0:43:21
5	4	KEOUGH	Kaitlin	USA	0:43:56
6	5	ALVARADO	Ceylin del Carmen	NED	0:44:08
7	31	FRANCK	Alicia	BEL	0:44:34
8	7	VAN LOY	Ellen	BEL	0:44:41
9	18	KAY	Anna	GBR	0:44:57
10	43	VAS	Kata Blanka	HUN	0:45:04
11	11	COMPTON	Katherine	USA	0:45:06
12	13	HOEKE	Geerte	NED	0:45:43
13	17	VAN DE STEENE	Kim	BEL	0:45:53
14	46	COUZENS	Millie	GBR	0:46:50
15	54	NORBERT RIBEROLLE	Marion	FRA	0:47:02
16	35	CRUMPTON	Bethany	GBR	0:47:07
17	19	DE JONG	Thalita	NED	0:47:28
18	37	PAUL	Stefanie	GER	0:48:06
19	53	DOBBELAERE	Jana	BEL	0:48:22
20	3	SELS	Loes	BEL	0:48:29
21	45	VERHESTRAETEN	Karen	BEL	0:48:34
22	49	SCOTT	Katie	GBR	0:48:37
23	50	VAN DER BURG	Esther	NED	0:49:12
24	51	VERHOEVEN	Suzanne	BEL	0:49:26
25	59	CRABBÉ	Kiona	BEL	0:49:50
26	22	DELHAYE	Pauline	FRA	0:49:56
27	38	GROSS	Rebecca	USA	0:50:04
28	41	MEISTROK	Susanne	NED	0:50:14
29	57	VAN DE PUTTE	Kim	BEL	0:50:17
30	44	COOGAN CISEK	Corey	USA	0:51:01
31	23	TURNBULL	Fiona	GBR	0:51:05
32	29	BAKER	Alderney	GBR	0:51:17
33	16	VERSCHUEREN	Jolien	BEL	0:53:02
34	52	LYNN	Marie	GBR	0:53:10
35	21	BAKER	Melissa	GBR	0:53:32
36	32	BOROWIECKA	Barbara	POL	0:53:46
37	47	ZWAENEPOEL	Tessa	BEL	0:53:55
38	58	MAUS	Laetitia	LUX	0:54:10
39	24	ASHWOOD	Emily	GBR	-1 LAP
40	25	CREES	Xan	GBR	-1 LAP
41	39	ROMBOUTS	Tine	BEL	-1 LAP
42	42	SCHEVENELS	Lies´L	BEL	-1 LAP
43	34	JOCHEMS	Britt	NED	-1 LAP
44	48	DE VOS	Nele	BEL	-1 LAP
45	30	LIMPENS	Pien	NED	-1 LAP
46	55	DE ROECK	Naomi	BEL	-1 LAP
47	26	DILKS	Ellie	GBR	-1 LAP
48	28	BLANCHAERT	Jo	BEL	-2 LAPS
49	36	MITCHELL	Erin	AUS	-2 LAPS
DNF	10	VERDONSCHOT	Laura	BEL
DNF	40	KUKK	Kätlin	EST
DNF	56	DHONT	Kiona	BEL