The UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Hulst left its traditional course by the iconic windmill, and instead took to a brand new windy Zeeland course overlooking the water as well as the Netherlands and Belgium.
Would the Dutch course continue Dutch domination? Or could the grassy course that reminded some of us of the last Kansas City Nationals course provide an opportunity for Clara Honsinger (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld) to continue her meteoric rise and take the top step of a World Cup podium?
Up to this point, Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) has been dominating the World Cup. Even World Champion Ceylin Alvarado (Alpecin-Fenix) has been having some trouble dealing with the ex-roadie.
However, Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) has proven to be a formidable force in this past season. At Hulst, Betsema let loose and crushed the competition.
All throughout the event, Betsema was in the lead, sprinting up the steeps and deftly navigating the post-flyover mud pit.
Her rivals, Alvarado and Brand, were left in a chase group. Alvarado and her rival Annemarie Worst (777) took turns trying to reel in the fast starter Betsema, but Worst faltered, and Brand seized the opportunity, powering past the duo and doing her part to replay the script we’ve seen many times this season: catch the fast-starting Betsema and take over in time for the win.
Today, Betsema avoided another dose of déjà vu, stretching a 20-second lead on lap two into over a minute by the finale.
Nothing could stop @Deniesoverseas in Hulst! 🚀🏆 @lucinda_brand finishes 🥈, Ceylin Alvarado takes 🥉. #CXWorldCup pic.twitter.com/jbcFV4L0Nd
— UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup (@UCIcyclocrossWC) January 3, 2021
Soon it was a race for second between Brand and Alvarado. Heading into the last lap, Brand looked to have silver wrapped up, until a crash after the flyover had Alvarado hot on her heels again.
Thankfully, she wasn’t far from the finish and secured second. Alvarado shared the finishing straight with Brand to finish third.
American Clara Honsinger made the top ten, coming in sixth. Rebecca Fahringer (Kona Maxxis Shimano) came in 28th, Kaitie Keough (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld)31st, Maddie Munro (Trek Factory Racing CX) 37th, Katie Compton (KFC Racing Trek Knight) 49th and Cyclocross Magazine Columnist Corey Coogan Cisek (Velo Revolution – Cyclocross Custom) 52nd.
Canadians Maghalie Rochette (Specialized Feedback Sports) and Sidney McGill (Pedal Head) came in 2oth and 40th, respectively.
Living legend Marianne Vos unveiled her new 2021 Jumbo Visma jersey and black Bianchi cyclocross bike, and had a strong start before fading to 11th. U23 World Cup leader Hungarian Kata Blanka Vas continued her impressive season, finished fifth.
Full results below.
2021 World Cup Hulst Results: Elite Women
| Rank | BIB | Rider | Nation | Age | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | BETSEMA Denise | NED | 28 | 0:53:06 |
| 2 | 3 | BRAND Lucinda | NED | 32 | 0:54:08 |
| 3 | 1 | ALVARADO Ceylin del Carmen | NED | 23 | 0:54:15 |
| 4 | 2 | WORST Annemarie | NED | 26 | 0:54:32 |
| 5 | 62 | VAS Kata Blanka | HUN | 20 | 0:55:03 |
| 6 | 41 | HONSINGER Clara | USA | 24 | 0:55:16 |
| 7 | 9 | PIETERSE Puck | NED | 19 | 0:55:28 |
| 8 | 14 | CANT Sanne | BEL | 31 | 0:55:29 |
| 9 | 6 | BAKKER Manon | NED | 22 | 0:55:47 |
| 10 | 10 | VAN EMPEL Fem | NED | 19 | 0:55:56 |
| 11 | 12 | VOS Marianne | NED | 34 | 0:56:11 |
| 12 | 8 | VAN ALPHEN Aniek | NED | 22 | 0:56:28 |
| 13 | 48 | ARZUFFI Alice Maria | ITA | 27 | 0:56:40 |
| 14 | 13 | TAUBER Anne | NED | 26 | 0:56:49 |
| 15 | 16 | VERDONSCHOT Laura | BEL | 25 | 0:57:04 |
| 16 | 23 | KOPECKY Lotte | BEL | 26 | 0:57:16 |
| 17 | 4 | KASTELIJN Yara | NED | 24 | 0:57:30 |
| 18 | 50 | KAY Anna | GBR | 22 | 0:57:32 |
| 19 | 18 | FRANCK Alicia | BEL | 27 | 0:57:44 |
| 20 | 59 | ROCHETTE Maghalie | CAN | 28 | 0:58:02 |
| 21 | 11 | DE BOER Sophie | NED | 31 | 0:58:25 |
| 22 | 7 | VAN DER HEIJDEN Inge | NED | 22 | 0:58:28 |
| 23 | 25 | CLAUZEL Perrine | FRA | 27 | 0:58:30 |
| 24 | 24 | NORBERT RIBEROLLE Marion | FRA | 22 | 0:59:03 |
| 25 | 15 | VAN LOY Ellen | BEL | 41 | 0:59:14 |
| 26 | 36 | GONZALEZ BLANCO Lucia | ESP | 31 | 0:59:27 |
| 27 | 49 | HARNDEN Harriet | GBR | 20 | 0:59:35 |
| 28 | 42 | FAHRINGER Rebecca | USA | 32 | 0:59:40 |
| 29 | 19 | SELS Loes | BEL | 36 | 0:59:45 |
| 30 | 44 | KEOUGH Kaitlin | USA | 29 | 0:59:47 |
| 31 | 22 | VERHESTRAETEN Karen | BEL | 30 | 1:00:22 |
| 32 | 34 | HAVLÍKOVÁ Pavla | CZE | 38 | |
| 33 | 20 | TRUYEN Marthe | BEL | 22 | |
| 34 | 17 | VANDERBEKEN Joyce | BEL | 37 | |
| 35 | 21 | CRABBÉ Kiona | BEL | 20 | |
| 36 | 29 | PORHEL Laura | FRA | 22 | |
| 37 | 45 | MUNRO Madigan | USA | 19 | |
| 38 | 26 | MORICHON Anaïs | FRA | 22 | |
| 39 | 55 | WRIGHT Sophie | GBR | 22 | |
| 40 | 60 | MCGILL Sidney | CAN | 22 | |
| 41 | 35 | VANÍČKOVÁ Tereza | CZE | 21 | |
| 42 | 31 | LAQUEBE Amelie | FRA | 23 | |
| 43 | 39 | CUETO VEGA Sara | ESP | 27 | |
| 44 | 38 | DIAZ LOPEZ Paula | ESP | 24 | |
| 45 | 37 | TREVILLA SAMPERIO Sandra | ESP | 29 | |
| 46 | 32 | BENOIT GUYOD Camille | FRA | 19 | |
| 47 | 33 | LE DANTEC Gwennig | FRA | 29 | |
| 48 | 30 | DEVIGNE Camille | FRA | 19 | |
| 49 | 43 | COMPTON Katherine | USA | 43 | |
| 50 | 40 | PARAJON FUENTES Maria | ESP | 19 | |
| 51 | 61 | GEOGHEGAN Michelle | IRL | 39 | |
| 52 | 46 | COOGAN CISEK Corey | USA | 44 |
