The X²0 Badkamers Trofee series stop at Scheldecross brought plenty of attention because of the return of some notable champions. Sure, Mathieu van der Poel was making his season debut in the men’s race, but former U23 World Champ Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing) and teammate U.S. Junior National Champ Maddie Munro also took the start.
No fewer than nine North Americans took to the start at the sandy Belgian cyclocross race held in Antwerp, Belgium, hoping to disrupt the Dutch domination that’s been a mainstay in the women’s cyclocross races this season and last.
While Yara Kastelijn (Credishop-Fristads) took the start as the series leader on time, the pre-race favorite had to be Lucinda Brand (Telenet Balloise Lions), who has been on a dominant tear. Could World Champ Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin – Fenix) get back to her winning ways? Might we see former World Champ Sanne Cant (Iko – Crelan) disrupt the Dutch stranglehold of the podium? Could Katie Compton (KFC Racing p/b Trek, Knight) win again on the serpentine, sandy course?
Brand Attacks Early
Brand wasted no time putting the rest of the field on the defensive. After a few racers jumped the gun, Brand rocketed down the opening stretch of pavement to grab the holeshot. Alvarado took up the chase with Anna Kay (Starcasino Cx Team) and Annemarie Worst (777).
En we zijn vertrokken#SoudalLadiesTrophy #Scheldecross pic.twitter.com/M65lMjWeMJ
— X²O Badkamers Trofee (@X2OTrofee) December 12, 2020
Brand kept up her pressure at the front, while the others took turns trying to keep her within sight. Kay hopped the barriers, but soon it was a group of five that included Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal), Kastelijn, Brand, Worst and Alvarado.
Alvarado Gets Stuck
On lap three, Alvarado took to the front, but her stay at the front was short-lived. On a short, steep rise, Alvardo shifted into her spokes and was left struggling on the side of the course, trying to get her rear derailleur and chain running again.
Een ijzerdraad… Het ‘kettingprobleem’ van Ceylin Alvarado! #Scheldecross @X2OTrofee #Antwerpen #Alvarado pic.twitter.com/oavf1GoHom
— Thomas Sneyers (@ThomasSneyers) December 12, 2020
After a minute of struggling with the oily chain and a broken spoke, she headed off to the pits on foot and wouldn’t see the front again.
Betsema Battles Brand
After Alvarado’s misfortune, Betsema took advantage, gapping Brand and the other favorites. Could she finally take the top step after so many podiums?
Brand and Worst took off to chase on foot in the long, sandy runs, but with two laps to go, it looked like Betsema would have an easy win and in the final lap, had a lead of 10 seconds in hand.
Yet Brand didn’t give up, and put in a furious chase in the final half lap to come within a single foot dab of connecting with Betsema.
Ten seconds. Seven seconds. Five seconds. Could Brand connect before the finish to outkick her compatriot? Brand grimaced, sprinted out of each corner and hoped for Betsema to make a mistake.
For the second week in a row, Betsema battled Brand, but this week, took the top step at the 2020 Scheldecross. photo: Denise Betsema at the front at 2020 Superprestige Boom. © Cyclocross Magazine
Up a steep climb, within Brand’s sight, Betsema had to put a foot down.
Suddenly, within three turns of the finish, it was a race.
Betsema hit the barriers with just three seconds advantage, but it was enough. She turned onto the pavement, looked back and celebrated a hard-fought victory and return from controversy.
🎥 In de laatste ronde van de Soudal Scheldecross werd het nog spannend tussen @Deniesoverseas en @lucinda_brand, maar uiteindelijk pakte Betsema toch haar tweede overwinning in Antwerpen! #X2OBadkamersTrofee #SoudalLadiesTrophy #SoudalScheldecross #Antwerpen pic.twitter.com/L5KKWfE4lq
— X²O Badkamers Trofee (@X2OTrofee) December 12, 2020
Denise Betsema was zaterdagnamiddag de beste zandkliefster in de Soudal Scheldecross in Antwerpen. Lucinda Brand werd tweede, maar is de nieuwe leidster in de Soudal Ladies Trophy. ➡️ https://t.co/giLDPtNdVR #X2OBadkamersTrofee #SoudalLadiesTrophy #SoudalScheldecross #Antwerpen pic.twitter.com/7CBf6abn40
— X²O Badkamers Trofee (@X2OTrofee) December 12, 2020
Behind Brand, Worst sprinted for third, with Cant finishing in fourth.
Maghalie Rochette (Specialized Rapha Feedback) led home a trio of North Americans, finishing in 15th, Compton in 16th and National Champ Honsinger (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld) in 17th.
Richards marked her return in 18th.
Kaitie Keough (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld) finished in 22nd, Munro (Trek Factory Racing) in 31st, Rebecca Fahringer (Kona Maxxis Shimano) in 35th, Sidney McGill (Pedal Head) in 40th, Siobhan Kelly (Black Dog Racing) in 46th and Corey Coogan Cisek (VeloRevolution-Cyclocross Custom) in 46th.
See the men’s 2020 X²0 Badkamers Trofee Scheldecross report and results here.
2020 X²0 Badkamers Trofee - Scheldecross Results: Elite Women
| Place | Bib | Rider | Nat | Team | Age | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | BETSEMA Denise | NED | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 27 | 0:42:16 |
| 2 | 4 | BRAND Lucinda | NED | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 31 | 0:42:21 |
| 3 | 3 | WORST Annemarie | NED | 777 | 25 | 0:42:44 |
| 4 | 2 | CANT Sanne | BEL | IKO - CRELAN | 30 | 0:42:59 |
| 5 | 9 | BAKKER Manon | NED | CREDISHOP-FRISTADS | 21 | 0:43:04 |
| 6 | 14 | KAY Anna | GBR | STARCASINO CX TEAM | 21 | 0:43:06 |
| 7 | 6 | KASTELIJN Yara | NED | CREDISHOP-FRISTADS | 23 | 0:43:09 |
| 8 | 36 | VAN EMPEL Fem | NED | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 18 | 0:43:25 |
| 9 | 16 | VERDONSCHOT Laura | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 24 | 0:43:47 |
| 10 | 23 | VAN ALPHEN Aniek | NED | CREDISHOP-FRISTADS | 21 | 0:44:05 |
| 11 | 10 | VAN DER HEIJDEN Inge | NED | 777 | 21 | 0:44:35 |
| 12 | 25 | CLAUZEL Perrine | FRA | A.S BIKE CROSSTEAM | 26 | 0:44:42 |
| 13 | 19 | ARZUFFI Alice Maria | ITA | 777 | 26 | 0:44:46 |
| 14 | 21 | VAS Kata Blanka | HUN | 19 | 0:44:51 | |
| 15 | 5 | ROCHETTE Maghalie | CAN | 27 | 0:45:01 | |
| 16 | 7 | COMPTON Katherine | USA | 42 | 0:45:01 | |
| 17 | 13 | HONSINGER Clara | USA | 23 | 0:45:22 | |
| 18 | 18 | RICHARDS Evie | GBR | TREK FACTORY RACING CX | 23 | 0:45:28 |
| 19 | 33 | TRUYEN Marthe | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 21 | 0:46:00 |
| 20 | 17 | NORBERT RIBEROLLE Marion | FRA | STARCASINO CX TEAM | 21 | 0:46:01 |
| 21 | 27 | SELS Loes | BEL | IKO - CRELAN | 35 | 0:46:01 |
| 22 | 28 | KEOUGH Kaitlin | USA | 28 | 0:46:04 | |
| 23 | 1 | ALVARADO Ceylin del Carmen | NED | ALPECIN - FENIX | 22 | 0:46:15 |
| 24 | 30 | FRANCK Alicia | BEL | PROXIMUS - ALPHAMOTORHOMES - DOLTCINI CT | 26 | 0:46:16 |
| 25 | 37 | VERHESTRAETEN Karen | BEL | IKO - CRELAN | 29 | 0:46:16 |
| 26 | 22 | MAJERUS Christine | LUX | 33 | 0:46:29 | |
| 27 | 53 | CLAUZEL Hélène | FRA | A.S BIKE CROSSTEAM | 22 | 0:46:58 |
| 28 | 56 | KOPECKY Lotte | BEL | 25 | 0:47:04 | |
| 29 | 31 | FOUQUENET Amandine | FRA | 19 | 0:47:05 | |
| 30 | 54 | MEISTROK Susanne | NED | PROXIMUS - ALPHAMOTORHOMES - DOLTCINI CT | 21 | 0:47:07 |
| 31 | 32 | MUNRO Madigan | USA | TREK FACTORY RACING CX | 18 | 0:47:10 |
| 32 | 11 | VAN LOY Ellen | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 40 | 0:47:31 |
| 33 | 26 | WEST Ruby | CAN | PROXIMUS - ALPHAMOTORHOMES - DOLTCINI CT | 21 | 0:47:48 |
| 34 | 45 | VAN ANROOIJ Lindy | NED | STARCASINO CX TEAM | 24 | 0:47:51 |
| 35 | 8 | FAHRINGER Rebecca | USA | 31 | 0:47:58 | |
| 36 | 39 | CRABBÉ Kiona | BEL | 19 | 0:48:00 | |
| 37 | 24 | PETIT Marlène | FRA | TEAM PODIOCOM CC | 29 | 0:48:45 |
| 38 | 29 | BARHOUMI Zina | SUI | 24 | 0:48:52 | |
| 39 | 44 | STRAPPAZZON Marine | FRA | TEAM PODIOCOM CC | 26 | 0:49:05 |
| 40 | 40 | MCGILL Sidney | CAN | 21 | 0:49:16 | |
| 41 | 50 | DOBBELAERE Jana | BEL | 24 | 0:49:34 | |
| 42 | 38 | MELLOR Amira | GBR | 23 | 0:49:44 | |
| 43 | 62 | ZWAENEPOEL Tessa | BEL | PROXIMUS - ALPHAMOTORHOMES - DOLTCINI CT | 19 | 0:49:49 |
| 44 | 55 | PEETERS Jinse | BEL | 21 | 0:50:16 | |
| 45 | 48 | VAN DER BURG Esther | NED | PROXIMUS - ALPHAMOTORHOMES - DOLTCINI CT | 22 | 0:50:35 |
| 46 | 47 | KELLY Siobhan | CAN | 24 | 0:50:46 | |
| 47 | 61 | MAES Shana | BEL | TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 25 | 0:50:58 |
| 48 | 43 | BROUWERS Julie | BEL | 18 | -1 LAP | |
| 49 | 57 | BASTIAENSSEN Fauve | BEL | 23 | -1 LAP | |
| 50 | 58 | DE BRUYNE Meg | BEL | 24 | -1 LAP | |
| 51 | 51 | PARKINSON Abby-Mae | GBR | TRINITY RACING | 23 | -1 LAP |
| 52 | 46 | COOGAN CISEK Corey | USA | 43 | -1 LAP | |
| 53 | 49 | DEVIGNE Camille | FRA | ARDENNES CROSS TEAM | 18 | -1 LAP |
| 54 | 42 | GEOGHEGAN Michelle | IRL | 38 | -2 LAPS | |
| 55 | 52 | BARTHELS Maïté | LUX | 19 | -2 LAPS |
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