Cyclo-Cross Gullegem 2021 [FULL RACE] (ladies)

January 2, 2021

Cyclo-Cross Gullegem 2021 – Gullegem

Cyclocross Gullegem is a cyclocross race that has been organized annually in Gullegem, Belgium since 2018. After barely one year in the B circuit, under the rankings of the Flemish Cyclocross Cup, the race was promoted to the A circuit as a loose cross.

The start and finish are located in the Heulestraat in Gullegem. The track is 2,860 meters long and includes a bridge, a double material post, beams, a sandbox, a pyramid strip, a hill and a slope zone. The course is situated in a scenic landscape between the Heulestraat and Heulebeek. In 2018, a part of the course was flooded due to the flooding of the Heulebeek, but the cyclocross continued as usual with a small course change.

Blanka Vas (Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport) repeated her early aggressiveness, which earned the 19-year-old a victory at Ethias Cross Bredene three days ago, and took her second consecutive solo victory Saturday, this time at Cyclocross Gullegem. Inge van der Heijden (777) and Sanne Cant (Iko-Crelan) would battle at the line to complete the podium, Van der Heijden taking second in the head-to-head battle.

French national champion Marion Norbert Riberolle (Starcasino cx Team) charged to the lead early by making a move in the first part of sand. She was followed by teammate Anna Kay, Vas, Van der Heijden, and Cant, until a mistake allowed all the chasers to pass. Vas used this break in momentum to her advantage taking control at the front on the second lap and then distanced herself more on each ensuing lap.

Midway through the muddy course it looked like Cant would be the only rider to have a chance to even catch sight of, but Van der Heijden clawed her way back and marked all of Cant’s moves.

By the final lap, Cant set the pace in the final twisting turns of the course with Van der Heijden on her wheel. In the final straightaway the Belgian champion was unable to match Van der Heijden’s acceleration at the line to snatch second place. Both riders finished 30 seconds behind Vas, and Briton Kay taking fourth, more than a minute back of the Hungarian national champion. Riberolle would roll across the line in fifth, another 13 seconds after Kay.

Like the men’s race, many of the top women opted not to take part at Cyclocross Gullegem in order to rest for Sunday’s World Cup, including Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Fenix), Denise Betsema (Pauwels Saauzen-Bingoal), Lucinda Brand (Telenet Baloise Lions) and Clara Honsinger (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld).

Results :
1 Vas Kata Blanka (Hun) 0:45:47
2 Van der Heijden Inge (Ned) 777 0:00:30
3 Cant Sanne (Bel) Iko – Crelan
4 Kay Anna (GBr) Starcasino cx Team 0:01:15
5 Norbert Riberolle Marion (Fra) Starcasino cx Team 0:01:28
6 Van Alphen Aniek (Ned) Credishop-fristads 0:02:05
7 Verhestraeten Karen (Bel) Iko – Crelan 0:02:29
8 Fahringer Rebecca (USA) 0:02:55
9 Meistrok Susanne (Ned) Proximus – Alphamotorhomes – Doltcini Ct 0:03:03
10 Vanderbeken Joyce (Bel) 0:03:12
11 Wright Sophie (GBr) 0:03:20
12 Verhoeven Suzanne (Bel) 0:03:38
13 De Wilde Julie (Bel) Iko – Crelan 0:04:03
14 Van Anrooij Lindy (Ned) Starcasino cx Team 0:04:33
15 Peeters Jinse (Bel) 0:04:44
16 Van Wunsel Lise (Bel) 0:05:12
17 Compton Katherine (USA) 0:05:23
18 Brouwers Julie (Bel)
19 Dobbelaere Jana (Bel) 0:05:42
20 Maes Shana (Bel) Tormans Cyclo Cross Team 0:07:05
21 De Bruyne Meg (Bel)
22 Zwaenepoel Tessa (Bel) Proximus – Alphamotorhomes – Doltcini Ct
23 Greenhalgh Laura (GBr)
24 Kelly Siobhan (Can)
25 Cueto Vega Sara (Spa) 2 laps
26 Geoghegan Michelle (Irl) 2 laps
27 Coogan Cisek Corey (USA) 2 laps
28 Vermeir Aurélie (Bel) 3 laps
DNF Gonzalez Blanco Lucia (Spa) Nesta – Skoda Alecar cx Team