Description
December 10, 2022
Exact Cross 2023 WE – 4 – Essen
The Exact Cross series – formerly known as Ethias Cross and Brico Cross – is one of the four major series in the cyclocross season,
Show more...
December 10, 2022
Exact Cross 2023 WE – 4 – Essen
The Exact Cross series – formerly known as Ethias Cross and Brico Cross – is one of the four major series in the cyclocross season, making it one of the most prestigious series in modern cyclocross. The series takes place over eight rounds throughout the season, with all of the rounds being held in Belgium, one of the two heartlands of cyclocross alongside the Netherlands. Unlike other series, Exact Cross does not award points towards any sort of classification at the end of each race, nor does it compose an overall ranking. Exact Cross is instead a series of one-day races spread throughout the calendar, with whoever crosses the finish line in 1st place winning the race and the bounty of prizes on offer (which is usually money). The Exact Cross series started as the Brico Cross series in the 2016/17 season and had only six rounds in its first edition. In the 2018/19 season, the series introduced its current eight-round format and for the 2019/20 season, the series was renamed ‘Ethias Cross’. For this season the series will be known as ‘Exact Cross’ and will introduce some new races to its calendar, while still maintaining its eight-round format.
Aniek Van Alphen (777) used her bike skills to bunny hop the barriers and then surge away from her rival to win the Exact Cross Essen race near Antwerp.
With many of the biggest women on their way to Ireland for Sunday’s Dublin World Cup, Van Alphen took advantage, confirmed her success in last week’s Superprestige Boom race and impressed on the fast course despite the freezing temperatures of Belgium in mid-December.
While her rivals were forced to dismount for the barriers, Van Alphen was able to bunny hop them each time and gain an advantage. She got a gap after three of the seven laps and never looked back.
Behind Alicia Frank (De Ceuster-Bonache) eventually got away to take second, with Yara Kastelijn (Crelans-Fristads) beating Britain’s Anna Kay (777) to take third place.
Results :