2019 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships – Women's elite race explained

Women's elite race
Series:2019 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
Stages:1
Distance:18.35
Unit:km
Time:47' 53"
Type:medals
First:Sanne Cant
First Nat:Belgium
Second:Lucinda Brand
Second Nat:Netherlands
Third:Marianne Vos
Third Nat:Netherlands
Previous:2018
Next:2020

This event was held on 2 February 2019 as a part of the 2019 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Bogense, Denmark. Participants must be women born in 2002 or before. The race was won by Sanne Cant of Belgium, winning her third consecutive title.

Race report

Dutch trio Denise Betsema, Marianne Vos and Annemarie Worst took the fastest start, leading after one lap with only defending champion Sanne Cant and her Belgian compatriot Ellen Van Loy able to follow. Lucinda Brand, who was tipped as big favorite prior to the race, was following in a second group some ten seconds behind, flanked by Jolanda Neff, Kaitlin Keough and Nikki Brammeier.

Together with Neff, Brand was able to close the gap to the leading group, where Van Loy had been dropped following a fall on one of the steeper slopes. Although slippery in some parts, overall the race was relatively straightforward, with long straight parts beside the windy coast of Denmark, causing the lead group to stay together for several laps. Betsema and Cant took turns leading the group, before Neff was the first to drop behind in lap four. Although this led to a situation of four Dutch riders against Belgian Sanne Cant, the Dutch never cooperated and all rode their individual race.

During lap six, when leading the race and attempting a bike change, Brand fell as her left foot was still locked in the pedal while her bicycle was pulled out from under her by her mechanic (which later turned out to be her father). While she lost valuable seconds, Sanne Cant suddenly opened up a small gap between her and the four Dutch riders.

Going into the last lap, Cant lead with a six-second gap over Brand and Vos, with Betsema and Worst another seven seconds behind them. At that point, Keough and Neff were already over a minute back in sixth and seventh place. During the last lap, Brand soon opened a gap between her and Vos, but remained between four and ten seconds behind Cant, allowing Cant to win her third consecutive title. Brand was visibly disappointed in second place, Vos remained third.

Results

[1]

Rank Cyclist Time
47' 53"
+ 9"
+ 15"
4[2] [3] + 25"
5+ 36"
6+ 1' 16"
7+ 1' 21"
8+ 1' 37"
9+ 1' 59"
10+ 2' 05"
11+ 2' 05"
12+ 2' 08"
13+ 2' 08"
14+ 2' 27"
15+ 2' 29"
16+ 2' 41"
17+ 2' 48"
18+ 2' 52"
19+ 3' 01"
20+ 3' 13"
21+ 3' 21"
22+ 3' 27"
23+ 3' 33"
24+ 3' 48"
25+ 3' 52"
26+ 3' 52"
27+ 4' 28"
28+ 4' 34"
29+ 4' 50"
30+ 4' 59"
31+ 5' 15"
32+ 5' 34"
33+ 5' 39"
34+ 5' 57"
35+ 5' 57"
36+ 6' 58"
37
38+ 2 laps
39
40+ 3 laps

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Results > Women Elite. 2019 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships. UCI. 2 February 2019. 2 February 2019.
  2. https://sporza.be/nl/2020/01/21/kijk-om-14u-naar-de-persconferentie-van-denise-betsema/ Betsema: "Toegelaten voedingssupplement was vervuild"
  3. https://sporza.be/nl/2020/01/20/uci-over-betsema/ UCI zet het licht op groen voor terugkeer van betrapte Betsema