The European and Belgian Cross Champion Sanne Cant won the first race of the Superprestige series on October 4 on STEVENS Super Prestige after a third place at the World Cup opening in Las Vegas and a DNF due to a technical defect (chain damage) at the race in Neerpelt.

On the circuit in Gieten, the Netherlands, the rider of Belgian Team Enertherm-BKCP quickly set 15 to 20 seconds between herself and her competitors. „I was in good shape and wanted to race at my own speed as soon as possible.“ She souvereignly managed to hold the gap until the end of the race. The circuit in Gieten was furthermore a great preparation for the Belgian Championship in Lille, Cant said, as the circuits were similar.

„I actually would have been able to win the race in Neerpelt, too, but I had no luck there“, Cant said. At the first Soudal Classics race at the end of September in Belgium she had to give up the race in leading position due to problems with her chain.

In the first race of bpost Bank Trophy in Ronse Cant „only“ scored fourth. „This is not my favourite circuit“, Cant said. „It was not easy to find my own speed during the race.“ Pavla Havlíková from Czechia won the race in Neerpelt, Jolien Verschueren and Nikki Harris scored second and third.

The score after the first races corresponds to the positions in the overall rankings, it was of no use, already taking them as benchmark. „Only in the last race it shows whether you got a chance to take the overall win“, Sanne Cant says. „I live from race to race.“

A Special Birthday Present
There is another thing Cant does not have to worry about in the next years. On her 25. birthday on October 8, Team Enertherm-BKCP extended her contract until the end of 2020.
Manager Philip Roodhooft said after the signing of the contract: „We are very happy to continue working with Sanne. We are convinced there is still room for growth.“ Sanne Cant won 26 races in the past season. She won the Belgian Championship as well as the European Championship. She scored second at the World Championship in Tábor (CZ).

The Belgian Champion, threefold overall winner of bpost Bank Trophy series and overall leader of the 2015 UCI ranking did not have to think twice about the the extension of her contract: „That’s the best present I could get for my birthday“, smiled the probably most famous inhabitant of Lille. I am very happy that my team and the sponsors put so much trust in me. The team is my second home.“