The period around Christmas and New Year is peak season in international cyclocross sport, with eleven races within 16 days in the Netherlands and Belgium alone.
At the Superprestige race in Mol, Belgium, shortly before Christmas, Laurens Sweeck was able to show his form and shine with a second place. His team-mate Inge van der Heijden rode to a good third place in the elite women's race.
Things continued successfully after Christmas at the Exactcross in Loenhout, Belgium. Marion Norbert Riberolle (Crelan-Corendon) took victory in the elite women's race on her STEVENS Super Prestige, with Belgian record champion Sanne Cant in second place and Laurens Sweeck completing the medal haul with third place in the elite men's race.
With victories at the Superprestige floodlit night race in Diegem, Belgium, just before the turn of the year and the X20 Trofee on the famous sand dune course in Koksijde, Belgium, last weekend, Laurens once again proved his class, especially in the sand.
Also last weekend, STEVENS Racing Team rider Benedikt Benz took victory in the UCI Junior race as part of the UCI World Cup in Dendermonde, Belgium. The reigning German U19 champion excelled in extremely challenging course and weather conditions.
This bodes well for the upcoming national cyclocross championships, all of which will be held next weekend. The Belgian elite will meet in Heusden-Zolder, while the German cyclo-cross riders will compete in Chemnitz.
