Sanne Cant is the new cyclocross World Champion! The Belgian Champion won in an exciting race in Bieles (Luxemburg) on the home stretch ahead of strong seven times World Champion Marianne Vos (Netherlands). Only minutes before it had looked like Sanne Cant of Enertherm-Beobank would finish again “only” on the podium at a World Championship.

While riding in the leading group together with Marianne Vos, Katerina Nash (Czech Republic) and Lucinda Brand (Netherlands) that separated from the main field at the end of the first round, Sanne Cant’s back wheel skidded in a very slippery downhill section. Vos took advantage of this and pulled away to take the lead with up to ten seconds.

But Sanne Cant was not only in good physical shape one day after returning from her training camp in Spain, also her mental strength was impressive. She fought to close the gap on her STEVENS Super Prestige slowly, but continuously – but also benefitted from a chain suck on Vos’ bike.

On the last half round both riders were riding side by side. Sanne took the decisive advantage when she overtook Vos during transition. This provided the decisive meters. The multiple champion gave up already on the home stretch so that Sanne Cant had time to enjoy the moment.

All the nicer was this moment: Her arms high up in the air she shouted out all the pressure and joy and said later in her first interview: “This is the best day of my life. I cannot believe that I beat the great Marianne Vos.”

Marianne Vos had a late start into the cross season, but showed her class e.g. when winning the last World Cup races in Hoogerheide. In Bieles a lead group had broken away very early in the race in which Ellen van Loy kept the speed high and all potential medalists – Marianne Vos, Eva Lechner (IT), Katharina Nash (CZ), Christine Majerus (Lux) and Lucinda Brand (NL) – were riding in. A crash in the main field caused the field to stretch quickly.

Though Vos attacked in the middle of the race and only Eva Lechner was able to follow the increase in speed, the lead pack was able to close the gap again. During the race every one of the riders lost time due to a crash or skidding – Marianne Vos suffered a chain suck shortly before the end of the race that confirmed Sanne Cant’s conviction to never give up in this race an to take any chance she’d get. Congratulations from STEVENS!!