Sanne Cant Outkicks Ellen Van Loy, Elle Anderson Fifth – Superprestige Gieten Report, Results, Video

Sophie de Boer leads Ellen van Loy, Sanne Cant and the field – 2014 Superprestige Gieten women’s race – vier.be video screenshot

The Belgian Champion, Sanne Cant, did what Sven Nys could not, and continued to assert her dominance this weekend after last week’s win at Neerpelt. Quickly after the start, as the race moved to the first set of barriers, Cant led the field with Sophie De Boer and Ellen van Loy right on her heels.

De Boer invented some space at Gieten’s infamous beach, where she used the compact sand by the water’s edge to make a move on Cant, although the three leaders stayed together by the time it came to dismounting and running with their bikes. In an exciting battle, it would be Van Loy who came into the sand last but emerged first, with the top three leaders in constant rotation.

Meanwhile, American cyclocross hero Elle Anderson worked her way up through the field, eventually picking her way to the top ten and then fifth behind the leaders.

Elle Anderson started off her European campaign at Gieten with a 5th place. screenshot – vier.be video

For the next lap, De Boer and Van Loy seemed content to punish each other at the front while Cant remained behind in third. On the pavement, Anderson got within sight of the three leaders as Cant looked over her shoulder.

The next lap saw many of the riders, including De Boer and Cant, cutting through the water on the beach, with others taking too much of a risk and getting waterlogged where they rode. Cant then put in a hard effort on the climb. Van Loy, who had otherwise been using the course railings as a guide in the sand, became caught up and was forced to dismount early. She spent enough energy afterwards moving back to second ahead of De Boer within the next climb.

As with most Dutch races, there was plenty of sand – 2014 Superprestige Gieten women’s race – vier.be video screenshot

As the race came to a close, it appeared as if Cant had locked up first, with Van Loy trailing by five or six seconds and De Boer no where to be seen. Van Loy used the last of her strength to put the pressure on Cant, and although the Dutch rider got within a few bike lengths of the Belgian champion, it was Cant who would cross the finish line first.

De Boer came in for third, and Elle Anderson finished fifth on the day behind the leaders and Dutch rider Sanne van Paassen.

Sanne Cant puts the hurt on Van Loy – 2014 Superprestige Gieten women’s race – vier.be video screenshot

“I had a great time at the Super Prestige Gieten, and it was nice to get my first racing experience in Europe out of the way,” Elle Anderson told Cyclocross Magazine. “I especially enjoyed the technical sand sections around the lake, and the course was so demanding but fun.”

“I didn’t have a great start, and there were some technical sections early in the lap which made it difficult move up. However, I was able to work my way up from 9th wheel after the hole shot to 4th in the race, where I stayed for 3 laps before being passed by Sanne van Passen (Boels Dolman).”

“I’m happy with a 5th place finish in my first European race of the season, as I know there is a lot of improvement I can make from here. My teammate Sophie De Boer placed 3rd. My new team Kalas-NNOF is great, and having a camper at the races is such a treat: After finishing my race in the cool temperatures and drizzling rain, I got to take a nice warm shower.”

Full results below the video.  See the 2014 Superprestige Gieten cyclocross race men’s report and video here.

2014 Superprestige Gieten Women’s Race Video – Highlights:

2014 Gieten Superprestige Women's Results