After a fast, dry UCI Cyclocross World Cup race in Benidorm, Spain, the racing remained fast again in Spain.
Although some top racers skipped the event to remain closer to Worlds, many North Americans made the trip as a final tune-up for the championships in Hoogerheide next weekend.
Elite Women
During the first lap of the final World Cup Elite Women’s race, it looked like a parade of National Champions, with the champion’s jerseys from the Netherlands, Great Britain, Hungary, Luxembourg and France all amassing at the front.
Elite Women, 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Besancon, France. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Dutch Champ Puck Pieterse (Alpecin Deceuninck) entered the 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup finale in Besançon without her other “Young Three” rivals, but she showed that she wasn’t in France for a leisurely Sunday Ride.
Elite Women, 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Besancon, France. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
The young Dutch star soon hit the front of the race, but a chain drop slowed her march to victory.
Pieterse remained calm, pulled aside to avoid blocking competitors, and then methodically returned to the front, hopping the barriers and the pump track, and putting on a show while dropping her competitors.
Elite Women, 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Besancon, France. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Elite Women, 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Besancon, France. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Behind, it was the 777 duo of Annemarie Worst and Inge Van der Heijden working together to limit the damage and secure the final podium spots.
Elite Women, 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Besancon, France. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
British champ Zoe Backstedt took fourth, the top U23 on the day.
Elite Women, 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Besancon, France. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
French National Champ Hélène Clauzel raced to ninth in front of her many fans.
Elite Women, 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Besancon, France. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
See Pieterse’s chain issue below:
American Clara Honsinger had her second unlucky World Cup in a row, crashing on the first lap and pulling out of the race.
See the race highlights below, with full results at the bottom.
Worst, Pieterse and Van der Heijden. Elite Women, 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Besancon, France. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Junior Women
It was another Canadian domination in the Junior Women’s race, with the Holmgren sisters taking two of the three podium steps and the win.
Junior Women, 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Besancon, France. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Ava Holmgren took the victory, outsprinting Belgian VAN Xaydee van Sinaey, with Isabella following in third.
Junior Women, 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Besancon, France. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Junior Women, 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Besancon, France. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Vida Lopez de San Ramon was the top American, finishing in 12th.
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2023 Besancon UCI Cyclocross World Cup Results: Elite Women
| Rank | Name | Nat | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIETERSE Puck | NED | ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK | 45:21 | |
| 2 | WORST Annemarie | NED | 777 | 45:58 | +0:37 |
| 3 | VAN DER HEIJDEN, Inge | NED | 777 | 46:04 | +0:43 |
| 4 | * BACKSTEDT Zoe | GBR | EF EDUCATION - TIBCO - SVB | 46:23 | +1:02 |
| 5 | VAS Kata Blanka | HUN | TEAM SD WORX | 46:30 | +1:09 |
| 6 | * SCHREIBER Marie | LUX | TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 46:31 | +1:10 |
| 7 | BAKKER Manon | NED | CRELAN - FRISTADS | 46:31 | +1:10 |
| 8 | BETSEMA Denise | NED | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 46:32 | +1:11 |
| 9 | CLAUZEL Hélène | FRA | AS BIKE RACING | 46:39 | +1:18 |
| 10 | NORBERT RIBEROLLE Marion | BEL | CRELAN - FRISTADS | 46:45 | |
| 11 | VAN ALPHEN Aniek | NED | 777 | 46:52 | +1:31 |
| 12 | ROCHETTE Maghalie | CAN | Specialized Feedback | 47:05 | +1:44 |
| 13 | * ZEMANOVÁ Kristýna | CZE | BRILON RACING TEAM MB | 47:13 | |
| 14 | FRANCK Alicia | BEL | BELGIUM | 47:40 | |
| 15 | * BURQUIER Line | FRA | FRANCE | 47:55 | |
| 16 | BARONI Francesca | ITA | PISSEI - GROEP T.O.M | 48:11 | +2:50 |
| 17 | * FOUQUENET Amandine | FRA | 48:12 | ||
| 18 | VERDONSCHOT Laura | BEL | BELGIUM | 48:12 | +2:51 |
| 19 | CASASOLA Sara | ITA | SELLE ITALIA - GUERCIOTTI - ELITE | 48:13 | +2:52 |
| 20 | CLAUZEL Perrine | FRA | AS BIKE RACING | 48:32 | +3:11 |
| 21 | GONZALEZ BLANCO Lucia | ESP | NESTA - MMR CX TEAM | 48:38 | +3:17 |
| 22 | LECHNER Eva | ITA | ITALY | 48:46 | +3:25 |
| 23 | GARIBOLDI Rebecca | ITA | ITALY | 48:53 | +3:32 |
| 24 | * MUNRO Madigan | USA | TREK FACTORY RACING CX | 49:01 | +3:40 |
| 25 | * MACLEAN-HOWELL Ella | GBR | GREAT BRITAIN | 49:02 | +3:41 |
| 26 | NUSS Raylyn | USA | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 49:08 | +3:47 |
| 27 | * DURAFFOURG Lauriane | FRA | FRANCE | 49:30 | +4:09 |
| 28 | * BROUWERS Julie | BEL | BELGIUM | 49:34 | +4:13 |
| 29 | KILLIPS Austin | USA | NICE BIKES | 49:53 | +4:32 |
| 30 | RODRIGUEZ REVERT Sofia | ESP | NESTA - MMR CX TEAM | 49:53 | +4:32 |
| 31 | * ZONTONE Asia | ITA | ITALY | 50:05 | +4:44 |
| 32 | * GUNSALUS Lizzy | USA | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 50:09 | +4:48 |
| 33 | MCGILL Sidney | CAN | CANADA | 50:25:00 | |
| 34 | * KRAHL Judith | GER | HEIZOMAT RADTEAM P/B KLOSTER KITCHEN | 50:31 | +5:10 |
| 35 | * JERÁBKOVÁ Bára | CZE | BRILON RACING TEAM MB | 50:47 | +5:26 |
| 36 | PEETERS Jinse | BEL | PROXIMUS - ALPHAMOTORHOMES - DOLTCINI CT | 51:04 | +5:43 |
| 37 | * HLADÍKOVÁ Katerina | CZE | BRILON RACING TEAM MB | 51:07 | +5:46 |
| 38 | * GALLEZOT Electa | FRA | PODIOCOM CX | 51:28 | +6:07 |
| 39 | * BORELLO Carlotta | ITA | ITALY | 51:35 | +6:14 |
| 40 | TRABAZO BRAGADO Irene | ESP | SPAIN | 51:37 | +6:16 |
| 41 | DOBBELAERE Jana | BEL | BELGIUM | 51:44 | +6:23 |
| 42 | WEINGARTEN Audrey | FRA | SORIUS | 52:09 | +6:48 |
| 43 | * BRIAND Manon | FRA | ARDENNES CROSS TEAM GECIBAT | 52:21 | +7:00 |
| 44 | * BARTHELS Maïté | LUX | LUXEMBOURG | 52:27 | +7:06 |
| 45 | PETIT Marlène | FRA | PODIOCOM CX | 52:36 | +7:15 |
| 46 | WERNER Emily | USA | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 52:49 | +7:28 |
| 47 | * WENZEL Liv | LUX | LUXEMBOURG | 53:31 | +8:10 |
| 48 | * DEVIGNE Camille | FRA | FRANCE | -1 LAP | |
| 49 | * ONESTI Olivia | FRA | FRANCE | LAP | |
| 51 | TREPTE Evelyne | SUI | SWITZERLAND | -1 LAP | |
| 52 | * BILODEAU Christiane | CAN | CANADA | -2 LAP | |
| 53 | MALIK Jennifer | USA | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | -2 LAP | |
| 54 | MULLER Cyriane | FRA | TEAM CX TPM | -2 LAP | |
| 55 | * JAQUET Prisca | SUI | SWITZERLAND | -2 LAP | |
| HONSINGER Clara | USA | EF EDUCATION - TIBCO - SVB | DNF |
2023 Besancon UCI Cyclocross World Cup Results: Junior Women
| Pos | Nr | Name / UCI Cyclocross Team | NAT | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 6 | HOLMGREN Ava CANADA | CAN | 40:59 | - |
| 2. | 37 | VAN SINAEY Xaydee BELGIUM | BEL | 41:00 | +0:01 |
| 3. | 7 | HOLMGREN Isabella CANADA | CAN | 41:01 | +0:02 |
| 4. | 25 | GERY Célia FRANCE | FRA | 41:08 | +0:09 |
| 5. | 23 | VENTURELLI Federica ITALY | ITA | 42:01 | +1:02 |
| 6. | 3 | FERGUSON Cat GREAT BRITAIN | GBR | 42:14 | +1:15 |
| 7. | 5 | WOLFF Imogen GREAT BRITAIN | GBR | 42:21 | +1:22 |
| 8. | 34 | DE SCHEPPER Lore BELGIUM | BEL | 42:31 | +1:32 |
| 9. | 22 | CORVI Valentina ITALY | ITA | 42:40 | +1:41 |
| 10. | 13 | DLASKOVÁ Vanda CZECH REPUBLIC | CZE | 43:10 | +2:11 |
| 11. | 18 | LANGENBARG Puck NETHERLANDS | NED | 43:22 | +2:23 |
| 12. | 10 | LOPEZ DE SAN ROMAN Vida UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | USA | 43:23 | +2:24 |
| 13. | 15 | HANÁKOVÁ Eliška CZECH REPUBLIC | CZE | 43:23 | +2:24 |
| 14. | 19 | SONNEMANS Sara NETHERLANDS | NED | 43:49 | +2:50 |
| 15. | 2 | CARRICK-ANDERSON Emily GREAT BRITAIN | GBR | 43:55 | +2:56 |
| 16. | 35 | DE SCHOESITTER Shanyl BELGIUM | BEL | 44:10 | +3:11 |
| 17. | 38 | FILGUEIRAS BARCENILLA Maria SPAIN | ESP | 44:20 | +3:21 |
| 18. | 29 | MARASCO Margot FRANCE | FRA | 44:22 | +3:23 |
| 19. | 44 | KABETAJ Nelia ALBANIA | ALB | 44:22 | +3:23 |
| 20. | 24 | CORABOEUF Lea FRANCE | FRA | 44:28 | +3:29 |
| 21. | 16 | NOVÁKOVÁ Karla CZECH REPUBLIC | CZE | 44:32 | +3:33 |
| 22. | 41 | BUNEA Wendy ROMANIA | ROU | 44:35 | +3:36 |
| 23. | 33 | REYNIER Romane FRANCE | FRA | 44:35 | +3:36 |
| 24. | 14 | DOUDEROVÁ Katerina CZECH REPUBLIC | CZE | 44:35 | +3:36 |
| 25. | 12 | SCOTT Samantha UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | USA | 44:57 | +3:58 |
| 26. | 43 | UNGEROVÁ Sofia SLOVAKIA | SVK | 45:06 | +4:07 |
| 27. | 31 | MOULIN Anaïs FRANCE | FRA | 45:20 | +4:21 |
| 28. | 30 | MENAGER Loane FRANCE | FRA | 45:28 | +4:29 |
| 29. | 17 | KALIS Bloeme NETHERLANDS | NED | 45:29 | +4:30 |
| 30. | 11 | MUSGRAVE Kaya UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | USA | 45:38 | +4:39 |
| 31. | 28 | KLAES Lise FRANCE | FRA | 45:50 | +4:51 |
| 32. | 39 | BRÄUTIGAM Messane GERMANY | GER | 46:23 | +5:24 |
| 33. | 27 | JOUAULT Ambre FRANCE | FRA | 46:28 | +5:29 |
| 34. | 40 | SCHMITZ Anouk LUXEMBOURG | LUX | 46:39 | +5:40 |
| 35. | 26 | GIRAUD Camille FRANCE | FRA | 46:41 | +5:42 |
| 36. | 8 | POLLOCK Madeleine CANADA | CAN | 47:47 | +6:48 |
| 37. | 20 | TAKKEN Roxanne NETHERLANDS | NED | 48:02 | +7:03 |
| 38. | 9 | RODGERS Geza CANADA | CAN | 48:57 | +7:58 |
| 39. | 4 | MCKINNON Elizabeth GREAT BRITAIN | GBR | -1 LAP | |
| 40. | 42 | SMATANOVÁ Ema SLOVAKIA | SVK | -1 LAP | |
| 21 | BIANCHI Arianna ITALY | ITA | DNF |
