De Boer Storms Away from Women’s Field in Hoogerheide World Cup – Updated: Video Highlights, Report and Full Results

HOOGERHEIDE, The Netherlands—The muddy conditions and the changes to the course for the World Cup at Hoogerheide were of little concern to Sophie De Boer who won the Women’s Elite race ahead of her compatriot and National Champion Thalita De Jong and British National Champion Nikki Harris.

Last world cup before world champs. Good luck Team USA! And go @_amanda_panda_ ! #UCICXWC #Hoogerheide pic.twitter.com/t4NXs0c2bU

— Van Geslani (@Vanaerobic) January 24, 2016

The challenging conditions on the technical course saw riders running through the initial turns as they slipped and slid around, elbow-to-elbow.

With the tight pack and no clear lines, that forced some riders into the pits as they went by for the first time shortly after the start.

One rider seen entering the pits from near the rear of the race was American National Champion Katie Compton. A particularly difficult start for her would see her chasing for the rest of the day. Showing fine form, if some bad luck, she would finish in 12th place in the end.

On the front of the race it was de Boer taking control nearly from the start with the fight of the day being for second place between Harris and de Jong. Initially nothing was sure for the leading trio as they each were forced off the bike multiple times in the think, slick mud on various occasions. Not to mention that World Cup leader Sanne Cant along with French National Champion Caroline Mani and the Italian champion Eva Lechner not too far back.

As the race wore on, de Boer slowly but surely extended her lead over all chasers. While de Boer stayed focus on the course in front of her, Harris and de Jong raced shoulder-to-shoulder trading second position seemingly with each course feature, slip in the mud and turn.

Cant sat much of the race in fourth but was passed on the bell lap just before the course’s giant staircase by Mani. It had been a fight between Helen Wyman and Eva Lechner fighting for the final podium spot, but both riders faded in the race’s final moments.

Podio femenino #Hoogerheide pic.twitter.com/zneDn2GLL6 — Respira Ciclismo (@RespiraCiclismo) January 24, 2016

In the end, de Boer took a fine win and surely gained a boost in confidence before next week’s World Championships.

American rider Kaitie Anntoneau was 14th with teammates Elle Anderson in 16th, Meredith Miller in 26th, Amanda Miller in 31st, Amanda Nauman in 34th, Coutenay McFadden in 47th and Ellen Noble in 49th.

Wyman finished in 7th behind her countrywoman Harris with Bethany Crumpton in 28th and Hannah Payton in 32nd for Team Great Britain. Canada’s Mical Dyck finished 24th with teammates Ruby West in 60th and Maggie Coles-Lyster in 65th.

2016 World Cup Hoogerheide Elite Women's Full Results