Last week, we saw six North Americans at GP Leuven. This week, we saw eight at Superprestige Merksplas.
Considering the ever-present virus, it’s surprising to see this many North Americans racing across the pond.
The most successful of the Americans was Clara Honsinger, who has already raced a few events in Europe. Following close behind were Katie Compton and Kaitie Keough. Rebecca Fahringer showed up after racing GP Leuven last week and finally, Cyclocross Magazine Columnist Corey Coogan Cisek made an appearance. The Americans placed 23rd, 27th, 30th, 41st and 49th respectively.
Canadians Maghalie Rochette and Ruby West are still racing in the season alongside Siobhan Kelly, who made her first appearance of the season at this event. They placed 11th, 21st and 52nd respectively.
Ceylin Alvarado (Alpecin-Fenix) and Lucinda Brand (Telenet Baloise Lions) battled it out all race but, in the final stretch, Alvarado got into an unfortunate crash which resulted in her getting overtaken by both Brand and Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal).
Brand finished first, followed by Betsema and Alvarado.
Full results below.
2020 Superprestige Merksplas Results: Elite Women
| Pos. | Bib. | Rider | Country | Team | Age | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | BRAND Lucinda | NED | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 31 | 0:43:10 |
| 2 | 18 | BETSEMA Denise | NED | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 27 | 0:43:16 |
| 3 | 1 | ALVARADO Ceylin del Carmen | NED | ALPECIN - FENIX | 22 | 0:43:26 |
| 4 | 3 | WORST Annemarie | NED | 777 | 25 | 0:43:30 |
| 5 | 2 | CANT Sanne | BEL | IKO - CRELAN | 30 | 0:43:46 |
| 6 | 29 | KASTELIJN Yara | NED | CREDISHOP-FRISTADS | 23 | 0:43:52 |
| 7 | 11 | BAKKER Manon | NED | CREDISHOP-FRISTADS | 21 | 0:43:52 |
| 8 | 15 | KAY Anna | GBR | STARCASINO CX TEAM | 21 | 0:44:06 |
| 9 | 25 | PIETERSE Puck | NED | ALPECIN - FENIX | 18 | 0:44:15 |
| 10 | 23 | CLAUZEL Perrine | FRA | A.S BIKE CROSSTEAM | 26 | 0:44:30 |
| 11 | 5 | ROCHETTE Maghalie | CAN | 27 | 0:44:30 | |
| 12 | 20 | VAN ALPHEN Aniek | NED | CREDISHOP-FRISTADS | 21 | 0:44:43 |
| 13 | 14 | VERDONSCHOT Laura | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 24 | 0:44:54 |
| 14 | 16 | NORBERT RIBEROLLE Marion | FRA | STARCASINO CX TEAM | 21 | 0:45:07 |
| 15 | 33 | VAN EMPEL Fem | NED | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 18 | 0:45:08 |
| 16 | 13 | LECHNER Eva | ITA | STARCASINO CX TEAM | 35 | 0:45:32 |
| 17 | 9 | VAN LOY Ellen | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 40 | 0:45:42 |
| 18 | 17 | VAN ANROOIJ Shirin | NED | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 18 | 0:46:01 |
| 19 | 10 | GONZALEZ BLANCO Lucia | ESP | NESTA - SKODA ALECAR CX TEAM | 30 | 0:46:10 |
| 20 | 22 | SELS Loes | BEL | IKO - CRELAN | 35 | 0:46:30 |
