In the final UCI race of the season, it was only fitting the 2017 Cyclocross World Champs reigned supreme in Oostmalle at the 2017 Cyclocross Internationale Sluitingsprijs Oostmalle.
The Price is Right for Cant in Oostmalle
Sanne Cant has been arguably the most consistent performer of the 2016-2017 cyclocross season with 16 wins and 6 second place finishes. She closed out her memorable season with win number 17 on Sunday at Cyclocross Internationale Sluitingsprijs Oostmalle. Cant broke away from a chase of Annemarie Worst (Mijn Bad Liv/Giant Off-Road Team), Laura Verdonschot (Marlux-Napoleon Games), and Maud Kaptheijns (Steylaerts-Verona), and put an exclamation point on her World Championship season.
Wereldkampioene @Sannecant sluit seizoen in stijl af in #Oostmalle 🌈👏🏼 #cyclocross pic.twitter.com/OclEgoenUa
— IKOEnertherm-Beobank (@IKOEne_Beo) February 19, 2017
Verdonschot’s second place finish is a little bit of redemption after her disappointing fourth place finish in the Women’s U23 race at Worlds. The winner of that race Worst went out strong early on, but Verdonschot was able to overtake her and hold off Kaptheijns to take second.
.@Lauraverdonscht in tweede positie in Oostmalle. Nog 1 ronde! pic.twitter.com/OOSHAP9Y1B
— Marlux-NapoleonGames (@MAR_NAPG_CT) February 19, 2017
Cant made the start at Oostmalle after skipping Saturday’s Soudal Classic Leuven over a disagreement about start money. Cant was expecting her contract to be renegotiated after her World Championship victory, and after she could not reach an agreement with the race organizers, she opted to skip the event.
Katie Compton (KFC Racing) was the lone American to stick around Europe for the last race of the season. She finished seventh after winning Saturday at Leuven.
Van Aert Stops Van der Poel’s Post-Worlds Streak
Cyclocross fans have grown accustomed to seeing Mathieu van der Poel (Beobank-Corendon) blast off at the front at the start of the race to try to bury his opponents early on. On Sunday at Oostmalle, Wout Van Aert (Crelan-Charles) did his best impression of his Dutch arch rival by going full-throttle after grabbing an early first-lap lead from Jim Aernouts (Telenet Fidea Lions). Van der Poel gave chase early on, but after the third lap it was clear Van Aert would be taking home his first victory since winning the rainbow jersey in Bieles, Luxembourg. Van Aert won the race by over a minute as a large group sorted itself out behind him.
Knalstart van @JimAernouts #Oostmalle pic.twitter.com/1b9WEmbdGx
— Telenet Fidea Lions (@TFLions) February 19, 2017
Van Aert’s victory halted a six-race post-Worlds tear by Van der Poel. Van der Poel was visibly upset after his flat-marred silver at the World Championships and used the ensuing month to exact revenge on Van Aert and the rest of the cyclocross peloton.
.@mathieuvdpoel has been on an impressive post-#cxworlds tear: https://t.co/N36isJDCap pic.twitter.com/miKiRK8ADO
— Cyclocross Magazine (@cyclocross) February 18, 2017
The victory by Van Aert brings the final tally in the 2016-2017 WVA-MvdP Trofee series to 18 for Van der Poel and 6 for Van Aert. Unfortunately for Van der Poel, Van Aert got the one that counts the most in Bieles and will be sporting the coveted rainbow stripes in the 2017-2018 cyclocross season.
Once Van der Poel dropped back into the group during the fourth lap, a spirited battle for “Best of the Rest” broke out, albeit one that included van der Poel. The large chase contingent varied from 7 to 10 riders, and when the pack came across for the bell lap of the bell lap race, 9 riders were in contention for the second spot on the podium.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQs-fQ3DMUP/?tagged=oostmalle
Midway through the final lap, a group of four – Van der Poel, David van der Poel (Beobank Corendon), Tom Meeusen (Telenet Fidea Lions), and Gianni Vermeersch (Steylaerts-Verona) – emerged from the scrum. The four hit the finishing straight together and Van der Poel rode an early jump on the long sprint to grab second over Meeusen, who finished third. David van der Poel finished just behind the Lion in fourth.
Sunday was the last race for Swiss National Champion Julien Taramarcaz (ERA-Circus), who recently announced he will be retiring from professional cyclocross at age 29 to focus on his family and moving onto the next chapter in his life.
It's gonna be the hardest weekend of my life… stay tuned 😪
— Tam (@JulienTaramarca) February 17, 2017
Sunday’s race at Oostmalle closes the books on the 2016-2017 UCI cyclocross season, with only the non-UCI Cyclocross Masters on February 22 left. Thank you to everyone who followed Cyclocross Magazine’s coverage of the run-ups, the descents and every barrier in between. While we shift more towards tech, gravel and interviews, our UCI cyclocross coverage will resume in September, although you just might find some southern hemisphere reports in the coming months. Thanks for making it a great, fun and rewarding season for us.
2017 Sluitingsprijs Oostmalle Results - Elite Women
| Pl | Bib | Name | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | CANT Sanne | ENERTHERM - BEOBANK | 0:43:54 |
| 2 | 2 | VERDONSCHOT Laura | MARLUX - NAPOLEON GAMES CYCLING TEAM | 0:44:37 |
| 3 | 4 | KAPTHEIJNS Maud | STEYLAERTS - VERONA | 0:44:50 |
| 4 | 5 | SELS Loes | KDL CYCLING TEAM | 0:45:16 |
| 5 | 9 | WORST Annemarie | GIANT LIV MIJN BAD DEALERTEAM | 0:45:16 |
| 6 | 3 | VAN LOY Ellen | YOUNG TELENET FIDEA CYCLING TEAM | 0:45:52 |
| 7 | 51 | COMPTON Katherine | TREK FACTORY RACING | 0:45:57 |
| 8 | 37 | VAN DER HEIJDEN Inge | ZZPR R.NL HANCLEAN ORNAGE BABIES CYCL | 0:46:03 |
| 9 | 44 | VERHESTRAETEN Karen | DONEN/VONDELMOLEN CX-TEAM | 0:46:05 |
| 10 | 6 | FRANCK Alicia | MARLUX - NAPOLEON GAMES CYCLING TEAM | 0:46:08 |
| 11 | 21 | BAKKER Manon | WV GIANT DT BENELUX | 0:46:10 |
| 12 | 39 | MAES Shana | DONEN/VONDELMOLEN CX-TEAM | 0:46:52 |
| 13 | 7 | VANDERBEKEN Joyce | DONEN/VONDELMOLEN CX-TEAM | 0:46:52 |
| 14 | 43 | BETSEMA Denise | HRTC | 0:47:20 |
| 15 | 50 | VERHOEVEN Suzanne | WV DE JONGE RENNER | 0:47:33 |
| 16 | 38 | GOOSSENS Veerle | AMARROW ADEX CYCLING TEAM | 0:47:55 |
| 17 | 31 | DELHAYE Pauline | QUICK MTB RACING TEAM | 0:48:01 |
| 18 | 40 | PAUL Stefanie | STEVENS RACING TEAM/RSG HANNNOVER | 0:48:11 |
| 19 | 34 | NAGENGAST Fleur | YOUNG TELENET FIDEA CYCLING TEAM | 0:48:17 |
| 20 | 48 | VAN DEN HOEK Bianca | TEAM RIJWIELEN BILTHOVEN | 0:48:25 |
| 21 | 29 | DE HEIJ Maaike | AR&TV DE ADELAAR | 0:48:50 |
| 22 | 35 | TRUYEN Marthe | AA-DRINK JONGERENTEAM | 0:49:35 |
| 23 | 18 | PALM Eva Maria | DONEN/VONDELMOLEN CX-TEAM | 0:49:55 |
| 24 | 24 | HOEKE Geerte | WV BREDA | 0:50:22 |
| 25 | 12 | NOBUS Anja | TRUST MTB TEAM VZW | 0:50:40 |
| 26 | 13 | TER BEEK Linda | HET TWENTSE ROS/ZWIEP FIETSEN | 0:50:50 |
| 27 | 17 | GERRITSEN Irene | AR&TV DE ADELAAR | 0:50:55 |
| 28 | 8 | KRANS Laura | AA DRINK | 0:51:03 |
| 29 | 23 | NELEN Kristien | INDIVIDUEEL | 0:51:06 |
| 30 | 36 | MULDER Mascha | AMARROW ADEX CYCLING TEAM | 0:51:12 |
| 31 | 26 | DE BRUYNE Meg | KLEUR OP MAAT - BNS TECHNICS | -1 lap |
| 32 | 32 | PEETERS Jinse | ACROG - BALEN BC | |
| 33 | 30 | MICHELS Laure | CYCLING.BE - ALPHAMOTORHOMES CT | |
| 34 | 49 | WILLEMS Gertie | KLEUR OP MAAT - BNS TECHNICS | |
| 35 | 53 | VERBERNE Lana | TWC DE KEMPEN | |
| 36 | 52 | KUIJPER Elodie | WV BREDA | |
| 37 | 27 | VERMEIREN Tinne | KLEUR OP MAAT - BNS TECHNICS | |
| 38 | 45 | VAN DE PUTTE Kim | BIKE ADVICE CT | |
| 39 | 15 | BOONS Yenthe | KLEUR OP MAAT - BNS TECHNICS | |
| 40 | 14 | VERMEIR Aurelie | BIKE ADVICE CT | -2 laps |
| 41 | 25 | COMMISSARIS Caren | WSC HOOP OP ZEGEN - BEVEREN VZW | |
| 42 | 19 | ROMBOUTS Tine | ACROG - BALEN BC | |
| 43 | 16 | HEY Sabine | SABINE HEY | |
| 44 | 47 | VERMEERSCH Eva | ZANNATA-GALLOO CYCLINGTEAM MENEN VZ | |
| 45 | 33 | SCHOON Lisette | TWC HET SNELLE WIEL | |
| 46 | 42 | HINZ Katharine Julie | RSG HANNOVER | -3 laps |
| 47 | 28 | VERDEYEN Tine | CYCLING TEAM ZEMST VZW | |
| 48 | 46 | VAN ROMPAY Anke | KLEUR OP MAAT - BNS TECHNICS | |
| DNF | DE BOER Sophie | |||
| DNF | VAN ANROOIJ Lindy | |||
| DNF | DEL CARMEN ALVARADO Ceylin |
2017 Sluitingsprijs Oostmalle Results - Elite Men
| Pl | Bib | Name | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | VAN AERT Wout | VERANDA'S WILLEMS - CRELAN | 1:02:00 |
| 2 | 2 | VAN DER POEL Mathieu | BEOBANK - CORENDON | 1:02:51 |
| 3 | 5 | MEEUSEN Tom | TELENET FIDEA LIONS | 1:02:51 |
| 4 | 7 | VAN DER POEL David | BEOBANK - CORENDON | 1:02:51 |
| 5 | 20 | VERMEERSCH Gianni | STEYLAERTS - VERONA | 1:02:54 |
| 6 | 3 | PAUWELS Kevin | MARLUX NAPOLEON GAMES | 1:03:02 |
| 7 | 19 | SOETE Daan | TELENET FIDEA LIONS | 1:03:05 |
| 8 | 39 | AERNOUTS Jim | TELENET FIDEA LIONS | 1:03:06 |
| 9 | 25 | SWEECK Diether | ERA - CIRCUS | 1:03:16 |
| 10 | 4 | VAN DER HAAR Lars | TELENET FIDEA LIONS | 1:03:18 |
| 11 | 24 | SWEECK Laurens | ERA - CIRCUS | 1:03:23 |
| 12 | 43 | BORO Michael | PAUWELS SAUZEN - VASTGOEDSERVICE CO | 1:03:33 |
| 13 | 9 | ADAMS Jens | PAUWELS SAUZEN - VASTGOEDSERVICE CO | 1:03:42 |
| 14 | 8 | WALSLEBEN Philipp | BEOBANK - CORENDON | 1:04:16 |
| 15 | 41 | VANTHOURENHOUT Dieter | MARLUX NAPOLEON GAMES | 1:04:38 |
| 16 | 6 | PEETERS Rob | PAUWELS SAUZEN - VASTGOEDSERVICE CO | 1:04:56 |
| 17 | 37 | VAN COMPERNOLLE Kenneth | TARTELETTO - ISOREX SUPERANO HAM (TEA | 1:05:01 |
| 18 | 40 | MERLIER Braam | STEYLAERTS-VERONA | 1:05:13 |
| 19 | 17 | VAN LEEUWEN Patrick | ZZPR HANCLEAN | 1:05:32 |
| 20 | 18 | UYTDEWILLIGEN Ingmar | TARTELETTO - ISOREX SUPERANO HAM (TEA | 1:05:34 |
| 21 | 21 | TARAMARCAZ Julien | ERA - CIRCUS | 1:05:37 |
| 22 | 22 | VANTORNOUT Klaas | MARLUX NAPOLEON GAMES | 1:05:37 |
| 23 | 23 | VAN DEN BRAND Twan | DESTIL - JO PIELS CYCLING TEAM | 1:05:37 |
| 24 | 35 | VERHEYEN Onno | RS-BIKES RACING TEAM PULDERBOS | 1:05:56 |
| 25 | 16 | HOEYBERGHS Daan | BEOBANK - CORENDON | 1:06:07 |
| 26 | 31 | HUYS Stijn | BRUYNOOGHE CYCLING TEAM | 1:06:18 |
| 27 | 13 | GODRIE Stan | VERANDA'S WILLEMS - CRELAN | 1:06:35 |
| 28 | 15 | BOSMANS Wietse | BEOBANK - CORENDON | 1:07:07 |
| 29 | 10 | VANTHOURENHOUT Michael | MARLUX NAPOLEON GAMES | 1:07:07 |
| 30 | 44 | DE CLERCQ Angelo | MARLUX NAPOLEON GAMES | 1:07:36 |
| 31 | 36 | VANDEKINDEREN Jens | KALAS - H.ESSERS CYCLING TEAM | 1:07:44 |
| 32 | 29 | DE CLEYN Dave | RS-BIKES RACING TEAM PULDERBOS | -1 lap |
| 33 | 34 | CANT Kevin | BEOBANK - CORENDON | |
| 34 | 32 | PAUWELS Dries | HUBO-AERTS ACTION BIKE CT | |
| 35 | 38 | RUIZ DE LARRINAGA IBAAEZ Javi | MMR SPIUK CX TEAM | |
| 36 | 33 | THILTGES Scott | LG ALZINGEN | |
| 37 | 45 | VERBERNE Douwe | WV SCHIJNDEL | |
| 38 | 26 | FORRESTER Alexander | WWW.ZEPNAT.COM RT - LAZER HELMETS |
