Inge van der Heijden finally turned consistency into victory on Saturday afternoon in Kortrijk, claiming the Exact Cross title and securing her first win in the European champion’s jersey. On a fast and flat course, the Dutch rider controlled the race from the opening lap and never allowed the chasing group to truly threaten her advantage.
With the World Cup round in Namur looming the following day, several major names opted to skip Kortrijk. Lucinda Brand, Aniek van Alphen, Shirin van Anrooij and Sara Casasola were all absent, leaving Van der Heijden as the clear favourite. She had finished on the podium five times since her European Championships triumph in Middelkerke, but a victory in the stars-and-stripes jersey had remained elusive.
From the start, Van der Heijden showed clear intent. She took control in the opening lap and quickly forced a gap, with Julie Brouwers briefly limiting the damage at around five seconds. That resistance faded on the second circuit, and from there the race settled into a familiar pattern, Van der Heijden riding smoothly at the front while the chasers were left to measure their efforts behind.
Marion Norbert Riberolle emerged as the most consistent pursuer and gradually established herself in second place. Midway through the race, the Belgian champion sat around fifteen seconds down and appeared to be riding well within herself. For a moment, she hinted at closing the gap, but a small mistake two laps from the end ended any remaining suspense.
Van der Heijden continued to extend her lead with calm authority, never appearing close to her limit. After just over fifty minutes of racing, she crossed the line alone to take a long-awaited victory in her European jersey. Norbert Riberolle followed more than half a minute later, with Brouwers completing the podium at over a minute.
2025 Exact Cross Kortrijk Women result
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Photo Credit: GettyMen’s race: Vandeputte waits out rivals before decisive late attack
The men’s race in Kortrijk unfolded as a tactical affair, shaped by high speeds and a course that rewarded patience as much as power. Despite a crowded calendar, the start list still featured a strong group, including Cameron Mason, Michael Vanthourenhout, Ryan Kamp, Niels Vandeputte and Joran Wyseure.
From the opening laps, it was clear the race would not be easily split. Mason was particularly aggressive early on, forcing the pace and contributing to an initial selection alongside Vanthourenhout, Kamp and Vandeputte. As the race progressed, the group swelled again, with several riders regaining contact and ensuring that positioning became increasingly important.
Repeated accelerations from Kamp and Vanthourenhout tested the group, while the flat sections allowed riders to recover quickly in the wheels. With two laps to go, seven riders were still in contention, and tensions rose sharply as every corner became a battle for priority.
The decisive moment came just before the final lap. Vanthourenhout crashed while fighting for position, removing one of the most active riders from contention. Mason, Vandeputte and Kamp immediately seized the opportunity and rode clear, setting up a three-man showdown.
Mason drove the pace on the final lap, but Vandeputte remained composed. With roughly half a lap remaining, the Belgian launched his move over a bridge, using his speed on the flat to open a small but decisive gap. Mason tried to respond but could not close it, and Vandeputte held firm through the final corners to secure his first win of the season.
Mason crossed the line three seconds back in second place, with Kamp completing the podium shortly after.
2025 Exact Cross Kortrijk Men result
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