In the second Belgian cross event of the cyclocross season, the Kermiscross Ardooie, it was Cyclocross Reds’ Annemarie Worst who secured the victory. The race initially began with Febe de Smedt taking the lead into the field. However, she was not part of the elite group that later distanced itself. This exclusive cadre featured Worst and her teammate Aniek van Alphen, along with Marion Norbert Riberolle, Alicia Franck, Francesca Baroni, and another Dutch rider, Anne Knijnenburg.
By the second round, the group started to thin out. Baroni and Knijnenburg found the pace too hot to handle and dropped off. Franck, too, had to pull away due to an issue with her shoe. Riberolle, the Crelan-Corendon rider, also struggled to maintain the tempo, eventually leaving just Worst and Van Alphen at the front.
The stage seemed set for a duel between the two Cyclocross Reds teammates. During the penultimate lap, Van Alphen launched an attack but was reeled in by Worst. A subsequent effort from Van Alphen also proved futile. Worst then took charge in the final moments, accelerating away from Van Alphen and crossing the finish line solo to claim her first win of the season. Van Alphen had to settle for second place, while Marion Norbert Riberolle rounded out the podium in third.
2023 Kermiscross Ardooie result
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