Inge van der Heijden launched her 2025–26 campaign in winning fashion, taking victory in the Exact Cross Meulebeke after a close duel with fellow Dutch rider Aniek van Alphen. The Crelan–Corendon rider proved the strongest in a two-up sprint after a tactical and fast-paced race, while Belgium’s Alicia Franck completed the podium.
Fast start and early solo by Van der Heijden
Van der Heijden wasted no time asserting herself on the first lap, storming into the lead from the opening metres and quickly establishing a small gap on the rest of the field. The Dutch rider’s form was immediately evident, but on the quick, technical Meulebeke circuit she was unable to hold off a determined chase.
Behind her, Van Alphen of Seven Racing joined forces with Alicia Franck of Athletes for Hope and Van der Heijden’s teammate Marion Norbert Riberolle to form a chasing trio. Their cohesion brought them back to the leader midway through the race, setting up a balanced four-rider contest on the front.
Lead group forms and reshapes as conditions take toll
The quartet matched one another on the twisting, grassy course, which mixed fast straights with steep ramps, a sandpit and the staircase before the wasbord section. A mechanical issue for Norbert Riberolle on the stairs dropped her out of contention, leaving three riders in front.
Franck, who had recently taken victories abroad, held strong through the middle laps but began to lose ground as the pace lifted again in the closing phase. Van der Heijden and Van Alphen traded turns at the front, each probing for weakness as the laps wound down.
Dutch duel decides the finale
Heading into the penultimate lap, neither rider could force a gap. Van Alphen attacked on a short climb but Van der Heijden responded immediately. After the sand section, Van der Heijden accelerated, shaking off Franck but unable to dislodge her last rival.
Van Alphen then took the lead approaching the final stretch, entering the finishing straight in front and opening the sprint. Van der Heijden, though, had kept enough in reserve to come around in the final 50 metres, powering past to secure the first televised win of the new cyclo-cross season.
Reactions from the front
“It’s always nice to start the season with a victory,” Van der Heijden said afterwards. “That immediately puts you in the flow. I tried to drop Aniek after the sandpit and gave everything, but she stayed in my wheel. In the sprint it was just enough.”
Van Alphen, runner-up after matching her rival throughout, admitted the effort had taken its toll. “It was a tough race,” she said. “I thought for a moment I could win, but I knew Inge was very strong. I had used a lot of energy closing the early gap. I would have liked to win, but I knew from training that Inge was coming.”
Franck, satisfied with third, added: “I’m really happy with the podium. At the start of the season you never know how your form will be. I suffered in the sand and couldn’t close the gap, but it’s a good beginning. Hopefully this continues.”
2025 Exact Cross Meulebeke result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
