Katrijn De Clercq ended a long winless drought by claiming victory at the 2025 Grote Prijs CHW Beveren, outsprinting her teammate Anna Van Wersch in a well-controlled team performance. The Lotto Ladies not only delivered a one-two on the day, but also dictated the race across its key moments, with a textbook final kilometre sealing the result.
The 137-kilometre race was held over six laps of a flat local circuit around Beveren-Waas, with technical corners and narrow roads keeping the peloton on edge but offering little terrain for major selection. From the gun, the pace was modest, as the heat discouraged early attacks.
The first significant move came in the second lap when Finland’s Heidi Antikainen launched a solo attack and managed to build a lead of around 30 seconds. Her effort stretched the bunch but never truly threatened the outcome, and she was reeled in before the final two laps.
In the closing third of the race, a few riders tried to animate proceedings – including a brief move from Henrietta Colborne and Dutch rider Rose Kloese – but the Lotto Ladies, supported by VolkerWessels, began to marshal the front and keep the bunch tight.
“The first half of the race was very quiet,” De Clercq said. “It was just too hot and there was no incentive to chase every little move. But we knew it was coming down to a sprint, so we stayed calm and focussed on our plan.”
Lotto takes control
With around 10 kilometres to go, Lotto Ladies and VolkerWessels each had three riders at the front, alternating control on the run-in. The Belgian team’s timing was spot on. Mieke Docx worked to control the pace at the bell, and as they entered the final lap, Lotto held strong position through the twisting roads. In the final three kilometres, they lined up De Clercq with Julie Hendrickx on the front and Anna Van Wersch slotting in behind.
“We drilled it from about three kilometres out,” De Clercq explained. “We knew the finish suited me – a long drag with a slightly rising road. The key was being in the right place through the last corner.”
That final bend, positioned roughly 700 metres from the line, was critical. Hendrickx brought De Clercq through third wheel and then launched her effort at 200 metres. The others couldn’t come around.
“I didn’t look back,” said De Clercq. “I just gave everything. I know those types of finishes suit me and today it all clicked.”
Van Wersch backed off slightly in the final metres, allowing De Clercq to celebrate her first win since the 2023 Watersley Womens Challenge. Dutch rider Florien Bolks of WV Schijndel rounded out the podium.
A timely win before bigger tests
After missing the spring classics with a broken jaw sustained at Le Samyn, De Clercq’s victory comes at a vital moment. Her contract with Lotto ends this season, and confidence has been hard to come by. The team will now head into the Baloise Ladies Tour with renewed motivation.
“This gives me belief again,” she said. “Beveren might not be the biggest race, but a win is a win. It shows I’ve come through a rough patch. Now I want to see what I can do against some of the best at Baloise – Kool, Copponi, Lach, they’ll all be there.”
2025 Grote Prijs CHW Beveren result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Erik Westerlinck
