Marion Norbert Riberolle showcased her skill and composure at the Belgian National Cyclocross Championships in Heusden-Zolder, overcoming a disastrous start to claim the elite women’s title. The 26-year-old, representing Crelan-Corendon, completed a commanding solo victory, finishing 44 seconds ahead of Laura Verdonschot, while Julie Brouwers rounded out the podium in third.
Norbert Riberolle’s race got off to a rocky start when she was boxed in during the opening moments and subsequently crashed while navigating the first corner. “I had to visit the material post straight away because my front wheel was broken,” she explained after the race. Despite falling to 15th position, she kept her cool. “I told myself to stay calm. It’s just the start, and this sort of thing happens almost every weekend.”
She began an impressive fightback, gradually picking off riders with support from teammate Xaydee Van Sinaey. By the end of the first lap, Norbert Riberolle had reduced her deficit to just six seconds and was closing in on the lead group.
The decisive move came midway through the second lap. After rejoining the front group, Norbert Riberolle powered past rivals Alicia Franck and Laura Verdonschot, taking the lead with a surge on a technical uphill section. “In the technical corner, I decided it was my moment. I don’t like waiting, and I had been patient enough this week,” she admitted.
From there, Norbert Riberolle built an insurmountable gap, extending her advantage to nearly half a minute by the third lap. Despite challenging conditions with heavy mud and snow, she never looked back, crossing the finish line to secure her first Belgian national title.
The victory marked the end of a 15-year winning streak for Sanne Cant, who chose not to compete this year. Cant explained her decision beforehand, noting, “If I were to win, the jersey wouldn’t be visible in the field for a year, and I don’t want that.”
Speaking about succeeding Cant as champion, Norbert Riberolle said, “It feels strange. Seeing Sanne in a different jersey will be odd, but it’s super special to follow her as champion. This is a big moment for me and the team.”
Behind Norbert Riberolle, the fight for silver played out between Verdonschot and Brouwers. Verdonschot, who suffers from iliac artery narrowing, initially joined Franck in a bid to exploit Norbert Riberolle’s absence at the front. “When I heard Marion wasn’t with us, I tried to force the pace,” Verdonschot explained. However, once Norbert Riberolle rejoined and attacked, Verdonschot shifted her focus. “I did everything I could to secure second place. It was tough, especially with the cold making it hard to shift gears.”
Brouwers kept the pressure on Verdonschot until a fall on the final lap ended her challenge, leaving Verdonschot to claim her second consecutive silver medal at the national championships.
In the U23 category, 21-year-old Sterre Vervloet claimed victory after finishing seventh overall. She edged out Van Sinaey, who finished eighth, and Nette Coppens, tenth in the elite race. Meanwhile, Joyce Vanderbeken secured the title in the elite women’s category without a professional contract.
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Main photo credit: Getty
