Marie Schreiber dedicates win to her late dog
The Luxembourger won the CX World Cup in Hulst after losing her best friend earlier in the week

All dogs go to heaven, so hopefully Marie Schreiber’s recently passed buddy was watching ‘cross from the clouds on Saturday.
“I have no words for this, I still can’t believe it. I had a good start and suddenly had a huge lead. I expected them to come back, but with two laps to go I realized I could win. I was nervous, but I felt really good,” she said after the win.
Luxembourger Marie Schreiber claimed a dominant victory in the elite women’s race, with runner-up Lucinda Brand extending her series lead and Schreiber moving into second overall in the standings, surpassing the absent Fem van Empel. Canadian sisters Ava and Bella Holmgren placed 15th and 20th, respectively, with Ava improving steadily throughout the race. Schreiber’s strong start set the tone, as she secured the holeshot and built a commanding lead, despite challenges from Zoe Backstedt, Puck Pieterse, and Blanka Vas. By the midpoint, Schreiber held a 23-second advantage, with Brand and others vying for podium spots on a technical course.
Beating the best
As the race progressed, Brand charged hard, battling Pieterse and Annemarie Worst while Schreiber maintained her lead. On the final lap, Brand appeared poised to solidify second place but suffered a crash on a downhill section, recovering quickly to hold her position. Schreiber sealed her impressive win with a sizable gap, while Brand and Pieterse completed the podium. Ava Holmgren capped a strong showing for Canada, finishing as the top national rider.
Quick-thinking cyclist saves horse from running into peloton
“I had a tough week behind me, because my dog died on Wednesday. I wanted to win for him. Now I’m overjoyed,” she said. “In the last days, I was really not there. I was thinking about him. And when I was on the bike I was actually in my tunnel, I was somewhere else and so, so focused.”
Riders will line up on Sunday for the next World Cup, completing a doubleheader of WC action in Zonhoven, Belgium. You can watch the race for free on the UCI channel on YouTube. And if you have a furry friend, give them an extra treat.