Rochette 13th in Hoogerheide ‘cross World Cup as Cant wraps up title

Belgian Sanne Cant took her fifth World Cup win of the season in Hoogerheide, the Netherlands, on Sunday, one week before the World Championship in Valkenburg in the Dutch province of Limburg. World champion Cant wrapped up the World Cup title, her third in four years. Maghalie Rochette placed 13th in an exciting race, her best performance of this season’s series. She was 18th last week in Nommay, France. Rochette is the top-ranked Canadian elite woman at 21st.

Another brilliant Elite Women's race!
What a season it has been.

Congratulations to @Sannecant on a great win today and the overall #TelenetUCICXWC victory. pic.twitter.com/MmtUJQ0Xvz

— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) January 28, 2018

There were six Canadians in the field: national champion Christel Ferrier Bruneau, Maghalie Rochette, Ruby West, Mical Dyck, Siobhan Kelly and Magdeleine Vallieres Mill. In the earlier races, Canadian Nicholas Diniz placed 23rd in the men’s under-23 contest.

Ferrier Bruneau could be seen in the third starting row. Italy Eva Lechner took the hole shot with Cant right behind her. Early on Ferrier Bruneau was in eighth. In the second half of Lap 1, the gaps increased, but it was still Lechner and Cant with Belgian Ellen Van Loy in the last podium spot until a crash put her back into tenth. Cant led over the line, posting an 8:05 lap time. Ferrier Bruneau had sifted down to 12th.

.@Ellenvanloy crashed and lost precious time. Now still in around 10th position! @fleurnagengast battling behind ?#telenetucicxwc #hoogerheide pic.twitter.com/RHtX6XbKwu

— Telenet Baloise Lions (@Telenet_Baloise) January 28, 2018

Swiss mountain bike world champion Jolanda Neff pushed into third place on Lap 2 of six. Lechner made a mistake on a short climb which gave Cant a gap but the Italian closed it. Round 6 winner Evie Richards reached Neff. Lechner led Cant over the line, Richards and Neff crossing seven-seconds later. Ferrier Bruneau was 15th.

Fastest lap so far is from Richards. The Namur winner is looking dangerous!!

Ferrand Prevot up to 5th.

This is shaping into a stellar race. #TelenetUCICXWC #Hoogerheide

— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) January 28, 2018

Lechner and Cant hit the midway point of the race with a time of 23:49. Rochette was right behind Ferrier Bruneau after three laps.

A great battle between @Sannecant and @bikereva at the head of the race.
At the start of lap 4 they have a 9 second lead over the chase from Richards and Neff. #TelenetUCICXWC #Hoogerheide pic.twitter.com/Q6eH8yZzrB

— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) January 28, 2018

French champion Pauline Ferrand Prevot grabbed onto Neff and Richards on Lap 4. On the lower part of the course, Cant pulled out a gap which was eight-seconds by the end of the circuit. Behind, Neff and Ferrand Prevot crashed together on a technical section and were left in obvious distress, the French rider carried off the course on a stretcher. Rochette was 15th and Ferrier Bruneau 16th.

Lechner had no answer for Cant’s move, the Belgian’s gap 13-seconds going into the bell lap. Evie Richards was closing on Lechner, but a slip and crash put the kibosh on her effort.

Cant also won the Waterloo, Bogense, Zeven, Heusden-Zolder and Hoogerheide rounds.

Rochette’s 13th place was her best round of the World Cup and Ferrier Bruneau’s 18th spot was her fourth best placing of the season after ninth in Waterloo, 15th in Zeven and 17th in both Heusden-Zolder and Iowa.

UCI Cyclocross World Cup Round 9, Hoogerheide, the Netherlands, Elite Women
1) Sanne Cant (Belgium) 47:31
2) Eva Lechner (Italy/Clif Pro Team) +0:10
3) Evie Richards (Great Britain/Trek Factory Racing) +0:19
13) Maghalie Rochette (Canada) +1:31
18) Christel Ferrier Bruneau (Canada) +2:05
37) Magdeleine Vallieres Mill (Canada) +4:38
42) Mical Dyck (Canada) +5:41
47) Ruby West (Canada) +6:54
55) Siobhan Kelly (Canada)