Surprise victory for young Evie Richards in sixth round of the cyclocross World Cup
Ferrier-Bruneau 26th in Namur, Belgium
Twenty-year old Brit Evie Richards won Sunday’s sixth round of the UCI cyclocross World Cup with a technically perfect, powerful ride on Namur, Belgium’s very difficult course. Canadians Christal Ferrier-Bruneau and Maghalie Rochette were in the mix in Belgium.
Our pick for today's World Cup Moment is the victory of Evie Richards.
The 20 year old started 33rd on the grid and worked her way through the field and onto a 15 second advantage by the finish. What a ride, and what a beaming smile! #WCMoment #TelenetUCICXWC pic.twitter.com/jh4NcFawxS
— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) December 17, 2017
RELATED: Wout Van Aert dominates in the slippery mud of Namur
Eva Lechner and Katie Keough (U.S.A.) had the best starts, with the Italian taking a significant gap on Lap 1. World champ Sanne Cant, winner of Saturday’s DVV Trofee series race, was 14th midway through the first of four 3.43-km laps. Brit Nikki Brammeier found Lechner’s wheel in the final third of the first circuit. American Katie Compton made it a lead trio at the end of the 11:30 lap.
Compton dug out a lead on the second lap by taking the infamous ruts the fastest, but Lechner seized the front again. Katerina Nash led a big chase group from which 2016 U-23 world champion Richards bridged over to start threatening Brammeier for third. Rochette was 32nd after Lap 2.
Lechner leads with 2 laps to go.
A brilliant battle on our hands as Lechner, Compton, Brammeier and young Richards contend the podium places.Who do you think will take the win? #TelenetUCICXWC pic.twitter.com/qcHCaJUwdU
— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) December 17, 2017
The lead quartet came together on Lap 3. On the way up to the citadel near the finish, Richards shed the others, completing Lap 3 10-seconds ahead of Brammeier. Richards grabbed a new bike before the final lap. Compton was 20-seconds back and Lechner 23-seconds in arrears. Brammeier kept clear to make it British one-two. Lechner placed third.
Cant was 12th over two-minutes back, but still leads the World Cup over Keough. Canadian champ Ferrier-Bruneau came 26th, +3:43, while Rochette placed 32nd, +4:20.
At the end of the day, it seemed odd to some that the women raced four laps and the men nine.
Seriously 38 minutes??? 38minutes …..perhaps we need a qualified mathematician at all races…..that's a crowd fund I would happily get behind!! ??♀️
— Helen Wyman (@CXHelen) December 17, 2017
50 minutes for everyone, @UCI_CX. https://t.co/37Gq6cpxyy
— Bill Schieken | CXHAIRS Media (@CXHairs) December 17, 2017
The next World Cup race is on Boxing Day at Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.
UCI Cyclocross World Cup Round 6 Elite Women
1) Evie Richards (Great Britain) 38:39
2) Nikki Brammeier (Great Britain/Boels-Dolmans) +0:15
3) Eva Lechner (Italy/Clif Pro Team) +0:24
26) Christal Ferrier-Bruneau (Canada) +3:43
32) Maghalie Rochette (Canada) +4:20
