Luxembourg's Marie Schreiber had the best day of her cross career: the 21-year-old rider from SD Worx was supreme in the World Cup cross in Hulst. She entered the field first, quickly distanced herself from everyone and in the end kept WB leader Lucinda Brand and Puck Pieterse behind her without any problems.
“This is my favorite cross, so I'm going to have fun today.”
Speaking: Marie Schreiber before the cross in Hulst today. Not that many people were surprised by that comment, because everyone assumed that in the absence of Fem van Empel it would just be another clash between Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Lucinda Brand.
But Schreiber immediately emphasized a few minutes later that she was looking forward to today. She shot away like a cannonball and dived into the field first.
Behind her, the other youngsters were also alert. Backstedt and Pieterse followed closely, Brand and Alvarado watched from a distance.
But that would soon break their spirits. Because Backstedt and Pieterse were quickly in their sights again, but Schreiber built up a 30-second lead in no time.
She never relinquished it at any time, despite the Pieterse-Brand duo's efforts. That third top favorite was not involved today, Alvarado grabbed the groin.
Brand approached briefly at the start of the final lap, but was unable to close for 16 seconds. A great solo later, Schreiber was allowed to put her hands in the air, Brand won the battle for second place from Pieterse.
The victory is also good for a striking statistic: for the first time since 2021, a rider who does not come from the Low Countries wins. Punishment.
