NOS Cycling•today, 2:51 PM
Luxembourg cyclo-cross rider Marie Schreiber made a big surprise at the World Cup in Hulst, Netherlands, by beating the Dutch women.
Undeterred, the rider of the SD Worx-Protime road team rode to victory in the Vestingcross on Saturday afternoon. The 21-year-old from Luxembourg was within half a minute of Lucinda Brand and Puck Pieterse in the fourth World Cup stage of the season.
It was the first time this season that victory in a World Cup competition did not go to a Dutch woman.
First victory
Just like last week, the young Schreiber took off from the citadel of Namur like a rocket. She opened up a gap with the rest and did not relinquish that lead for six laps. It was Schreiber's first victory at the highest level and the first World Cup victory in Luxembourg's cross history.
Schreiber kept strong Dutch riders behind him. Brand finished second and held the lead in the World Cup standings. Pieterse came in third, just like during her seasonal debut last week. Ceylin Alvarado, winner in Namur last week, had a difficult afternoon and finished eighth, almost two minutes behind Schreiber.
“I have words for it,” Schreiber said afterwards. “I had a good start and suddenly I had the lead. I expected everyone to come back. But a few laps before the end I thought: I can win this. Then I got very nervous.”
But Schreiber kept the pursuing Brand and Pieterse behind him. “Leading from start to finish is one sick feeling. I'm proud of that. I can now say that I am one of the top riders in cyclocross.”
None Van Empel
World champion Fem van Empel was not present. She withdrew from the competition in Hulst because she had suffered a knee injury in a fall during the course exploration.
Later on Saturday the men will also ride the cross in Hulst. Mathieu van der Poel is not yet participating. He will ride his first cyclocross of the season in Zonhoven on Sunday.
