After 15 years, Belgium has a new national champion: Dominant Norbert-Riberolle succeeds Cant on treacherous course!

The Belgian Cyclo-cross Championship was won by Marion Norbert-Riberolle. In a freezing, ice-covered Heusden-Zolder, the Crelan-Corendon rider proved to be the strongest by far. Laura Verdonschot finished second, ahead of Julie Brouwers. Norbert-Riberolle succeeds cyclo-cross legend Sanne Cant as champion. Among the U23 riders, Sterre Vervloet claimed victory.

There were doubts earlier in the day about whether the championship could go ahead due to the extreme conditions. The Heusden-Zolder motor racing circuit, where the start-finish zone was located, was covered in ice in the morning. This caused a delay to the novice race, but the elite women’s event went ahead as scheduled. Missing from the lineup was defending champion Sanne Cant, who will retire at the end of the season and chose not to defend her jersey. This guaranteed that, for the first time since 2009 (!), Belgium would crown a new women’s champion.

At the start, top favorite Marion Norbert-Riberolle immediately faced difficulties. She got stuck on the first corner and was forced to switch bikes. This left her chasing the pack from the outset. Team De Ceuster-Bouwpunt capitalized on the situation by increasing the pace, with Laura Verdonschot and Alicia Franck breaking away to pressure the former French rider. However, Norbert-Riberolle remained calm, steadily closing the gap on the leaders. By the second lap, she caught up with her competitors and wasted no time overtaking them.

Read more below the photo!

Sanne Cant would not defend her iconic jersey in Heusden-Zolder

Norbert-Riberolle dominates, battle for second place intensifies

There was no stopping the Troyes-born Belgian. In less than two laps, she built a 30-second lead over her closest pursuers. Verdonschot, left without her teammate Franck who had fallen back, was joined by Julie Brouwers. The Intermarché-Wanty rider impressively worked her way back to the wheel of her six-years-older compatriot. Behind a commanding Norbert-Riberolle, who cruised through the final lap to claim the black-yellow-red champion’s jersey, Verdonschot managed to outpace Brouwers for second place.

Results Belgian National Championships  Cyclo-cross 2025, women:

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