Ecstatic Norbert-Riberolle gets to succeed Cant: "It's truly bizarre, really very bizarre"

After 15 years of Sanne Cant's dominance, Marion Norbert-Riberolle takes over the mantle. After winning the Belgian National Championships Cyclo-cross in Heusden-Zolder, the Crelan-Corendon rider will now get to wear the Belgian tricolor jersey for a year. For the 26-year-old Belgian, this victory is already the crowning achievement of her season. Earlier this year, she claimed two cyclo-cross wins, both in the Exact Cross series: one in Loenhout and one in Essen.

Norbert-Riberolle's victory was a commanding one. Laura Verdonschot finished second, but at a significant distance of over 40 seconds. "Belgian champion... Yeah, I don’t really know how that feels yet. I’m curious to know how Sanne felt all those years. It’s amazing, and the Belgian fans are fantastic. I’m super happy," Norbert-Riberolle said in the post-race flash interview.

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Norbert-Riberolle tried to stay calm after tough start

The race didn’t begin smoothly for the new champion. Entering the field, she collided with another rider, forcing an early bike change. This immediately put her on the back foot. Despite the setback, she did not panic. "I’m someone who experiences a lot of stress in life, but today I stayed calm. At the start, it was a real fight, and the collision damaged my front wheel. I thought: okay, stay calm. It’s just the beginning, and this happens almost every weekend. I nearly always have to recover from a bad start, so panicking won’t help."

Her ability to remain calm paid off. She closed the gap quickly and caught up to the leaders by the second lap. From there, she didn’t hold back. "I’m not one to wait, so in a technical corner, I thought: I’m done waiting, this is my moment. And I went for it." And wow, she sure did! Her competitors didn’t see her again as she rode her way to the Belgian title.

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Norbert-Riberolle won the Exact Cross in Loenhout 

How will she celebrate her win?

This victory marked a significant moment in Belgian cyclo-cross history. For the first time in 15 years, the Belgian tricolor jersey won’t be worn by Sanne Cant. However, the jersey stays within the same team. "It’s truly bizarre, really very bizarre. For me, the Belgian champion has always been Sanne. The idea of seeing her without that jersey feels so strange. Becoming Belgian champion after Sanne is something really special, also for the team," Norbert-Riberolle shared.

A performance like that deserves a celebration, and Norbert-Riberolle already has plans. "I’ve been craving frituur (Belgian fast food shop that sells fries, ed.) for so long. So tonight, I know for sure: I’m heading to the frituur," she said. And what will the new Belgian champion order? "A Bicky Burger with joppie sauce — there's nothing better," she concluded with a laugh.

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