Manon Bakker faced challenges after her victory in Val di Sole: "I almost feel sorry for Fem and Puck"

Manon Bakker struggled to replicate her success from Val di Sole last weekend. Competing for Crelan-Corendon, the Flevoland native found the courses in Herentals and Namur less suited to her style, resulting in sixth and thirteenth place finishes. Despite this, she had a moment to reflect on her remarkable victory in Italy with IDLProCycling.com.

One memorable moment from the cyclocross weekend involved Bakker herself. She wasn’t entirely satisfied with her performance in Namur, but it was her act of kindness that stood out. Seeing Zoe Backstedt, who finished 26th and seven minutes behind the winner Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, in tears, Bakker went over to to the young British rider to comfort her.

“Your time will definitely come,” Bakker reassured a weeping Backstedt. “These courses are quite unique. When it’s more technical, you'll naturally be up there with the leaders.” Backstedt noticeably perked up after receiving these words of encouragement, highlighting the camaraderie in the tight-knit world of cyclocross.

Challenges mounted for Bakker a her triumph in Val di Sole

Interestingly, just the day before in Herentals, Bakker herself had finished somewhat disappointedly in sixth place. “I'm not sure what the issue was, but I had some trouble with acid reflux even during training. That certainly didn’t help,” she commented post-race. “And I really don’t get along with that Skiberg. There was more climbing involved than last year, and climbing just isn’t my strong suit.”

The Crelan-Corendon rider managed to put things into perspective rather quickly, knowing that just six days earlier, she had won her first World Cup race. "My confidence was really high after the victory in Val di Sole, but now it's been slightly dented," she said with a smile. "It was a busy week. A lot came my way. That was really sweet of everyone, but at some point, I thought: okay, it could be a bit quieter now."

"I was talking to Puck Pieterse about it. I said to her: I'm almost starting to feel sorry for you and Fem when you win so much," Bakker shared a nice anecdote. She had just beaten Pieterse on a specific course, but is she now the Ice Queen? "I've ridden well in Val di Sole twice now, but of course, there have been very few real snow cyclo-crosses," Bakker corrects us.

Bakker explains the crucial factors on snow

Still, she emphasizes her strengths in the snow. "Winning in Val di Sole was mainly due to a good combination of technique and courage. I also just really enjoy it, and that makes it a lot easier. You go into it relaxed, and that's something that's very important in the snow."

"It really is different than, say, mud," she describes the way of riding on the white, slippery surface. "In snow, it's not necessarily about delivering power. For example, last week I didn’t reach my highest heart rates. It's mainly about having the courage to ride over the ice."

That courage might also be necessary for her to make the Dutch team for the World Championships. In the Czech Republic, where the World Championships are held, it can also snow. "Of course, Tábor is already on my mind, but it is the Netherlands. Whether I get to go is still a question," Bakker is realistic yet ambitious. "I must have made my mark, but we have so many top riders. It would be strange not to go to the World Championships as a World Cup winner, but ultimately, Gerben de Knegt will decide."