Norbert Riberolle wins Exact Cross Loenhout ahead of Cant, seizing a "unique" opportunity for victory

Marion Norbert Riberolle has won the Exact Cross in Loenhout, Belgium. She defeated her teammate Sanne Cant in a head-to-head battle. The Crelan-Corendon riders competed for the win, but a mistake by the Belgian champion in the penultimate lap ultimately decided the outcome of the race.

The holiday season brought a noticeably lighter field to this standalone race in Loenhout. Several top riders were absent: no Fem van Empel, no Puck Pieterse, and no Lucinda Brand. For them, an extra day of rest ahead of the World Cup in Besançon seemed more appealing. Interestingly, this opened up opportunities for second-line riders to step into the spotlight.

At 1:45 PM local time, names like Sanne Cant, Marion Norbert Riberolle, and Lauren Molengraaf lined up in the front row. Within just four minutes, a leading group of four emerged: Molengraaf, Cant, Anna Kay (who had a small crash), and Larissa Hartog. Norbert Riberolle, however, had a less-than-ideal start. Despite starting from the front row, she lost twelve seconds in the first lap and had to rejoin behind a smaller group of four chasers, leaving her in ninth place.

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🚵​🇧🇪 | Flinke mist in Loenhout. De vrouwen zijn van start! #ExactCross #Azencross 📺 Stream cross op HBO Max

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Early in the second lap, the two front groups merged, creating a leading group of seven riders. However, on the challenging mud sections and Loenhout’s famous washboard, the group frequently broke apart. For example, Cant crashed while in the lead, and Molengraaf also struggled on the treacherous muddy sections — a hazard Van der Poel himself had flagged during his reconnaissance.

By the third lap, a leading group of six had solidified at the front: Kay, Cant, Imogen Wolff, Norbert Riberolle, Larissa Hartog, and Julie Brouwers. Nine seconds behind them were Jamie de Beer and Molengraaf, while a trio including Yara Kastelijn trailed a little further, at 23 seconds.

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🚵​🇧🇪 | Vervelende valpartij Sanne Cant en even later ligt ook Lauren Molengraaf op de grond. #ExactCross #Azencross 📺 Stream cross op HBO Max

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In the third lap, the Belgian champion seized control of the race with Norbert Riberolle closely following. With the top Dutch riders absent, the two strongest Belgian riders of the season capitalized on the opportunity. Together, they crossed the finish line at the end of the third lap, with a 17-second lead over the chasing group of five. In a race that wasn’t overly technical, their superior speed and power made the difference, especially on the muddy sections and the bridges, for example.

In the fourth lap, Cant made another mistake on the same muddy section where she had previously fallen. This allowed a sudden gap to open between her and her teammate. Sensing the opportunity, Norbert Riberolle pressed on, steadily building her lead, and gaining seconds and meters with every push. By the time the bell rang for the final lap, the gap had grown to eight seconds. Despite Cant giving everything she had, the gap only widened instead of narrowing.

Unable to defend her title, Cant had to watch as Norbert Riberolle celebrated her win at the finish line. Considering her poor start, it was clear that the Belgian was simply the strongest in Loenhout. The fight for third place was tightly contested among five riders who appeared evenly matched. In the final lap, Imogen Wolff (Visma | Lease a Bike) managed to create a small gap, seizing her opportunity to claim the final podium spot.

Results Exact Cross Loenhout women 2024

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