Strange weeks for Cant, but she’s getting plenty of respect: "It’s a joy to finish my last races like this"

After fifteen years, Sanne Cant has passed the torch to her teammate Marion Norbert-Riberolle. It still feels a bit unfamiliar, and the next time she puts on her jersey, it won’t be the Belgian tricolor but the team kit of Crelan-Corendon. Still, Cant has no regrets about her decision not to participate in the Belgian National Cyclo-cross Championships.

At the end of February, Cant will officially hang up her bike for good, which is also why she skipped the championships. "If I were to win, that jersey wouldn’t be seen in the field for a year. And I don’t want that. I did it out of respect for the jersey," Cant told VTM Nieuws.

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Cant's final Belgian champion's jersey

Cant at peace with her cycling retirement, ready to embrace a new chapter

The fact that Norbert-Riberolle claimed the victory is satisfying for the outgoing Belgian champion. "Absolutely. Marion is having a very strong season, and today she was clearly the strongest." When asked if the course would have suited her perfectly, Cant nodded in agreement. "This course definitely played to my strengths, but it’s fine this way. I don't regret my decision. In my mind, I’m at peace with it. If I wanted to keep going, I could have. But now I’m 35 years old, so it’s time to say goodbye. I’m ready to see what the next chapter holds," said the Crelan-Corendon rider.

Even so, tomorrow and the upcoming races will still feel a bit strange. "When I train tomorrow in the regular team jersey, it’ll feel a little weird. But the next ten races will still be special, with photos taken that you don’t see very often."

Cant is enjoying her farewell tour, receiving plenty of attention and support from cyclo-cross fans along the sidelines. "The fans are showing me so much respect right now. They’re incredibly enthusiastic. For me, it’s a joy to finish my last races like this," the 35-year-old concluded.

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