Breakthrough Win by Van Alphen Unlocks Cyclocross World Cup

Aniek van Alphen won her first-ever World Cup on Sunday, stamping her authority all over the women’s race in Flamanville.

The Dutch Seven Racing rider gapped all bar one rider on the first of six laps, pushed alone solo soon afterwards and eventually finished 16 seconds ahead of French champion Amandine Fouquenet.

Former world champion Ceylin Alvarado made a strong return after being out of action with an injury, tussling with Fouquenet for second place before rolling in third. She was 22 seconds behind the victorious Van Alphen, who was stunned by how things turned out.

“I can’t believe it,” the 26 year old said. “I did almost the whole race on my own, at my own pace. It was amazing…with the crowd and everything, it was really fun this way.”

Van Alphen admitted she wondered if she was doing the right thing when she found herself already alone out front on lap one. However she pressed onwards and things worked out perfectly.

“I felt quite good the first lap already. But I also knew that there are some good girls from maybe the second or third row. I thought maybe they would come a bit later,” she said.

“But on this lap you can see them coming and the gap was quite the same all the time, so I was really happy I could make it to the finish line.”

The race was also a breakthrough for Fouquenet, representing as it did her first World Cup podium place. Doing so on home soil made it even more special.

“It is the perfect Sunday with the French jersey on my body,” the national champ said. “So I am really, really proud to take this second place here with my friends and supporters.”

‘On the technical part I am not the best’

Fouquenet showed good form from the go, leading the bunch right after the start. She faded back then, with Van Alphen’s early change initially matched by Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw).

They ended lap one together but Alphen’s pace pulverized Bentveld’s legs soon afterwards. The latter was joined by Fouquenet, with Alvarado and her Fenix-Deceuninck teammate Inge van der Heijden joining them to make a four-woman chase group.

Fouquenet pushed ahead of these on lap four and while Alvarado got up to her, she was ultimately able to drop the Dutchwoman and secure second place.

“It was hard,” she said of the tussle for the podium. “I think I am strong in the hard part, but on the technical part I am not the best. I lost some wheels on the technical part and then after I try to push with the gap. So yes, it was a hard battle. Aniek was strong today, so I just battled for the second place.”

Alvarado is no stranger to winning but given this was her first race of the season, she was beaming with the result.

“I think I can be very happy with today. I suffered a lot and it was a hard race for me, so I think for today a third place was the maximum,” she said.

The outcome is highly promising for the rest of the season. She was also gladdened by the absence of any symptoms of her recent knee injury.

“I think it is gone now and it is okay. Maybe sometimes I will feel something, but I think it will be fine.”

Van Alphen takes over at the top of the World Cup standing, her tally of 61 points some 12 ahead of Fouquenet.

She was able to capitalize on the absence of round one winner Lucinda Brand and runner-up Sara Casasola on Sunday. Round three of the series will be held in Terralba, Sardinia, next weekend.

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