for December 9, 2023 2:26 p.m
Exact Cross Essen (women)
13:45 Essen
Marion Norbert Riberolle has booked her first win of the season. On a circuit of the Exact Cross in Essen, which was flooded by heavy rain, our compatriot benefited from the absence of the Dutch top riders. It became a duel with top favorite Aniek van Alphen, the winner of 2022, who cracked in the finish.
A Saturday deluge had transformed the meadow course in Essen into a mud puddle. In the absence of almost all Dutch top players, defending champion Aniek van Alphen was able to start as top favorite.
She had to compete against a lot of Belgian violence, with Marion Norbert Riberolle and Laura Verdonschot as leaders. They were also the three expected names that were the first to dive into the swamp after the start.
The young Czech Julia Kopecky was briefly able to hook up with her wagon, but she turned out to be too green to make it difficult for the big guns. At the front, heavyweight Laura Verdonschot also appeared to struggle with the difficult course, she dropped out halfway through the race.
The cross in Essen turned into a mud duel between Van Alpen and Norbert Riberolle. The Dutchman seemed to make the difference with a blistering acceleration, but that was not expected by the great Norbert Riberolle.
Our compatriot fought back and gave Van Alphen a taste of his own medicine in the final round. The Dutchwoman hung on to the stretcher for a while, but eventually had to drop out. Norbert Riberolle takes her first victory of the season. A boost for the Belgian women’s cross.
Reactions after the Exact Cross in Essen:
Marion Norbert Riberolle (1st): “I’m very happy that I can win again. It was very difficult today. I was thinking about how I could win here, but I seized my moment. I was confident in my sprint “But with a head start you have more certainty. I am now going back to Spain for a week to train for next weekend.”
Aniek van Alphen (2nd): “I don’t think there was more to it, otherwise I would have won. I’m not very happy, of course I would have wanted to win, but Marion was super strong today. Such tough crosses just suit her better. It was a bit colder than I had hoped and there was a lot of walking involved.
Laura Verdonschot (3rd): “I felt good in the running lanes, but on the bike it was still too hard for me. It’s not really my type of cross. I tried to stay with the leaders, but I felt that I hung on the rack. The other two were stronger. My crosses are coming within two weeks.”
Result Exact Cross Essen
Phase by phase
Norbert Riberolle takes her first victory of the season
Norbert Riberolle likes four in Essen!
Finally another prize for Belgium among the women this season. Marion Norbert Riberolle takes her first victory of the season after a wonderful mud duel with Aniek van Alphen. Laura Verdonschot is the second compatriot on the final podium in third place.
Norbert-Riberolle has won the game. Van Alphen has difficulty reaching the stairs, her barrel is finished. Our compatriot is on her way to her first victory of the season.
Van Alphen plays yo-yo and has to allow another gap. What an exciting denouement.
Norbert-Riberolle loses her lead with a poor passage in the mud. Are we going to sprint after all?
The gap is gradually getting bigger. How long can Van Alphen continue to do this?
Norbert Riberolle throws her cards on the table
Norbert-Riberolle plays all or nothing!
Norbert-Riberolle throws her cards on the table. With an acceleration from the saddle she puts Van Alphen under considerable pressure. The Dutch must immediately close ten meters.
Norbert-Riberolle has digested her overtaking maneuver well and takes the lead again. Van Alphen even has to leave a gap in the running lane.
The bell
At the last passage to the line, Van Alphen and Norbert-Riberolle are together again.
What if it soon becomes a sprint? “Dying swans, surely?”, predicts Van Alphen’s team leader Camiel van den Bergh.
Van Alphen rages like a wild woman, but cannot get rid of Norbert-Riberolle, who is gradually getting back into the swing of things.
Riberolle seems to be getting closer again.
Commentator Ruben Van Gucht
Norbert-Riberolle has work to do. Has she let herself be lulled to sleep by the shrewd Dutchwoman or is there simply no more in the tank?
Suddenly Van Alphen chooses her moment
Van Alphen is dapper!
Suddenly Van Alphen chooses her moment, from behind Norbert-Riberolle’s back. The Dutch immediately takes ten meters, there it is dash op.
Verdonschot tries to shake the cold from her hands. It remains a bit of a chase for her.
At the front, Norbert-Riberolle continues to give the best impression. Van Alphen has not taken over for a long time.
Norbert-Riberolle once again does not opt for a fresh bicycle when passing through the material station. It gives her virtually no gain in the tough running lane. Still a striking choice.
Halfway course
Halfway through the race and Norbert-Riberolle and Van Alphen seem to be the two strongest. Verdonschot has been on the fence for some time now. The young Kopecky crosses the line at 20 seconds. The podium places seem to be gone.
Commentator Paul Herygers
Prick Norbert-Riberolle
On one of the long swampy stretches straight ahead, Norbert-Riberolle presses the accelerator. Van Alphen doesn’t make a sound and moves along well, Verdonschot has to leave a few meters behind.
Young Julia Kopecky gasps. She seems to have to relinquish the role.
The rain is pouring like crazy. Norbert-Riberolle doesn’t let it get to her heart and is gradually finding her pace. Van Alphen watches it all from second place. Verdonschot and Kopecky are sitting a row further away.
The first round is over. Van Alphen is the first to cross the line, with Verdonschot, Norbert-Riberolle and the Czech Kopecky in her wake.
Norbert-Riberolle briefly kneels in the mud. She quickly recovers, but hinders Verdonschot. Van Alphen would like to see it happen.
Verdonschot is looking forward to it and takes command. As a featherweight, she does not really have the profile for mud races like today, but – as team leader Rob Peeters emphasizes – she is an excellent runner.
There are not (yet) many fans in Essen. The smaller field of participants and the bad weather may have had everything to do with this.
Running away
After a few minutes of racing, one thing is already certain: there will be a lot of running today. The rain has transformed the meadow in Essen into a swamp.
And we’re off!
The expected names are the first to enter the field. Van Alphen, Norbert-Riberolle and Verdonschot are at the appointment.
The ladies are neatly lined up. We’ll get started soon.
Start broadcast
In the meantime, the broadcast on VRT 1 has started. Commentators Ruben Van Gucht and Paul Herygers will guide you through the cross afternoon as usual.
Van Alphen: “I can only be satisfied with a win”
I hope for good legs. I’ve completed a week’s worth of training camp. I’m aiming for a podium or maybe a win.
Marion Norbert-Riberolle
Norbert-Riberolle: “I’m aiming for a podium and perhaps a win”
Opportunities for the Belgians
Don’t look for Fem van Empel, Puck Pieterse or Ceylin Alvarado today. Most Dutch top riders choose warmer places during this period and skip the cross in Essen.
Is part of the party Aniek van Alphen. The Dutchwoman is the defending champion in Essen and has already won in her own country on the Kleeberg this season, but has also been able to conquer some nice places of honor in Belgium.
For the rest, we mainly have to look forward to the Belgian ladies. Marion Norbert-Riberolle already finished on the podium several times at the beginning of this season and today has an excellent opportunity to strike again.
You can also go further Laura Verdonschot, Snow Crabbe in Suzanne Verhoeven hoping for a good listing. The British Anna Kaywho is currently having a mediocre season, hopes to get back on track.
Saturday cross day!
The cross weekend gets underway today in Essen. The rain has turned the meadow course in Antwerp into a swampy circuit.
The Dutch toppers are sending their cats to Essen today, which opens up perspectives for the Belgian ladies. You won’t have to miss any of the action at Sporza. Watch live at 1:40 PM via our livestream or on VRT 1.
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2023-12-09 13:26:00
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