Denise Betsema records first win of the season, full Orange podium at cyclocross Ruddervoorde | Sport

Betsema’s compatriot Inge van der Heijden stayed in her track the longest. The rider of the team 777 finished second in half a minute. Third place was also for a Dutchman: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado van Alpecin-Deceuninck.

Betsema was also the best in Ruddervoorde last year. The other six races for the Superprestige were won by Lucinda Brand, the Rotterdam rider who is sidelined for the time being with a broken metacarpal bone. ,,This round suits me,’ said Betsema, who had not yet reached the podium this year. “It’s good for morale.”

Betsema has planned her peak form a little later than other years. ,,I am focusing more on the championships, a conscious choice.” Her first main goal is the European Championship, next week in Namur. “I hope to finally get that jersey there, but I know it can be difficult.”

The fourth cross for the World Cup will follow in Maasmechelen, also in Belgium, on Sunday. The first three were won by Fem van Empel, the Dutch who was missing in Ruddervoorde.

Eli Iserbyt has won the first Superprestige cyclo-cross of the year with the men in Ruddervoorde. The Belgian arrived alone, with his compatriot Laurens Sweeck behind him at some distance. The big unlucky one was Lars van der Haar, who entered the penultimate lap as the frontrunner, but then had to deal with a flat tire twice. The European champion of Baloise Trek Lions had to settle for third place.

Iserbyt, who plays for Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal, had already won three World Cup matches this season. In Ruddervoorde his road was bad and he immediately had to chase. From the background, he ultimately took advantage of the setback for his Dutch opponent.

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