The Dutch Marit Bouwmeester, world number one and four-time world champion, is only 45th after finishing 23rd in the yellow fleet and the Hungarian title defender Maria Erdi also had a mediocre start, with sixteenth place in the yellow fleet. The Danish Anna Marie Rindom, world number two, reigning Olympic champion and three-time world champion, finished third in the blue fleet just after Plasschaert and is therefore joint fifth in the standings.
Plasschaert, from Ostend, is chasing a third world title. In 2018 she won gold in Aarhus, in 2021 in Al Mussanah. In 2022 she stood on the podium in Kemah with bronze. Last year she had to settle for sixth place in Scheveningen. With this she already provided Belgium with a starting ticket for the Games in Paris.