Superprestige Ruddervoorde 2015 Cyclocross

photo credits @ Hansgrohe

Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napolean Games) claimed the third round of this year’s Superprestige series with a solo victory in Ruddervoorde today, beating his closest rival Wout Van Aert (Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace) by almost half a minute, while Sven Nys (Crelan-AA Drink) rounded out the podium in third place.  

Pauwels proceeded to ride clear of the field during the final five laps, leaving Sven Nys (Crelan-AA Drink) and Tom Meeusen (Telnet-Fidea) to chase in earnest. Meanwhile, a late-charging Van Aert managed to make up lost ground, and later pass both chasers, to ultimately claim second place.  

“I had to wait quite a long time for this because Wout and Lars [Van der Haar] were so good. This win makes up a lot for that,” Pauwels said. 

“Maybe it seemed simple but it was very hard. To me the race was endless. I feared Wout Van Aert who came closer. Once the gap remained the same I knew it was possible. I was suffering but knew it was going to work out.” 

Top 20 Finishers 

1 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb Napoleon Games Cycling Team 1:01:05
2 Wout Van Aert (Bel) Vastgoedservice Golden Palace Ct 0:00:15
3 Sven Nys (Bel) Crelan Aa Drink Team 0:00:29
4 Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb Napoleon Games Cycling Team 0:01:07
5 Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:01:17
6 Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Team Giant – Alpecin 0:01:36
7 Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:02:01
8 Diether Sweeck (Bel) Corendon-Kwadro 0:02:07
9 Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Corendon-Kwadro 0:02:10
10 Tim Merlier (Bel) Vastgoedservice Golden Palace Ct 0:02:13
11 Clément Venturini (Fra) Cofidis Solutions Credits 0:02:15
12 Jens Vandekinderen (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:02:20
13 Joeri Adams (Bel) Vastgoedservice Golden Palace Ct 0:02:33
14 Marcel Meisen (Ger) Kuota Lotto 0:02:36
15 Stan Godrie (Ned) Rabobank Development Team 0:02:41
16 Jens Adams (Bel) Vastgoedservice Golden Palace Ct 0:02:44
17 Toon Aerts (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:03:02
18 Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:03:13
19 Vanthourenhout (Bel) Crelan Aa Drink Team 0:03:48
20 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) Bkcp-Corendon 0:04:17

In the women’s event, Sanne Cant dominated the race, making it a one-women show after the completion of the first lap. 

Meanwhile, her closest rivals, teammates Ellen Van Loy (Young Telenet Fidea) and Jolien Verschueren (Young Telenet Fidea), crossed the finish line in second and third place respectively – at almost half a minute behind.   

“I felt good straight from the start and these were a fun 40 minutes. It’s the first time this season that I felt powerful,” Cant told Sporza after her dominant victory.

“I just had to make sure that I rode my own pace and arrive fresh at the sand section. Each time I was able to extend my lead over there,” Cant said.

Top 20 Finishers

1 Sanne Cant (Bel) Team Ciclismo Mundial 0:40:38
2 Ellen Van Loy (Bel) Young Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:00:24
3 Jolien Verschueren (Bel) Young Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:00:39
4 Helen Wyman (GBr) Matrix Fitness Vulpine 0:00:56
5 Maud Kaptheijns (Ned) AA-Drink-Kalas Team 0:02:05
6 Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel) Wielerteam Decock-Van Eyck 0:02:26
7 Femke Van Den Driessche (Bel) Kleur Op MAAt – Nodrugs 0:02:33
8 Karen Verhestraeten (Bel) Kleur Op MAAt – Nodrugs 0:02:44
9 Maria Arzuffi Alice (Ita) Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi 0:03:02
10 Loes Sels (Bel) Young Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:03:11
11 Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 0:03:32
12 Bianca Van Den Hoek (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:03:45
13 Lucia Gonzalez Blanco (Spa) Lointek Team 0:04:23
14 Chiara Teocchi (Ita) Uci 0:04:46
15 Sara Casasola (Ita) Team Sud Tirol Campana Imballaggi 0:05:03
16 Fleur Nagengast (Ned) Young Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:05:18
17 Maria Erlandsson Asa (Swe) Varbergs Mtb/Haibike 0:05:45
18 Laure Bouteloup (Fra) Les Bleus De France 0:05:50
19 Floor Weerink (Ned) Wsv Emmen 0:06:04
20 Alicia Gonzalez Blanco (Spa) Lointek Team 0:06:18