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Shirin van Anrooij (Netherlands) soloed to a dominant victory on the U23 girls’s race of the Cyclocross World Championships on her twenty first birthday, upgrading from second in Fayetteville to take the rainbow jersey in entrance of her residence followers in Hoogerheide.
The Dutchwoman beat Zoe Bäckstedt (Nice Britain) by 33 seconds on the finish of the 45-minute race, whereas Czech rider Kristyna Zemanová rounded out the rostrum a mammoth 1:32 again.
“It was good,” Van Anrooij stated after the end. “I can not describe the way it felt. There was a lot strain, additionally from myself, to win right here. I had a sense like I may solely lose, however the whole lot went completely and I am simply tremendous completely satisfied.”
Van Anrooij was the clear favorite heading into the race, having gained six elite-level ‘crosses through the season together with three UCI World Cups. Ranked third on the planet this 12 months, she would have been a medal candidate in Saturday’s elite race however opted a while in the past for the U23 race as a substitute.
“Yesterday I additionally noticed that Fem [van Empel] was tremendous robust, however I felt actually good right this moment. In the intervening time after I had chosen the U23 race, I knew I actually needed to win this race. There was simply a lot additional strain however I am actually completely satisfied I may cope with that right this moment”
Van Anrooij did not get off to the very best begin in Hoogerheide, nevertheless. As an alternative, it was Marie Schreiber (Luxembourg) main the way in which early on.
Nevertheless, Van Anrooij shortly bought again to the entrance of proceedings and made a transfer off the entrance on the second lap of the race. Solely Bäckstedt was capable of keep in contact at that time, however the 18-year-old can be pressured to drop away on the identical lap.
The Briton hung in there, holding the hole inside 10 seconds over the next laps, with no one else getting near the lead duo for a lot of the race, and Van Anrooij racing alone out entrance.
Bäckstedt would ultimately should let go and accept second place on lap 4. She would find yourself crossing the road for the ultimate time simply over half a minute again.
Behind her, there was a considerable hole to the very best of the remainder, with Kristyna Zemanová rising because the strongest of the chasing pack, even when the remaining riders have been already a great distance again from the second lap onwards. She bought the higher of the likes of Schreiber and Amanda Fouquenet (France) to seize the bronze medal
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