US champion marks European return with an emphatic victory; Sanne Van Paassen takes the World Cup lead
Katie Compton (Planet Bike) marked her return to Europe after the successful defence of her US national title with a commanding victory in the World Cup race in Kalmthout, Belgium. The 32-year-old finished 31 seconds ahead of World champion Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit), with Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) another four seconds back.
The race began without World Cup leader Daphny Van Den Brand (ZZPR.nl), who has come down with illness following a training camp in Mallorca. The early break came from Sanne Van Paassen (Brainwash), Sanne Cant (BKCP-Powerplus) and Nash; yesterday’s Scheldecross winner, German champion Hanka Kupfernagel (Stevens) was with them initially, but was unable to hold the pace.
Compton was caught in the early race traffic around the winding course, but joined the three frontrunners at the beginning of the third lap. Meanwhile behind, Vos – whose lack of World Cup points this season meant that she had to start at the back of the grid once more – was scything through the field. The World champion caught and passed Kupfernagel but Compton escaped on her own before the World champion could make her way right to the front of the race.
With Compton escaped the lead group fragmented with Nash next on the course and Vos, who’d passed Cant, riding with Van Paassen behind. A mistake from Van Paassen though, on the only muddy part of the course, saw the Brainwash rider crash and Vos rode away from her.
The World champion caught and passed Nash on the second half of the final lap, but Compton was well clear and took the victory alone. Vos followed her home 31 seconds later with Nash just behind her; Van Paassen was unhurt by her crash crossed the line in fourth place to move into the World Cup lead and take the white jersey from her former teammate Van Den Brand.
Result Kalmthout World Cup
1. Katie Compton (USA) Planet Bike
2. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit @ 31s
3. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team @ 35s
4. Sanne Van Paassen (Ned) Brainwash Wielerploeg @ 47s
5. Sanne Cant (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus @ 1’19”
6. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Fra) France @ 1’29”
7. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Stevens @ 1’38”
8. Pavla Havlikova (Cze) APB Cycling Team @ 1’59”
9. Sophie De Boer (Ned) ZZPR.nl @ 2’09”
10. Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Merida @ 2’10”
UCI World Cup standings after four rounds
1. Sanne Van Paassen (Ned) Brainwash Wielerploeg 185pts
2. Katie Compton (USA) Planet Bike 180
3. Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned) ZZPR.nl 150
4. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 135
5. Sanne Cant (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus 129