Marion Norbert Riberolle (Crelan-Corendon) defended her title at the Belgian Cyclo-cross National Championships on Saturday, conquering the cold and snow to win the elite women's race for a second year in a row.
Norbert Riberolle led solo for more than half of the five-lap race in Beringen, after early leader Fleur Moors (Baloise-Glowi Lions) crashed on a muddy corner, making way for the 2025 champion to move into the lead.
Despite initially being only four seconds behind, Moors couldn't close the gap to Norbert Riberolle, settling for second and the silver medal, 17 seconds down at the finish line. Privateer racer Kiona Crabbé took third.
Norbert Riberolle's title defence meant that only two riders have worn the women's Belgian tri-colour jersey in a decade and half, with the now-retired Sanne Cant winning 15 times in a row between 2010 and 2024.
This was Norbert Riberolle's second victory of the 'cross season, after taking victory at the Superprestige Ruddervoorde in October.
The women's race set off in sub-zero temperatures in Beringen, with snow and ice covering the course and freezing a lot of the mud to make for some challenging racing conditions.
Fleur Moors started well, pushing on early and leading the first lap ahead of Marion Norbert Riberolle, but crashed on an off-camber corner on the second lap, losing her lead. Norbert Riberolle unclipped as she tried to avoid Moors, but got going faster to take the lead.
The gap was initially only a handful of seconds, but Norbert Riberolle charged ahead on the third lap to cement her advantage, which she held on until the end of the race to defend her Belgian jersey.
Earlier in the day, Liese Geuens won the junior women's title, with the competition continuing on Sunday where the under-23 and elite men's titles will be decided.
Results
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