07/02/2024

Exact Cross Maldegem: Laura Verdonschot wins with authority over Leonie Bentveld and Manon Bakker

The Exact Cross Maldegem was the first cyclocross race after the World Cup, which Fem van Empel won with great authority last Sunday. The victory went to the Belgian Laura Verdonschot.

Without the dominating rider on the starting grid, the race was very evenly matched with a group of four riders in the lead from the first laps. They were Verdonschot, Leonie Bentveld, Manon Bakker and Aniek van Alphen.

On the fourth lap van Alphen made a mistake in the sandy area and lost a few meters with respect to his fellow escapees, but was able to recover positions later. In the fifth, the one who seemed to have more strength, Verdonschot, managed to get a few seconds ahead of Bentveld and Bakker. Van Alphen was left out of the fight for the podium.

In the more technical areas of the circuit the pursuers were getting closer and by the penultimate lap (the sixth) the difference between the leader and her pursuers was only 4 seconds.

Despite the efforts of her rivals, Verdonschot was the strongest and took the solo win in the Exact Cross Maldegem. The podium was completed by Bentveld in second place and Bakker in third.