Laura Verdonschot scores a 'big victory' in Maldegem: "TV cross is something different than a victory in Spain"

With most of the top ladies skipping the Maldegem Exact Cross, it was Laura Verdonschot's chance to prove her worth against a reduced field. And the 27-year-old Belgian took full advantage of this opportunity and won in front of her home crowds.

"I am very happy," she said after the race in report by Archysport. "I didn’t feel like I had my best legs and my back was bothering me a lot. It was difficult to make a difference, but I had a gap after the sand. It was important to make a difference on the more difficult sections."

Verdonschot was on a winning streak in more exotic cyclocross countries at the start of this cyclocross season, yet this was her first triumph in Belgium: "But a TV cross is something different than a victory in Spain. This is my 8th victory, but today is ranked higher with this stronger field."