Shirin van Anrooij: "I felt very strong, I tried to keep pressure and that worked out well"

It was Shirin van Anrooij’s day in Gavere . The Baloise Trek Lions rider got away in the first lap and maintained the lead to celebrate her third victory took the victory of the season.

She may have won the cross but it was not an easy task. "It was very tough," van Anrooij told in the post-race interview. She continues, "I just rode my own lines. I felt very strong. But on the third lap, on the long climb, I kept cycling too long.”

The track was muddy due to heavy rain which was not proving to be helpful for the riders. “My legs were running empty. Then I decided to just walk everywhere, which was easy for me. But it was super heavy," explained van Anrooij.

Lucinda Brand managed to make contact in the third lap, but van Anrooij wasn't going to take any chances, so she accelerated ahead of her. "At one point I saw Lucinda getting closer, but I knew the last part of the lap suited me well. That's also where I rode away from Puck. I tried to keep pressure, and that worked out well," concluded the Dutchwoman.