February 02, 2019 (Bogense, Denmark) – Reigning Canadian and Pan American champ, Maghalie Rochette, was the top Canuck on the opening day of the 2019 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships finishing 23rd in the Elite Women’s race.

Sanne Cant (Belgium) battled three Dutch rivals on the fast and technical course to win her third consecutive title escaping on the penultimate lap of the 18.35 km race. The 7-lap competition saw Cant the lone Belgian in a sea of Dutch orange with Rochette sitting the low 20s still feeling the affects of sickness from the previous two weeks.

In the end four riders asserted themselves as Cant, Lucinda Brand, Denise Betsema, and Annemarie Worst took charge with seven-time world champion Marianne Vos just behind. Brand made a strong move that only Cant could respond to but a mistake by a mechanic during a bike exchange saw Brand hit the ground and Cant was away for good.

“With Dutch riders all around it was a very tactical race. I love the course here and had to be smart. When I got the gap I decided to keep the pressure on hoping it was the right decision and it was. This third victory was an amazing win,” said Cant.

Earlier in the day in the U23 Men’s 8-lap, 20.95 kk race, nation champ, Gunnar Holmgren, battle to 28th as Thomas Pidcock (Great Britain), 19, claimed the rainbow stripes over defending champ, Eli Iserbyt (Belgium) in second, with Antoine Benoîts (France) in third. Fellow Canuck Tyler Orschel was 43rd.

Connor Martin was the top Canadian rider in the Junior men’s 7-lap race placing 46th as Ben Tulett (Great-Britain) defended his title with Belgium’s Witse Meeussen taking silver and his teammate Ryan Cortjens the bronze. Canada’s Paul Mysko was 63rd while Ryan Maclean did not race as he’s day-to-day with an upper body injury.

Results here.