Shirin van Anrooij made a split second decision to risk everything and attacked her rivals with one lap to go in World Cup Cyclo-Cross #5 in Beekse Bergen, NL on Sunday. In doing so, she defeated current Elite European Champion, Fem van Empel, and U23 European Champion, Puck Pieterse.
How It Happened
Van Empel and Pieterse took off from the start and immediately strung out the race on the fast, winding, technical course. Trading the lead back and forth, the two quickly established a gap over the other riders with only Carmen Alvarado able to follow.
Towards the end of lap 3/6, Pieterse, with the help of her teammate, Alavardo, was able to open a gap on van Empel on the technical part of the course and gain a five second advantage.
Van Empel took up the chase, without Alvarado, and worked her way back up to Pieterse, eventually catching her on the long straightaway before the end of lap 4/6.
As they crossed the line on lap 5/6, van Empel took the lead and picked up the pace with Pieterse closely following.
Behind in third place at eight seconds Shirin van Anrooij followed.
With one and a half laps to go, Van Empel and Pieterse let off the pace and Van Anrooij was able to close the gap before the bell lap.
Coming into the bell lap, all three, van Empel, Pieterse, and van Anrooij, were together as the finish line approached.
Sensing a slowing down of the pace and seeing that van Empel and Pieterse were watching each other, but not her, van Anrooij launched an attack before they hit the line for the bell lap.
Crossing the line with her head down and going full gas, van Anrooij quickly opened a gap. Behind, neither van Empel or Pieterse reacted and went after van Anrooij.
When the gap to van Anrooij hit five seconds, van Empel finally took up the chase with Pieterse on her wheel. However, van Empel’s effort was too little, too late, and van Anrooij was able to hold off her rivals with enough time at the line to raise her arms in victory. Close behind, a fast charging van Empel easily outsprinted Pieterse for second place.
Race Notes: 11 riders in the top 13 were Dutch. The American, Clara Honsinger, was the highest placed non-European in 15th place, followed by Sidney McGill of Canada who was 29th. In the overall World Cup standings Honsinger is in 9th place behind eight Dutch riders: 1. van Empel 2. Alvarado 3. Betsema 4. van der Heijden 5. Pieterse 6. van Anrooij 7. Worst 8. Brand.
FULL RESULTS:
