Medals at national cyclocross championships!

This weekend was not only about the sunny roads of Australia where Ally sprinted to 6th place and into the white jersey for best young rider in the Tour Down Under, it was also the weekend of muddy fields and dirty faces. Our AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step U23 and U19 riders Mirre Knaven, Julia Kopecky, Lore De Schepper, Laia Bosch and Margot Marasco all rode their national cyclocross championships.

Lore was the first one on Saturday. In Lokeren, where she was born, she lined up for the junior race. She won a silver medal.

“I had a good start for my doing,” Lore smiled after the finish. “After that I could ride my own pace and pass riders. Shanyl was the last one I could pass. Then I created a gap on her and could defend that silver medal. I am very happy with this second place. Fleur was always out of reach for me. It was my goal to be the best of the rest and honestly this is the best result I could get here.” 

In the Netherlands Mirre Knaven faced the muddiest of mud circuits alongside the river Waal in Zaltbommel. Half of the course was inundated meaning there was a lot of running involved. Mirre finished just outside of the podium after a mechanical issue.

There was a chocolate medal for our Spanish junior Laia Bosch. She finished just outside of the podium in Vic, Barcelona. Margot Marasco travelled to Normandie in France and finished 7th in the race. 

There was another silver medal for the AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step team. U23 rider Julia Kopecky travelled back home to the Czech Republic for her race.

“I am happy with this silver medal,” Julia said. “I felt really good last week so I was determined to get a good result. We had a combined elite and U23 race here on a tough and muddy course which was to my advantage. Top favorite was Krystina Zemanová but I tried to make it difficult for her today. Sadly I couldn’t answer her attack halfway into the race and had to settle for second in both the elite and U23 category. This result means I get to ride the world championships in Hoogerheide in the U23 category,” Julia concluded. 

More line-ups for the world cyclocross championships will be announced soon.