I was there last year, on the ground in Heusden-Zolder, for the 2016 UCI Cyclocross World Championships. Drenched from the pouring rain, I stood just yards from the finish line when Sanne Cant outsprinted Dutchwoman Sophie de Boer for the last remaining podium spot.
There was no celebration then, only tears of disappointment and the comfort of her dad’s shoulder who had been waiting for her at the line.
European champion; Belgian national champion; winner of the Superprestige series, the BPost Bank Trophy and the UCI World Cup – Cant had won them all but her winning streak had come to an end at the most inopportune moment…again.
In Tabor the previous year, in 2015, there were tears of bitterness, frustration and anger when Cant lost the sprint to winner Pauline Ferrand-Prevot. These tears, the ones in Heusden-Zolder, were not of bitterness but of pure devastation. The legs simply hadn’t been there that day. Resting her forehead on her dad, tears freely streaming down her face, shoulders heaving, Cant was inconsolable. And my heart broke watching her.
Tears were there again for Cant in Bieles this past weekend. They came almost as soon as she crossed the line. Utterly spent, she laid on the ground breathing heavily when the tears started flowing, smearing the mud spatters on her face.
The tears would continue to fall on the podium, but this time they were the best kind of tears. Tears of elation and joy. Tears that showed just how much she had longed for those rainbow stripes and that golden medal around her neck.
She had dreamt of this day since she was just six years old. And for the past 20 years, her entire life had had this one singular focus. Oh, and she had been so close! She’d been on this podium three times before, and those bronze and silver medals haunted her. But not this year. This year, the gold and rainbows are hers.
1. Sanne Cant, Belgium
2. Marianne Vos, The Netherlands
3. Katerina Nash, The Czech Republic
Don’t miss our sit down interviews with Cant, Vos and Nash.
-
- Ellen van Loy (BEL) is completely focused during her warm up.
-
- USA’s Katie Compton tries to keep herself warm as she lines up for the start of the women’s elite race.
-
- The women’s field lines up for the start of the 2017 UCI Cyclocross World Championships/
-
- Eye of the Tigress. Seven-time former world cx champ Marianne Vos (NED) looks focused at the start.
-
- Belgium’s Ellen van Loy gets some encouragement at the start line from compatriot and retired world champion Sven Nys.
-
- Van Loy, Vos and Cant cross the flyover together in the first lap. Van Loy took the holeshot and controlled the pace for most of the first lap.
-
- Vos tried to get away several times throughout the race, but would get caught every time.
-
- Sanne Cant
-
- With one lap to go, Vos had a lead of 10 seconds and it looked like she was well on her way to her 8th world champion title.
-
- After a slip and a broken show, Cant feared the race was lost. But Vos’ misfortune turned into a second chance for Cant.
-
- Katerina Nash (CZE) had a tremendous ride to secure her second bronze world championships medal.
-
- Sanne Cant (BEL) becomes the 2017 Women’s UCI CX World Champion.
-
- A defeated Marianne Vos crosses the finish.
-
- Pure elation. The rainbow stripes are finally hers.
-
- In mom’s arms.
-
- Sanne Cant (BEL) in tears after winning the 2017 Women’s UCI CX World Championships.
-
- Belgium’s Jolien Verschuren was one of the many riders that crashed on the highly technical course. Her ride would end in tears as well.
-
- Tears of joy on the podium at the 2017 UCI CX World Championships.
-
- Her fourth time on the podium, Cant finally gets to be on that top step.