After 15 years, Belgium has a new national champion: Dominant Norbert-Riberolle succeeds Cant on treacherous course!
Cyclocross
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Follow us on GoogleThe Belgian Cyclo-cross Championship was won by Marion Norbert-Riberolle. In a freezing, ice-covered Heusden-Zolder, the Crelan-Corendon rider proved to be the strongest by far. Laura Verdonschot finished second, ahead of Julie Brouwers. Norbert-Riberolle succeeds cyclo-cross legend Sanne Cant as champion. Among the U23 riders, Sterre Vervloet claimed victory.
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There were doubts earlier in the day about whether the championship could go ahead due to the extreme conditions. The Heusden-Zolder motor racing circuit, where the start-finish zone was located, was covered in ice in the morning. This caused a delay to the novice race, but the elite women’s event went ahead as scheduled. Missing from the lineup was defending champion Sanne Cant, who will retire at the end of the season and chose not to defend her jersey. This guaranteed that, for the first time since 2009 (!), Belgium would crown a new women’s champion.
At the start, top favorite Marion Norbert-Riberolle immediately faced difficulties. She got stuck on the first corner and was forced to switch bikes. This left her chasing the pack from the outset. Team De Ceuster-Bouwpunt capitalized on the situation by increasing the pace, with Laura Verdonschot and Alicia Franck breaking away to pressure the former French rider. However, Norbert-Riberolle remained calm, steadily closing the gap on the leaders. By the second lap, she caught up with her competitors and wasted no time overtaking them.
Read more below the photo!
Sanne Cant would not defend her iconic jersey in Heusden-Zolder
Norbert-Riberolle dominates, battle for second place intensifies
There was no stopping the Troyes-born Belgian. In less than two laps, she built a 30-second lead over her closest pursuers. Verdonschot, left without her teammate Franck who had fallen back, was joined by Julie Brouwers. The Intermarché-Wanty rider impressively worked her way back to the wheel of her six-years-older compatriot. Behind a commanding Norbert-Riberolle, who cruised through the final lap to claim the black-yellow-red champion’s jersey, Verdonschot managed to outpace Brouwers for second place.
Results Belgian National Championships Cyclo-cross 2025, women:
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026