The first ever running of the GVA Trophy in Namur was a great return to Belgium for British Cyclo-Cross Champion Helen Wyman. Billed as the toughest race in Belgium by course designer and cyclo-cross God Roland Liberton, the pre-race rain helped keep the course as tough as could be for all of the categories of racing.
The steep banks were balanced by sweeping technical descents and three riders set about making an early difference in the Elite Women's race. Kona/FSA Factory Team rider Helen Wyman was joined by Daphny van den Brand and Pavla Havlikova as they quickly gained an advantage over the chasers. It was on the third of five laps that Daphny managed to push forward and finally get a gap on her 2 companions.
"It wasn’t really the kind of course where you could chase people down" said Helen after the race. "If you managed to get away, it was simply because you were the strongest on the day. Daphny was second in the World Cup last week, so I’m happy to have been with her today. I know I’m getting stronger every week, and I know when I’ll be riding at 100%. That wasn’t today, so third is a great result. I beat some good riders, and it’s nice to see where I am on a ‘proper’ cross course."
The course is a great addition to the women’s calendar, and also increases the women’s GVA trophy by another event. This can surely only be good for the sport and will add more interest in the women’s scene and ensure more of the top women are riding together in the season long series. "I’ve got a weekend off this coming week as I’m racing on the Tuesday night in Holland, so that allows me some good time on the bike in preparation for the European Championships. It's also great not to be travelling for a few days so I can settle into my rhythm and take another step up the podium" added Helen.
Brief Result
1. Daphny van den Brand (Ned) ZZPR.nl 0:45:01
2. Pavla Havlikova (Cze) AVB 0:00:16
3. Helen Wyman (GBr) KONA/FSA Factory Team 0:00:50
4. Sanne Cant (Bel) 0:01:35
5. Ludivine Henrion (Bel) 0:01:48
6. Linda van Rijen (Ned) 0:01:55
7. Saskia Elemans (Ned) 0:02:15
8. Sanne van Paassen (Ned) 0:03:10
9. Sophie De Boer (Ned) 0:03:50
10. Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel) 0:04:35
Links: www.helenwyman.com | www.twitter.com/cxhelen
Wyman Podiums on Citadel Hillside
- Story posted October 13, 2009
- Wyman Podiums on Citadel Hillside
Related articles
Mastering cyclo-cross: tips, tricks, and the occasional tumble
Cyclo-cross is a sport where skill meets chaos. Watch a race, and you’ll see riders gliding over mud, sand, and steep banks - making the impossible look almost effortless. But behind that finesse is years of training, countless mistakes, and the hard-earned wisdom that comes from pushing the limits.
Find out more
British Cycling seeking new Commission members to support the future growth of the sport
As part of its long-term ambition to support the cycling disciplines through nurturing the grassroots, British Cycling is now accepting applications for new members to a number of its commissions.
Find out more
Cyclo-cross tips (and fails) from Britain's best
We asked riders at the top of their game to share their ideas for improvement – plus a couple of them shared some funny fails when things haven’t quite gone to plan (because this is just part of racing after all).
Find out more
