Marie Schreiber didn’t miss her start of the season in Meulebeke, her first race in the Elite/U23 category in the colors of her new team. The rider from Luxembourg offered Tormans Cycle Cross Team a first podium in a women’s UCI race since the team was launched in 2020.
Next to Schreiber, also Zoe Backstedt from development team Acrog-Tormans lined up for her first cyclocross of the winter. One week earlier, the Tormans duo celebrated the title of Zoe Backstedt in Leuven, after she won the junior road world championships. For their first cyclocross race of the season, the girls put pressure for a long time on Belgian champion Sanne Cant who dominated the race. Schreiber rode to 3rd position in the final, behind a duel between Backstedt and Cant. It was not before the penultimate lap that 17 year old British rider had to let go Cant.
The men of Tormans Cyclo Cross Team also showed theirselves in the Berencross in Meulebeke this Saturday. Quinten Hermans and Emiel Verstrynge joined a leading group after a solid start, followed closely by Joran Wyseure. After 20 minutes of effort, Hermans attacked and led the race with Vanthourenhout. Just like one week before, he battled until the final lap for the podium and eventually finished 4th. Young riders Verstrynge and Wyseure also distinguished themselves on the muddy parcours by taking 7th and 12th place respectively.
« I'm very happy to start the season in this way! Racing in third position was a mental boost. But the podium almost slipped through my fingers when I crashed in the final lap. But I told myself that I had to keep believing in the podium and that's why I managed to catch Marion Norbert-Riberolle. I still felt power in my legs, but I had to give everything I had left to beat her in the sprint. For me, it felt like a victory! After a winter with almost no competition, I'm very happy to be able to show myself again! »
