Drama at Cyclocross: Fights end in disqualification!

In a dramatic cyclocross race in Maldegem, Belgium, spectators witnessed a physical argument between Dutch athlete Manon Bakker and her competitor Jinse Peeters. Both riders were disqualified after Peeters hit Bakker in the face during the race. Bakker had tried to push past Peeters, which caused Peeters to fall. The jury then made the decision to remove both from the competition, which significantly affected the final result, as Krone.at reported.

Manon Bakker was deeply disappointed after she only finished third at the Azencross in Loenhout, despite being the favorite. The 24-year-old athlete, who had hoped for a better placing, had to admit defeat to the Belgian champion Sanne Cant and the Czech Kristyna Zemanova. In a quick interview, Bakker said: “Of course I expected more” and admitted that she was dissatisfied with her result. The muddy conditions in particular seemed to make their competition more difficult Radsportaktuell.de reported.

A competition full of challenges

Bakker admits that she usually has difficulties on the first day of racing, which was confirmed again in this race. Although she was in the lead at the start, Cant was able to take the initiative in the crucial moments. “I thought I could go even faster, but in the end Sanne was able to go even faster,” she explained. These mistakes showed how challenging the terrain was and that technical sections did not always provide an advantage.