25-year-old Dutch mountain biker was part time until last weekend
Image 1 of 5
Denise Betsema (Marlux-Bingoal) wins Koksijde World Cup(Image credit: Getty Images)
Denise Betsema (Marlux-Bingoal) wins Koksijde World Cup(Image credit: Getty Images)
Denise Betsema wins the Koksijde World Cup 2018(Image credit: Getty Images)
Denise Betsema (Marlux-Bingoal) wins Koksijde World Cup(Image credit: Getty Images)
Denise Betsema looked comfortable riding in the sandpits(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Koksijde Cyclo-cross World Cup winner Denise Betsema has parlayed her semi-pro contract with Marlux-Bingoal into a full-time deal after her pair of wins last weekend, according to Nieuwsblad.be.
The 25-year-old Dutch mountain biker signed a semi-pro contract with Marlux-Bingoal at the beginning of October. Since then she's won the Cyclo-cross International de la Solidarité, the EKZ CrossTour-Aigle, the GP Neerpelt and the EKZ CrossTour-Hittnau before last weekend's double at the Ambiancecross in Wachtebeke on Saturday and again on Sunday at the UCI World Cup Round 5 in Koksijde.
Sunday's win was Betsema's first-ever World Cup victory and the biggest of her career, and team manager Jurgen Mettepenningen rewarded her with more support.
"Because she deserves it," Mettepenningen said, according to Nieuwsblad.be. "Her transfer is clearly a hit for us. We also did not see this coming. Moreover, cyclo-cross is on the rise for women. I just saw the viewing figures of the broadcast last Saturday from Wachtebeke. The market share was absolutely impressive, and the difference in the viewing figures for the women's competition and that of the men was not that great."
In Koksijde, Betsema was initially riding in the chase group at 21 seconds behind a lead group of five. During the second lap, Betsema clocked the fastest lap time, eventually bridging to the leaders with Katie Compton.
After several attacks and counters, Betsema found herself in the lead with Nikki Brammeier. The lead duo hit the final lap with a bonus of five seconds on Annemarie Worst and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, who eventual regained the leaders halfway through the lap.
Betsema accelerated again and Brammeier was unable to respond. Worst moved up and tried her best but discovered that Betsema was too strong. Betsema made no major mistakes in the final sand section and was able to solo to victory.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.
