Van Alphen Wins Superprestige Middelkerke Solo
Aniek van Alphen soloed to victory in a nighttime Superprestige round, with Inge van der Heijden and Denise Betsema completing the podium.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Cycling
Aniek van Alphen won her first race of the season by soloing away from the field on the second lap of the Superprestige race in Middelkerke. Inge van der Heijden finished second and Denise Betsema took third after a bobble on the final lap.
Why it matters
The win gives Van Alphen momentum heading into the European Championships in Zeddam, held two days after the race. The result also shows the depth of the field, with 27 women starting despite the absence of top rider Lucinda Brand.
Van Alphen led by 16 seconds entering the final lap after building a six-second gap at the start of lap three. Betsema closed to within ten seconds on lap six before the leader pulled away again.
The players
Aniek van Alphen
Dutch cyclocross rider who won the Superprestige Middelkerke race by soloing away from the field.
Inge van der Heijden
Dutch cyclocross rider who finished second after missing the early attack in Middelkerke.
Denise Betsema
Dutch cyclocross rider who finished third after surging on lap six and bobbling on the final lap.
The details
Van der Heijden missed the early attack and was caught in traffic, while Van Alphen went clear on the second lap and kept her advantage to the finish. Betsema surged on lap six but could not sustain the pace, and a bobble on the final lap dropped her to third.
Timeline
Superprestige Middelkerke race held at night on November 5, 2026.
European Championships in Zeddam take place two days after the race, on Saturday.
Season Trajectory
The win is one round of the Superprestige cyclocross series and marks Van Alphen's first victory of the season. With the European Championships in Zeddam two days later, the result sets up a run of high-stakes races for the leading riders.
Fans tracking the Superprestige standings will see Van Alphen's win move her up the season table ahead of the European Championships. Those following the championship favorites should note her strong form entering the Zeddam event.
The takeaway
A solo break on the second lap was enough to decide the race, showing how a rider who takes control early can hold off a strong field. Riders preparing for big events should note that tactical positioning in the early laps can matter as much as raw pace.
What happens next
The European Championships take place in Zeddam on Saturday, two days after the Middelkerke race.
Further reading
For more on the sport, see our Cycling coverage.
