Confidence boost from HG Cross in Meulebeke: Marie Schreiber looks ahead to cyclocross season with ambition

Marie Schreiber's convincing victory in HG Cross in Meulebeke has given her an immediate confidence boost at the start of the new cyclocross season. The Luxembourg rider of Team SD Worx-Protime proved in one of the first cyclocrosses that she is once again capable of competing with the very best. With the Nacht van Woerden on her schedule tonight, Schreiber now looks ahead to a season focused on consistency and continued progression.

The victory in Meulebeke meant more than just another win for Marie Schreiber. After a strong build-up to the season, it served as confirmation that she is once again capable of reaching the level she showed two years ago. “I started on the second row, so I didn’t start full gas from the start like I normally would,” Schreiber reflected. “At the beginning, I stayed in the wheels and observed the pace of the others. In the first crosses of the season, I always find it difficult to judge how hard you need to go right from the start.”

On a course that became increasingly demanding as the rain continued to fall, Schreiber opted for a measured approach. “I focused on my own race, my own rhythm and lines. I quickly identified where my strengths were on the course and tried to use those sections to move up through the field. By halfway through the race, I was at the front and managed to build on that momentum.”

The strategy paid off. Schreiber rode away to victory and immediately gained confidence for the months ahead. “Before the race, I was quite curious and a little nervous. It was the first race of the season where basically everyone was at the start line. You never really know where you stand compared to the rest of the field. That’s why it was so nice to win and prove that I’m up there with the best. It gives me a lot of confidence.”

For Schreiber, the coming months are not only about results, but also about continuing to build her form and level. “This season, I mainly want to be consistent, keep building on the shape I have now and get back to the level I had two years ago.”

With the Nacht van Woerden on the programme today (start 19.40 H.), another important test awaits. After that, Schreiber will line up in Contern (25 October), the Koppenbergcross (1 November) and the European Championships (7 November). Armed with the confidence gained from her victory in Meulebeke, she heads into those races as one of the riders to watch.