Sanne Cant

Competing at youth level

In her youth Cant competed in both athletics and duathlon. In 2002, she started cycling, focusing mainly on cyclocross and mountain biking. In her first year as a cyclist she immediately won the provincial championship at the 12 years old. In 2003, she repeated this, as in 2004. In this latter year she scored her first major victory, becoming Belgian champion in the 14-year-old category. She then moved into the youth category, continuing her provincial title run, as well as its MTB title. For 2006, the expectations were high, winning another provincial title and her first national title.

First professional years

Her first professional year was the 2008-2009 season, riding for the Italian Guerciotti-Selle Italia team. Her first podium in a major competition came with 3rd place during the cyclo-cross from Gavere. A month later, she recorded her first victory in the race in Faè di Oderzo. From January 1, 2009, Cant signed with BKCP-Powerplus, the team of Niels Albert.

In preparation for the 2009-2010 season she rode various MTB races, again winning the Belgian championship. The subsequent cyclocross season started well for Cant. She was 4th in the Citadel Cross.^[1] Later that season, she won the Belgian cyclo-cross championship.

For the summer season of 2010 Cant decided not to be restricted to mountain bike races and focussed solely on the road. Again, she won the Belgian national cyclo-cross championships.

During the summer of 2011 Cant signed a contract with the Young Telenet-Fidea team, despite the signed contract extension Cant at BKCP-Powerplus. In September 2013 she was awarded a fine of 30,000 euros from the UCI.^[2] She rode consistently that season, with her best results being her two 2nd places in the Scheldecross and the Grapes Cross. In January 2012 she took a 3rd Belgian title as well as the bronze at the World Championships at home in Koksijde.

Breakthrough season

In preparation for the 2012-2013 season Cant decided to compete in mountain biking alongside road races. This cyclocross season saw Cant's breakthrough. She started with a number of victories, she won in Kalmthout and in Zonhoven. She continued her momentum and won in Leuven, Essen and Loenhout. During the Roubaix world cup race Cant fell heavily on a muddy descent with American racer Katherine Compton. Cant was taken to the hospital, where it turned out that she had no serious injuries. On January 13, she won her fourth consecutive Belgian championship. After the World championships Cant won several competitions such, Hoogstraten, Oostmalle and even the best in the general classification in the Bpost bank trophy.

Breakthrough confirmation

After the 2012-2013 season Cant combined road cycling with cyclo-cross. She finished 7th at the Belgian road championships and took silver for the second time at the Belgian mountain bike championships. Cant's winter began two weeks earlier than normal. She rode and won the Supercross Baden in Switzerland. Two weeks later she won the Grand Prix Neerpelt^[3] then also won in Laarne. In November she won the Fair Cross Niel, the GP Hasselt and Cyclocross Asper-Gavere. In early 2014 she again became national champion for the fifth time in a row.

Career season

Her preparation for the winter of 2014-2015 contrasted to recent years. She started erratically, but in November she showcased her great form winning the Superprestiege of Zonhoven and her first European title.^[4] She went on to record her first victory in the World Cup. A week later she won the Milton Keynes round. With this win, she was the first Belgian ever to lead the World Cup. She also led the UCI Rankings.^[5] In January she extended her national title winning run.

The summer of 2015 began with Cant being selected to the national road team. Before the start of the 2015-2016 season Cant said she would contest fewer races with the aim of being fresher in the World championships. Her season started with a third place during the first World Cup round. This was followed by two victories in the Superprestige, where for the first time in its history, a final ranking overall classification for women would be decided. Her first big goal of the season was to defend the European Championship – a goal she was successful in.

In January 2017 she became world champion cyclo-cross and in October 2017 she gained her third European title. On 26 December 2017 Cant won in Heusden-Zolder her 100th victory in the cyclo-cross. On 3 February 2018 Cant won a second world championship.