Behind, Belgium’s Norbert Riberolle and Laura Verdonschot had slower starts, while Denise Betsema, twice a winner in Ruddervoorde, lost time after an early bike change.
By mid-race, eight riders formed the leading group: Van Empel, Inge van der Heijden, Van Alphen, Bentveld, Sara Casasola, Hélène Clauzel, Fouquenet and Riberolle. The tempo rose and fell as Riberolle tried a brief attack before Casasola and Bentveld countered, forcing Van Empel to chase.
Each time through the sand section, the world champion looked the strongest, choosing cleaner lines and regaining ground with ease. With two laps to go, her consistency told — a Dutch trio of Van Empel, Bentveld and Van der Heijden broke clear, hinting that the podium would come from within their group.
That assumption didn’t last. At the start of the penultimate lap, Riberolle attacked again on the cobbles by the finish line, opening a lead of around ten seconds as the others hesitated. Van Empel briefly drifted to the back of the group, while Fouquenet, surprisingly, was the most active in the chase.
Riberolle, however, looked flawless. Her handling through the sand was composed, her rhythm relentless. The Belgian champion continued to gain ground, with her Crelan teammates Van der Heijden and Casasola now behind in the chasing group — able to disrupt the pursuit and protect her gap.
As she cleared the barriers cleanly and flew through the final sand section, victory looked ever closer. Unless the chasers launched a sprint from distance, it seemed all but certain that Riberolle was on course for her first major Superprestige win — and the first Belgian victory in Ruddervoorde in ten editions.