# Sanne Cant

Sanne Cant (born 8 October 1990) is a Belgian former racing cyclist, who last competed in cyclo-cross for UCI Cyclo-cross Crelan–Corendon, and in road cycling for UCI Women's Continental Team Fenix–Deceuninck. Cant's cousin Loes Sels is also a professional cyclist.
Cant won the World Championship cyclo cross in the elite category in 2017, 2018, 2019, and won the European Cyclo-cross Championship in 2014, 2015 and 2017.

## Career
### 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 age of 12. In 2003 and 2004, she repeated this feat. Also in 2004, Cant achieved 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, while also capturing the youth MTB title. In 2006, the expectations were high, and she won another provincial title as well as 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 1 January 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. 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. 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 13 January, 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 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. 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. 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. On 2 February 2019 she scored a hattrick by winning the world championship three years in a row.

## Major results
### Cyclo-cross
#### 2006–2007

    1st National Junior Championships

#### 2007–2008

    1st National Junior Championships

#### 2008–2009

    1st National Junior Championships
    1st Faè di Oderzo

#### 2009–2010

    1st National Championships

#### 2010–2011

    1st National Championships
    Gazet van Antwerpen Trofee
       1st Lille

#### 2011–2012

    1st National Championships

#### 2012–2013

    1st National Championships
    BPost Bank Trophy
       1st Essen
       1st Loenhout
       1st Oostmalle
    1st Hoogstraten
    1st Middelkerke
    1st Kalmthout
    1st Zonhoven
    1st Leuven

#### 2013–2014

    1st National Championships
    BPost Bank Trophy
       1st Hasselt
       1st Essen
       1st Lille
       1st Oostmalle
    Soudal Classics
       1st Niel
       1st Neerpelt
    1st Gavere–Asper
    1st Kalmthout
    1st Diegem
    1st Baden

#### 2014–2015

    1st UEC European Championships
    1st National Championships
    1st Overall UCI World Cup
       1st Koksijde
       1st Milton Keynes
       1st Lignières-en-Berry
    Superprestige
       1st Gieten
       1st Zonhoven
       1st Ruddervoorde
       1st Gavere
       1st Hoogstraten
    BPost Bank Trophy
       1st Hamme
       1st Hasselt
       1st Lille
       1st Antwerpen
    1st Neerpelt
    1st Niel
    1st Overijse
    1st Sint-Niklaas
    1st Otegem
    1st Oostmalle
    1st Eeklo
    1st Maldegem
    1st Heerlen
    2nd UCI World Championships

#### 2015–2016

    1st UEC European Championships
    1st National Championships
    1st Overall UCI World Cup
       1st Koksijde
       1st Heusden-Zolder
       1st Lignières-en-Berry
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Gieten
       1st Zonhoven
       1st Ruddervoorde
       1st Gavere
       1st Hoogstraten
       1st Middelkerke
    1st Overall BPost Bank Trophy
       1st Essen
       1st Antwerpen
       1st Loenhout
       1st Baal
    1st Niel
    1st Hasselt
    1st Maldegem
    1st Eeklo
    1st Oostmalle
    3rd UCI World Championships

#### 2016–2017

    1st UCI World Championships
    1st National Championships
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Gieten
       1st Zonhoven
       1st Gavere
       1st Middelkerke
    1st Overall DVV Trofee
       1st Hamme
       1st Essen
       1st Antwerpen
       1st Loenhout
    UCI World Cup
       1st Zeven
    Brico Cross
       1st Geraardsbergen
       1st Hulst
    1st Ardooie
    1st Hasselt
    1st Mol
    1st Niel
    1st Oostmalle
    1st Sint-Niklaas

#### 2017–2018

    1st UCI World Championships
    1st UEC European Championships
    1st National Championships
    1st Overall UCI World Cup
       1st Waterloo
       1st Bogense
       1st Zeven
       1st Heusden-Zolder
       1st Hoogerheide
    1st Superprestige
       1st Diegem
       1st Hoogstraten
       1st Middelkerke
    DVV Trofee
       1st Hamme
       1st Essen
       1st Antwerpen
       1st Loenhout
       1st Lille
    Brico Cross
       1st Eeklo
       1st Meulebeke
    1st Lebbeke
    1st Otegem

#### 2018–2019

    1st UCI World Championships
    1st National Championships
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Zonhoven
       1st Diegem
       1st Hoogstraten
    1st Overall DVV Trofee
       1st Niel
       1st Lille
    Brico Cross
       1st Meulebeke
       1st Lokeren
    1st Mol
    1st Sint-Niklaas

#### 2019–2020

    1st National Championships
    Ethias Cross
       1st Bredene
    1st Sint-Niklaas

#### 2020–2021

    1st National Championships

#### 2021–2022

    1st National Championships
    Ethias Cross
       1st Meulebeke

#### 2022–2023

    1st National Championships

#### 2023–2024

    1st National Championships
    Ethias Cross
       1st Loenhout

#### 2024–2025

    1st Otegem

### Mountain bike
#### 2006

    1st Cross-country, National Junior Championships

#### 2007

    1st Cross-country, National Junior Championships

#### 2008

    1st Cross-country, National Junior Championships
    1st Tubize
    1st Langdorp

### Road
#### 2018

    3rd Road race, National Championships

#### 2024

    1st Schaal Sels Ladies
    2nd Road race, National Championships