Having dethroned Marianno Vos as road race world champion, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot repeated the feat when she took over the cyclo-cross title from the Dutchwoman. In a thrilling sprint, the Frenchwoman beat Sanne Cant (Belgium) while Vos had to settle for third.

The French women went into the race in a determined mood. Lucie Chainel-Lefevere started fast and by gaining a big gap, she put the favourites under pressure. After two turns, Eva Lechner who won the final World Cup race, was taken out of contention by a mechanical.

Cant was eager to get back to Chainel-Lefevere and rode hard to close the gap with Vos, Ferrand-Prevot, Katerina Nash (Czeck Republic) and Niki Harris (Great Britain) on her wheerl.

Chainel-Lefevere got caught and was quickly distanced. Instead, Ferrand-Prevot attacked at the halfway point and she opened a gap.

Cant managed to rejoin her and even tried to distance the Frenchwoman who managed to stay in contact. Further back, Vos fought bravely but it was clear that her dominance would be broken by the leading pair.

In the final lap, none of the leaders gave each other an inch. At several points, Cant tried to get rid of her rival but Ferrand-Prevot always responded. The road world champion hit the tarmac in first position and managed to hold off Cant who became the first Belgian woman to win a silver medal at the World Championships.

Result:

1. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Fra) 49'11
2. Sanne Cant (Bel)
3. Marianne Vos (Ned) 15'
4. Nikki Harris (GBr) 20"
5. Katerina Nash (Cze) 36"
6. Lucie Chainel-Lefevere (Fra) 55"
7. Helen Wyman (GBr) 1'21"
8. Ellen Van Loy (Bel) 1'35"
9. Christine Majerus (Lux) 1'54"
10. Sophie de Boer (Ned) 1'56"