Denise Betsema

Denise Betsema (born 23 January 1993) is a Dutch cyclo-cross cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Cyclo-cross team De Ceuster-Bouwpunt.

Career In October 2018 Betsema joined the professional cyclo-cross team . In the season 2018–2019 she won the crosses at Poprad, Neerpelt, Aigle, Hittnau, Lutterbach, Wachtebeke, Koksijde, Eschenbach, Antwerpen, Otegem, Maldegem, Middelkerke, Hulst, Leuven and Oostmalle. She also won the bronze medal at the European championships.

Positive drug test On 5 April 2019, it was announced that she had tested positive for the use of steroids in a drug test on 27 January 2019 during the World Cup in Hoogerheide. Betsema denies the facts but she was temporarily suspended by her team awaiting the outcome of the counter-expertise. On 16 May, it was announced her B sample was also positive for steroids.

On 20 January 2020, the UCI announced that besides in Hoogerheide, she had also failed a doping test in Middelkerke. The UCI proposed the rider a retroactive sanction of six months suspension, starting from 5 April 2019, which was the day her team voluntary put her on non-active status. Betsema also forfeits all results from Hoogerheide on, which meant the loss of her 2019 victories in Maldegem, Middelkerke, Hulst, Leuven, and Oostmalle. Betsema accepted the sanction proposed by the UCI but she and her legal counsels are still of the opinion she was the victim of a tainted food supplement.

Personal life Betsema has two children and lives in Texel.

Major results Cyclo-cross

2018–2019 UCI World Cup 1st Koksijde 2nd Pont-Château DVV Trophy 1st Antwerpen 3rd Loenhout 1st Overall EKZ CrossTour 1st Aigle 1st Hittnau 1st Eschenbach 3rd Baden 3rd Meilen 1st Otegem 1st Neerpelt 1st Wachtebeke 1st Solidarite 1st Poprad 2nd Hasselt 3rd Overall Superprestige 2nd Zonhoven 3rd Diegem

Toi Toi Cup 3rd Unicov 2019–2020 Rectavit Series 1st Leuven 1st Waregem Superprestige 2nd Middelkerke 2nd Zonnebeke 2nd Oostmalle Ethias Cross 3rd Maldegem 3rd Hulst 2020–2021 1st Oostmalle 1st Sint-Niklaas 2nd Overall X²O Badkamers Trophy 1st Antwerpen 2nd Kortrijk 2nd Hamme 2nd Brussels 3rd Herentals 3rd Baal 3rd Lille 3rd Overall UCI World Cup 1st Hulst 3rd Tábor 3rd Namur 3rd Overall Superprestige 1st Middelkerke 2nd Gavere 2nd Merksplas 3rd Boom 3rd Niel Ethias Cross 1st Beringen 1st Eeklo 1st Sint-Niklaas 2nd Leuven 3rd Kruibeke EKZ CrossTour 1st Bern

2021–2022 2nd Overall UCI World Cup 1st Zonhoven 2nd Fayetteville 2nd Iowa City 2nd Koksijde 2nd Namur 3rd Waterloo 3rd Besançon 3rd Rucphen 3rd Dendermonde 2nd Overall Superprestige 1st Ruddervoorde 2nd Gieten 3rd Niel 3rd Merksplas 3rd Boom 3rd Gavere 2nd Overall X²O Badkamers Trophy 1st Brussels 2nd Koppenberg 2nd Loenhout 2nd Herentals 3rd Kortrijk 3rd Baal 3rd Hamme 2nd Oostmalle Ethias Cross 1st Lokeren 3rd Beringen 2022–2023 3rd Overall Superprestige 1st Ruddervoorde 2nd Niel 2nd Merksplas 2nd Boom 3rd Gullegem Exact Cross 1st Zonnebeke 3rd Kruibeke 3rd Beringen 3rd Meulebeke X²O Badkamers Trophy 2nd Koppenberg 3rd Kortrijk UCI World Cup 3rd Dublin 4th Maasmechelen 3rd Maldegem 3rd Oostmalle 3rd Otegem 2023–2024 X²O Badkamers Trophy 2nd Koppenberg 3rd Oisterwijk UCI World Cup 4th Flamanville