Cycling Digest
Denise Betsema
2026-11-15 02:35:56 · Cedar Herald Index
Denise Betsema (born 23 January 1993) is a Dutch cyclo-cross cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Cyclo-cross team .
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
3rd UEC European Championships
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
3rd UCI World Championships
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
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
3rd Maldegem
3rd Oostmalle
3rd Otegem
References
External links
1993 births
Living people
Dutch female cyclists
Cyclo-cross cyclists
People from Texel
Cyclists from North Holland
21st-century Dutch women