Lucinda Brand has now also won the Superprestige cross in Merksplas after Niel 10 days ago. After a captivating duel with Ceylin Alvarado, Brand arrived solo, because the world champion fell twice in the final round. Denise Betsema finished 2nd after a nice catch-up race. Sanne Cant fought herself to 5th place.
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Mistakes in the final lap cost Alvarado victory
The trio Brand, Alvarado, Worst put the opposition under pressure in Merksplas from the start. The Dutch women developed a scorching pace. Worst had to be the first to admit color, but Brand and Alvarado made it a top duel.
Brand seemed to be the strongest woman in the cross, but after a miss in the sandbox, Alvarado entered the final lap as leader. Her sandwich looked like it was baked, but she slid under pressure twice more. Brand did not hesitate and flew over and over. She thus took her second victory in a row in the Superprestige.
Alvarado also relinquished second place because Betsema had come back surprisingly strong from the background. After a failed start, she fought her way from position twenty to the second highest podium place.
It was again the Netherlands above, but Sanne Cant kept the Belgian honor high with a strong 5th place at just over half a minute from the winner. With Kay and Clauzel, Great Britain and France were eventually also represented in the top 10.
Cyclists are short of hands to take home all the prizes in Merksplas
Comments:
Lucinda Brand (1e): “Alvarado and I were well matched today. But certainly on this course, mistakes are part of the cross. And that made it easy for me to pass. It will remain close in the standings.”
Denise Betsema (2e): “I am very happy with my second place after that bad start. I did not expect to get so close to it. I only start on the third row and it was narrow here. And the start is not my strongest point anyway. But I am happy with my form and I enjoy it a lot. “
Ceylin Alvarado (3e): “It was a tough race and I was at my limit, so I made those mistakes. I did nothing wrong with that first fall and I had to avoid a well the second time. There goes the whole day result. I remain leader in the standings, but it will have to be a bit better in the coming games to keep that place.
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The final round: Alvarado falls 2 times, Brand is victorious
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Alvarado zooms past Brand in the sand
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