Lucinda Brand won the Superprestige cyclo-cross in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, on Monday afternoon. The day before, the Dutch world champion was also the strongest in the world cup competition in Dendermonde.
It is the third year in a row that Brand has won the ride in Heusden-Zolder.
Only Van Empel can join
Blanka Vas accelerated from the start on the fast course. The young Hungarian got a long ribbon of ten Dutch riders behind him. That group quickly thinned out as Brand interfered with the tempo.
Brand drove everyone loose, except Fem van Empel. It bit into Brand’s wheel and wouldn’t let go. Brand was forced to make a very long sprint in the final lap.
Only at the very last hurdle did the 19-year-old Van Empel, who went a little too wide there, finally won. She gave in two seconds at the finish.
