NOS Cycling•
Brand dominates at Cyclo-cross World Cup in Namur
Lucinda Brand has booked her tenth victory of the season in Namur. In the tough World Cup Cross in Wallonia, she pulled away from the rest of the field early on and never gave up that lead. Puck Pieterse finished in fourth place upon her return to the field.
Pieterse attempted to follow for the longest time and closed within nine seconds of Brand after two laps, but she apparently drove over her limit. Pieterse dropped back and eventually finished behind World Cup leader Aniek van Alphen and Amandine Fouquenet.
Even a flat front tire and a small slide on the fourth lap did not hinder Brand. She suffered a puncture just before the equipment station, quickly changed bikes and then only increased her lead.
Women’s World Cup rankings after four matches
| 1 | Aniek van Alphen | 121 |
| 2 | Lucinda Brand | 120 |
| 3 | Leonie Bentveld | 83 |
| 4 | Amandine Fouquenet | 74 |
| 5 | Inge van der Heijden | 67 |
For Brand it is her 53rd podium finish in a row. The last time the 36-year-old from Dordrecht finished fourth was in the Benidorm World Cup in January 2024. This season she has ridden twelve crosses so far, ten of which she won, the other two times she came second.
With her victory, Brand Van Alphen approaches within one point in the World Cup rankings. Van Alphen impressed by winning in Flamanville, France when Brand did not participate. Brand won the other three World Cups.
Brand: ‘Slight panic about the flat tire, but I kept a cool head’
