Lucinda Brand overcomes bad start and stays ahead of Van Empel in Superprestige Overijse
CyclingSunday, 27 October 2024 at 16:08
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Follow us on GoogleLucinda Brand has won the Superprestige in Overijse, Belgium. The Dutch champion crossed the finish line solo. Van Empel couldn't defend her title, finishing second. This marked Brand's second consecutive victory following her win at the Night of Woerden (in the Netherlands).
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The race in Overijse was the second in this year's Superprestige series, following the cyclocross in Ruddervoorde in the Netherlands, where Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado proved the strongest, beating world champion Van Empel and Dutch champion Brand. Van Empel was not yet in top form, making the race in Overijse all the more exciting. Last year, the Visma | Lease a Bike rider had been by far the best.
A lightning-fast start created a significant split just two minutes in. Brand, who won the Night of Woerden earlier this week, had to dismount on a tricky section, losing considerable time on foot. Alvarado was also left behind in the shuffle. Van Empel saw this and pushed hard, with Sara Casasola and Hélène Clauzel able to keep up, while Brand and Alvarado were about five seconds behind by the end of the first lap.
Brand catches up and gets ahead
Halfway through the second lap, Brand managed to catch up with the lead group, while the winner of Saturday's Exact Cross Heerderstrand was still slightly behind but closed the gap before lap three. This left seven riders at the front: Blanka Vas and Inge van der Heijden also joined. The pace slowed momentarily, but not for long — Brand launched a strong attack, immediately creating a gap that only Casasola could follow. Van Empel and Alvarado initially couldn’t keep up, giving them work to do.
On the uphill sections, Brand was by far the strongest. She struck a gap at the start of each lap. In the fourth lap, she shook off her Italian competitor and continued solo. Van Empel rejoined the second-placed rider but couldn’t get closer to Brand. With two laps to go, Brand had an eleven-second lead on the pair, with Alvarado, who had swapped bikes, trailing by 34 seconds. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until the leader had a minor fall in a slow corner.
Although Brand didn’t lose much time due to the fall, her chasers closed the gap slightly. In the final lap, the world champion shed her fellow pursuer, setting up an exciting two-way battle. Van Empel did everything she could to reel Brand back in, coming a bit closer, but the veteran was too resilient and held off her approaching rival. In the final stretch, Brand extended her lead again as Van Empel cracked, securing her second consecutive victory. Van Empel finished second, ahead of Casasola.
Results Superprestige Overijse 2024, women's edition
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- The decline in viewership should't surprise anyone; people spend their time and money to see headliners, not understudies. It might have been different if Tadej hadn't entered the race and shown his complete dominence. But once he did, and then crashed out, the remainder of the race, for many people, including myself, became anticlimatic. Crowning a Pretender while the King is recuperating, won't fool or satisfy anyone, except, perhaps, the riders who will stand on the podium and the various Jersey winners. For the rest of us, 'It's wait until next year."rjb09-09-2026
- - Love the 2027 UK Grand Départ shout. Edinburgh opener + Visma classics unit sounds spicy. But the article kind of undersells how rare 4 wins on debut is — that’s Gaviria-level company. Give the lad a chance at least on a transitional Tour stage, no?gearguru3309-09-2026
- - Wait, so why didn’t Kooij ever get a Tour shot if he was that fast? Is it really just because of Vingegaard vs. Pogačar GC priorities? Seems wild a team wouldn’t try for both green and yellow at least once.sprocketspiny09-09-2026
- - Slightly harsh to say he “lacks the speed.” His jump’s been electric this Vuelta, and he’s holding shape deep into week three. If Visma bring Wout + Laporte as engines, Brennan can surf wheels in the Tour. Question is: will Visma sacrifice even 5% GC control for a sprint train?cyclechamp4509-09-2026
- - Brennan’s Vuelta has been phenomenal — four stage wins on debut is no joke. But I’m with Knetemann: Tour sprinting is a different beast. Leadout depth, positioning against Philipsen/Jakobsen/Girmay… big step up. Still, his top-end looks better than people think.cadencekingm09-09-2026
- - Small nit: you list Paul Seixas as a top favorite—do you mean someone else? Remco yes, Van Aert yes, Pidcock scary with MTB punch, and MVDP is… well, MVDP. But I need clarity on Seixas, por favor.davidm08-09-2026
- - That rib quote going viral might’ve helped him—took pressure off and he just raced instinctive. Give him a leash Sunday and he could solo from 3–4km if the favourites cage each other. Vamos Kevin! (y también, mucha fuerza para Pogacar)sprocketspiny08-09-2026
- - Tough break for Tadej. But saying it’s the USA’s “best shot since Lance in ’93” feels a bit much—what about Kuss-level depth vibes post-Vuelta last year? Still, love the plan to get ahead of the race. Execution will be everything on those Montréal laps.jennifer1908-09-2026
- - Wait, is the Worlds road race really in Montréal on September 27? Thought the Worlds usually rotate continents and are in October some years. Also, no race radios—how do they actually coordinate attacks then?pedalpowe2908-09-2026
- - Brilliant read. Vermaerke’s engine has been humming since those late Vuelta breakaways—Stage 13/14 moves weren’t flukes. If McNulty brings Montréal legs and Jorgenson/Powless mark the big three (Remco/Del Toro/Seixas), the US can play the numbers late.cadencekingm08-09-2026
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