Brand outshines in Diegem: "They often know how to beat me, but today I prevailed"
Cyclo-crossMonday, 30 December 2024 at 21:16
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Follow us on GoogleLucinda Brand won the evening cross in Diegem. Under the artificial light, she overpowered her closest rival, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, and secured victory in the sixth Superprestigecross of the season. With that, she guarantees that the Superprestige classification remains extremely exciting.
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"Yes, I am very happy. This is why you participate," Brand said in the flash interview. "This is what the race is all about. It was tough. Alvarado always knows how to lock onto the wheel and can save energy and make up time in certain passages. I felt a little stronger, but of course, you have to be able to show that."
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Brand creates gap to Alvarado with very smart move
The Baloise Trek Lions rider ultimately did that with flying colors. She created a gap to Alvarado of almost half a minute in two laps. The 35-year-old Dutch champion did not win in the sandbox. "It may not have been my best passage today, but it was enough. But it's a tricky section, also what choice you make; you can just pull through, but whether that's faster than running is questionable," Brand said.
That was true because as much as they both tried to make a difference there, they couldn't. Brand well judged the ultimately decisive moment. "At that moment, when Alvarado did the bike change, I knew: now I had to take chances to finish the race on this bike and make the gap so she wouldn't be able to come back to me. After putting extra power on the pedals a few times, she could not follow anymore."
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Battle for the Superprestige classification remains exciting
Brand is relieved and happy with her victory. Alvarado, however, finished second, so the battle for the Superprestige classification remains extremely exciting. The difference between the two ladies is only one point. "It is a classification with small differences, so it remains exciting until the end." After all, only two more cyclo-cross races are scheduled.
Brand ended the interview with some relief. Although she already managed to win five times this year, she often just came second or third. "They often know how to beat me, but today I prevailed."
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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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