Brand was the strongest, but had some luck with Van Empel's misfortune: "Had to take advantage of it"
Cyclocross
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Follow us on GoogleNot Fem van Empel, but Lucinda Brand was victorious in the World Cup cyclo-cross race in Dublin. The Dutch champion was by far the best and crossed the line solo. Afterward, she was delighted with her performance, although she also saw that she was a bit lucky with the misfortune of the world champion.
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In the flash interview, Brand smiled at the camera after her fine victory. "It's a big one, so I'm delighted," she said. "I felt great. At the beginning of the first lap, I felt slightly stuck. But I noticed I had good legs after I could ride to the front very fast, but it was still tough. Fem, of course, had a flat tire. I know it's not the nicest way, but I knew I had to take advantage of it. People were struggling quite a bit with the pace, but Fem returned. Then she made a mistake and lost time again. At that point, I was the strongest, I think."
In Antwerp, she suffered a defeat against Van Empel, but that gave her courage. "The last week, I also felt strong. During that race, the gap also stayed a bit the same with Fem. I looked forward to not losing time in the first lap and competing with her. I'm pleased that I was able to turn the tide. Maybe it will be the other way around next time, but for now, I'm pleased."
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Brand was also the strongest in Overijse, Belgium this year.
Ties play big role: "Knew I could gamble"
Was the choice of tires crucial? Compared to her closest competitor, Brand had much more grip. "So maybe yes. It's a tough lap. But I had a good feeling and knew that I could gamble if I was a little more cautious in the turns, and with the wind and sun making it drier." The new World Cup leader can extend her lead in Italy next week, where Van Empel will not be present. "Ooh, that is true. It's nice, but we'll see in January. There are still a lot of tough races ahead, of course. The points I pick up there are a nice bonus for me."
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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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- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026


