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Follow us on GoogleThe fact that Fem van Empel won the New Year's cross in Baal and that Lucinda Brand finished second was no surprise to anyone. But the fact that 18-year-old Ava Holmgren of Lidl-Trek claimed the third spot on the podium was an even greater (positive) surprise. The friendly, cheerful lady also introduced herself to IDLProCycling.com after the race.
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There were three Dutch ladies in the top ten in Baal, but also three women from Canada. Ava, who is 18 years old, her twin sister Isabella finished ninth, and the just 16-year-old (!!!) Rafaella Carrier, as a first-year junior, impressively secured the tenth place. A wave of talent is washing ashore from across the Atlantic Ocean.
Now, the Holmgren sisters are of course not new: last year, the two already occupied the podium at the Junior World Championships in Hoogerheide, where Isabelle finished ahead of Ava. But now, in Baal, Ava was the first of the two to reach the podium in a real cyclo-cross race at the highest level, behind world-class cyclists Van Empel and Brand.
She seemed to hardly believe it all afterward, but one thing was certain: John de Bever would be jealous, but the smile couldn't be wiped off Holmgren's face. "I totally surprised myself, I still can't believe it," she said in disbelief. "I'm only 18 years old and riding my first race for Lidl-Trek, so this was a warm welcome in my new jersey," she concluded contentedly.
She didn't really seem to realize it all afterwards, but one thing was for sure: Holmgren's face was beaming with a big smile. ''I totally surprised myself, I actually still can't believe it,'' she spoke in disbelief. ''I'm only 18 and riding my first race here for Lidl-Trek, so this was kind of a warm welcome in my new jersey,'' she noted with satisfaction.
Brand and Holmgren speak highly of each other
Brand, who finished second and also rides for Lidl-Trek on the road, expressed her pride in Holmgren. "She's a teammate, and she's performing exceptionally well. She made a mark last year alongside her sister, and it's fantastic that she's already achieving podium finishes here," the New Year's cross runner-up in Baal commented.
Brand added a lighthearted note, "In the team, we're joking that we're the grandmas. There's always a new group of 18-year-olds ready to challenge us. But that's what keeps us on our toes," said the fiercely competitive cyclist from Dordrecht. Holmgren reciprocated with her own words of admiration. "We're fortunate to have role models like Lucinda to look up to, which certainly boosts us. She's a trailblazer."
While Holmgren's future trajectory in the sport remains to be seen, the emergence of young Canadian talent like her is likely a positive sign for the international growth of cyclo-cross racing, a development that would be welcomed at the UCI's headquarters in Aigle. "Cyclo-cross may not be as widespread as mountain biking, but I'm eager to elevate its profile in Canada. I hope to inspire people, regardless of their age, to embrace cycling," Holmgren explained.
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
- Fair enough if he skips cross this winter. With a newborn on the way, there’s no need to rush back into racing.davidm15-11-2026
- Is “Ovett” Mathieu’s friend who joined him on the training rides? The article mentions him a few times, but I’m not familiar with the name.sprocketspiny15-11-2026
- Eight world titles and now a new chapter off the bike. Hope everything goes smoothly for them!raceready715-11-2026
- Huge news for the world champion. With the baby due in January, I can see why Mathieu’s cyclocross plans are still up in the air—family comes first.jennifer1915-11-2026
- Congratulations to Mathieu and Roxanne! A Costa Blanca proposal after all those training miles sounds pretty special.michael5415-11-2026
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026