Lucinda Brand expects winning cyclocross races to become increasingly difficult from now on
Cyclocross
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Follow us on GoogleThe Bollekescross in Hamme-Zogge wasn’t the ideal race for Lucinda Brand—that much was clear. The world champion from Baloise - Het Poetsbureau Lions fought a fierce battle with Sara Casasola, but ultimately managed to come out on top. Still, she knows the Italian is going to give her a very tough time in the coming weeks.
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Brand was completely exhausted after the blisteringly fast Bollekescross, where she pedaled hard through the final lap in an attempt to break Casasola.
“These are the toughest laps for me,” she panted during the flash interview. She was also still feeling some pain in her hip, but not enough to keep her from winning.
Read more below the video.
The world champion knew above all that she had to shake off Casasola. “I saw that Sara had a really bad start, and I know she’s in great shape, especially on circuits like this. I knew I had to put pressure on her. I saw her closing in, but I thought: the longer this takes, the harder it’ll be for her. I made it a tough race for myself.”- Lucinda Brand
But the Italian champion made up a half-minute deficit and still managed to contend for the win.
“Then you have to figure out where your strengths lie. I knew it would be a tough day with her in the race,” says Brand. “At first, I thought I’d have to cross the finish line in second place, but the race always turns out differently than you expect.”
Read more below the video!
Lucinda Brand returned from a foot injury to win at Merksplas
Brand on Casasola: 'She'll be a very tough opponent'
With Casasola in the mix, she really didn’t want to sprint against the fast rider from Crelan-Corendon, but that was hard to avoid.
“In principle, Sara is better than me, but it’s a long sprint, so that works in my favor. Luckily, I was able to get a small gap on her.” The exhausted Casasola didn’t concede defeat until the very last meters.
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Brand claimed her seventh victory of the year, but it was by no means easy. After Marie Schreiber was her biggest rival in the first part of the season, Casasola is now her next challenger.
“She’s been battling health issues, but she’s already shown on the road that when she’s healthy, she’ll be a very tough opponent.”
“She’s been battling health issues, but she’s already shown on the road that when she’s healthy, she’ll be a very tough opponent.”
But it wasn’t just the Italian who was on her game. Amandine Fouquenet, Manon Bakker, and Denise Betsema also kept up. Brand knows that the gap has closed a bit. “Every victory is great, but it’s getting harder and harder to win. The field is much tighter than last year, so these victories are especially sweet.”
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- - 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
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026
