Lucinda Brand wins the Superprestige Merksplas cyclocross just three days after foot injury
Cyclocross
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Follow us on GoogleLucinda Brand immediately claimed another victory upon her quick return to cyclocross. The world champion was the strongest rider in Merksplas after eight explosive laps on a fast course. Inge van der Heijden finished second, and Sara Casasola third.
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Read more below the photo.
Lucinda Brand abandoned the race in Niel on Wednesday
Brand was a question mark for Merksplas cyclocross
With Brand at the starting line, the biggest question of the day had essentially already been answered. The world champion had to pull out early in the race in Niel midweek due to what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.
Fortunately, the injury wasn’t as bad as it seemed, and she was able to compete in Merksplas.
Under sunny and freezing conditions, Fem van Empel got off to the best start, but after a few laps it became clear that it would be difficult to really pull ahead. One rider was slightly better on the beams and uphill, while another was a bit faster through the sand pit.
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As a result, it turned into a disguised elimination race, with Brand spending much of the race behind the wheel. Italian champion Casasola proved to be strong and versatile, while Van Empel and Inge van der Heijden, among others, looked strong but made more mistakes.
That meant Brand had to keep pushing hard lap after lap, mainly because Casasola refused to let up. In the final lap, she had not only the Italian but also Van der Heijden on her tail, and in the very final moments, Casasola even dared to take the lead and accelerate.
As a result, Leonie Bentveld and Aniek van Alphen were unable to catch up in the battle for the podium, and everything came down to the final stretch through the sand pit. There, at the decisive moment, Brand once again powered through brilliantly, breaking away from Casasola and Van der Heijden.
Results of the 2026 Superprestige Aardbeiencross Merksplas, Elite Women
1. Lucinda Brand
2. Inge van der Heijden
3. Sara Casasola
4. Aniek van Alphen
5. Leonie Bentveld
2. Inge van der Heijden
3. Sara Casasola
4. Aniek van Alphen
5. Leonie Bentveld
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
