Telenet-Baloise riders Brand and Aerts placed on Koksijde cyclocross podiums
Telenet-Baloise rider Lucinda Brand gritted her way through a sandy Koksijde World Cup cyclocross course in Belgium on Sunday and clinched second place.
Brand traded the lead position back and forth with fellow Dutch rider Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and ultimately crossed the finish six seconds behind Alvarado.
Lucinda Brand BELGA PHOTO by David Stockman
“I had to go very deep today, but I am very happy with this result,” Brand said. “Especially if you compare with my performance here in recent years, this is a huge step forward. Moreover, I am still looking for the right rhythm, after all it is still but my third cross of the season. ”
Riders battled steep and deep dunes on Belgium’s sandy North Sea coast.
Toon Aerts battles onto podium
Toon Aerts BELGA PHOTO by David Stockman
In the men’s race, Telenet-Baloise’s Toon Aerts took third place.
“I felt good today. After a somewhat low period I am happy to be on the podium again,” Aerts said. “With this third place I also improved in the World Cup ranking. Next I am going on a two-week training camp to Spain, but I will return for the DVV Cross in Kortrijk.”
Telenet-Baloise men performed well overall taking four of the top six spots.
Toon Aerts (left) and Quinten Hermans BELGA PHOTO by David Stockman
In the junior race, Trek rider Thibau Nys captured first place in a close race where all five top riders crossed the line within three seconds.
The next cyclocross World Cup competition takes place in Namur, Belgium on December 22.
