Lucinda Brand wins Belgian DVV cyclocross competition
Telenet-Baloise rider Lucinda Brand lifted her arms in victory after pulling ahead of her competitor in the final meters of the DVV cyclocross competition in Kortrijk, Belgium on Saturday.
Her Dutch compatriot Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado lost the sprint to Brand after a competitive ride. The win is Brand’s second podium topper as an elite women’s cyclocross rider. She captured her first victory in November at Jaarmarktcross.
BELGA PHOTO by David Stockman
The riders curved around the pavement-heavy Kortrijk course, passing over College Bridge and crossing the Leie River numerous times. The inland competition, just seven miles northeast of the French border, gave riders a break from the deeply sandy conditions they often battle on the Belgian coast.
“There were some road sections in the circuit, so that played in my favor,” said Brand. “I also competed tactically well in the race. That gave me confidence for the sprint with Ceylin. I hope to continue my form next week. The next two weeks I will go to a training camp and then I will return to the Druivencross in Overijse.”
BELGA PHOTO by David Stockman
Toon Aerts climbs podium for Telenet-Baloise men
Telenet-Baloise men also saw the podium with Toon Aerts snagging third place. Teammate Corne Van Kessel finished fourth and in total Telenet-Balois riders filled out four of the top ten places.
“I crashed at the start and that threw off my plans,” said Aerts. “I never thought I’d get in the front of the race. But teammates Jim [Aernouts] and Nicolas [Cleppe] did fantastic work in the pursuit and led me forward again.”
