Brand completes the double in Benidorm: victory and overall win

Lucinda Brand was able to celebrate victory for the eighth time this season in the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Benidorm. The Dutch rider prevailed ahead of Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Amandine Fouquenet. Thanks to her latest win and a fourteenth-place finish by Aniek van Alphen, Brand has secured her fourth overall World Cup title, setting a new record.

It was Amandine Fouquenet (Pauwels Sauzen – Altez Industriebouw CT) who got off the line fastest under a bright sun in Benidorm. The French rider immediately forced a selection in the opening lap. In lap two, she was replaced at the front by Lucinda Brand (Baloise Verzekeringen – Het Poetsbureau Lions). The World Cup leader increased the pace and formed a leading group of four, also including Celia Gery (AS Bike Racing – France Literie), Kata Blanka Vas (Team SD Worx – Protime) and Fouquenet.

At the start of the third lap, a trio bridged to the front: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Premier Tech), Shirin van Anrooij (Baloise Verzekeringen – Het Poetsbureau Lions) and Kristyna Zemanova (VIF Cycling Team).

Brand rode conservatively during the first half of the race but reclaimed the lead in the fourth lap. She turned up the pressure on the uphill sections. Fouquenet and Gery were initially able to follow, but a few minutes later Brand had launched a solo move.

Starting the final lap, Brand defended a 19-second advantage over the French duo and Alvarado. In Benidorm, the World Cup leader claimed her eighth World Cup victory of the season and, thanks to Aniek van Alphen’s fourteenth-place finish (777 Racing), secured her fourth overall World Cup title. In doing so, she also became the new record holder.

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado finished second. In the battle for third place, Fouquenet beat Gery.