Results World Cup Antwerp | Lucinda Brand wins women's race over Alvarado and takes over World Cup lead

Lucinda Brand of Baloise Glowi Lions has won the World Cup Antwerp race, taking over the lead of the cyclocross once again after a thrilling battle with Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado in the sand course that was only decided in the very final meters of the race.

The race started off with Inge van der Heijden and Aniek van Alphen taking the lead, quickly taking gaps in the technical sections and sand sectors, however the race stabilized into lap 2 as Lucinda Brand and several other riders closed down the gap.

Puck Pieterse then launched her own attack, but Brand would not let go of the head of the race, eventually forming a trio with Alvarado - with the two Fenix-Deceuninck riders attacking turns. Brand would also attack but Alvarado followed and the gaps would then close again. On lap 5 Brand would make another strong move however followed by Alvarado, which meant the duo would go into the final lap battling for victory.

But in the final lap, on the third attempt, Brand managed to attack her compatriot in a steep uphill ramp, but after a few minutes, once again, Alvarado closed it. It was a race where both went to the absolute limit and the two went virtually together into the final straight, but with Brand taking the win. With this, she also moved into the lead of the World Cup, even though Aniek van Alphen rode to third place in the race and defended herself well. Later this afternoon, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert will headline the men's race.