“Brand always wants the best everywhere” – High praise for Lucinda Brand this winter from Michel Wuyts
Cyclocross
Cycling analyst Michel Wuyts has used his column for HLN to reflect on the incredible performances of Lucinda Brand this cyclocross season. The Dutch rider has dominated the X2O Trofee and the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, while maintaining a narrow lead in the Superprestige series over Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado.
"Lucinda is miles ahead of the rest in the X2O and the World Cup. In the Superprestige she beats Alvarado by a mere point. Luxury," wrote Wuyts. Despite her dominance, Wuyts observed that Brand wasn’t entirely satisfied with her performance during the New Year’s Day race.
"And yet Lucinda was disappointed on New Year's Day. Brand always wants the best everywhere. Lucinda is a cream of an athlete."
Wuyts highlighted the toll that a demanding schedule has taken on the riders, including Brand, after a challenging stretch of races. "A post, said one, a little ailment, complained the other. It goes without saying that at the end of a hellish ten-day decline it is logical. Even more true is that saturation begs for rest. Cancelling one or two races and focusing on what is still interesting for the individual, that's what it's all about. Crossing à la carte, that's right."
However, the analyst also raised the question of whether Brand's packed schedule could leave her more fatigued than her competitors when the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships take place in February. Drawing on historical context, Wuyts explained how this dynamic has long played out in the sport.
"That's nothing new. Sven Nys can tell you for hours about 'everyone sick in Baal'. Where he had to perform at a high level sixteen times as a god in the Hageland, Vervecken, Wellens, Albert and Vantornout often just lazed around and later sawed the legs off Sven's chair at championships, especially World Championships. Names change, behaviour hardly."
But the real question is whether Brand, or anyone else, can get close to Fem van Empel this winter. Brand has been world champion before, but can she reclaim the rainbow jersey in 2025?
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- Pathetic trolls spending all their time attacking commentors instead of stating facts. Just like the Army of Armstrong Trolls did 20 years ago.Sweep07-01-2025
- Nothing you said is true. Nothing. Froome tested positive at twice the limit. His team doctor got banned. They trafficked in steroids Those are all FACTS! Deflecting away to other issues doesn't work with me.Sweep06-01-2025
- He is not anti-doping. He is pro-whining. He is more than happy to cheer for the dopers he likes and believe in the miracles he likes.
MarkFour06-01-2025 - Froome was tested according to the rules of his sport, the same as everyone else, and sanctioned for his confirmed violations. All sports run on PEDs. Cycling is probably the cleanest, and likely the fairest. A child can be excused for not having figured this out, but an old man still whining about gear in sport is someone who not only never succeeded at anything, but someone who made excuses at every turn for not even competing. At least David Walsh sold his integrity to the high bidder in the Team Sky coverup. You don't have any to sell. You pretend to be against PEDs, but you cheer for the guy who introduced EPO to the sport, and you seem to be pro-heroin. It's not like you have any rational objective. The results of an entire generation of cyclists were wiped from the books, and yet you still cry about it every day. Because that is who you are: a tiny internet troll who cries because he never achieved nor risked anything.MarkFour06-01-2025
- All been done before. I have read article after article. Not one actually lists anything new. Carbo Loading has been around since the 1980s. I remember it during MTB racing.Sweep06-01-2025
- Froome has found a genuine way to race slow .. no further gears restrictions needed for him. And speaking about safety - this overnight packfodder to GT winner should start with holding the tt bars while descending with both hands. What a clown!!
UltimateOpportunist06-01-2025 - Nice, yeah, if you’re around a 6-7% gradient when they attack you’re not going to see much, it’s not for nothing the steepest sections are so crowded. If on TV you see an overweight fan running along for more than 30m you know they’re nowhere near that speed there;-)Mistermaumau06-01-2025
- Merry Crossmas to you tooMistermaumau06-01-2025
- I respect his anti-doping stance but in trying to rehash everything he’s no longer looking at the changes. It’ not just one or two riders who suddenly improved, the whole peleton has gone through an upgrade. For sure there are still cheaters, may e even amongst the very best but a large part of the improvement is generic and explainable. Even racing itself has changed. There is progress in EVERY sport, constantly, why would cycling be the odd one out?Mistermaumau06-01-2025
- Don’t doubt your cynical side ;-) It’s hardly likely to be true either and he is hardly in a position to judge for others who is best this or that. If he’d just said, he was always good to ME that would have been more truthful and then everyone could draw their own conclusion, now he’s basically shot himself in the foot for nothing (as far as we know).Mistermaumau06-01-2025