Former world champion Lucinda Brand left to rue bad start in World Cup Antwerpen: "I couldn't close the gap"
Cyclocross
Lucinda Brand secured second place in the first World Cup
race of the season in Antwerp but admitted that victory was never within reach.
The Dutch champion struggled after a poor start at the World Cup Antwerpen, which forced her to chase from
the beginning, and she could never really get on terms with Fem van Empel who
look very strong throughout.
Fem van Empel and Lucinda Brand once again occupied the top
two spots on the Antwerp World Cup podium, just as they had the previous year.
However, Brand noted a key difference this time around. “It was just a slightly
different fight this year,” she told Wielerflits after the race. “She already
had a gap from the start.”
Brand acknowledged that the short start and her diminished
explosiveness meant she was unable to challenge for the win. “Once I could ride
my own lines, I couldn't close the gap anymore,” she explained. “It was a short
start, and my explosiveness is not what it used to be. Then you have to find
your moments, and that didn’t work out fast enough, which is a shame.”
Despite the challenging beginning, Brand managed to climb
through the field to finish in second place, keeping the gap to Van Empel
within a manageable range. When asked if she felt as strong as the world
champion during the race, Brand speculated, “Without my poor start, we would
have seen a duel for sure, but I don’t know how far into the race.”
Although unable to bridge the gap, Brand recognised Van
Empel's strength on the day. “At the moment that we could both ride our lines,
I didn’t get any closer. That does show that Fem was at least as strong today
or maybe even a little bit stronger,” she admitted. “I am generally satisfied
with my race.”
The Dutch rider will now look to build on this performance
as the season progresses, aiming for more consistency in her starts to
challenge for victories.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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