Lucinda Brand, the 35-year-old Dutch cyclocross champion and
former world champion from 2021, had to settle for second place at the
Koppenbergcross on Friday. The race saw Brand in close contention with Fem van
Empel, who ultimately clinched victory by leveraging her skills on the
descents.
Reflecting on the race, Brand noted some strategic
adjustments she wished she had made sooner. "In hindsight, I should have
changed earlier," she admitted in an interview with Wielerflits. While she
battled hard, Brand was left with mixed emotions about her performance.
"I'm standing here with mixed feelings. I don't think I was able to get
the most out of it physically. I couldn't find my rhythm today," she said,
acknowledging the challenge she faced with the technical aspects of the course.
Eventually conceding a half-minute gap, Brand reflected on
the physical and tactical demands she encountered. "Physically I shouldn't
have let go, but I had trouble with the course. It was really a search,"
she admitted, underscoring the difficult adjustments she made throughout the
race. Under the guidance of her team manager, Sven Nys, Brand opted to change
her gear mid-race. “In hindsight, I should have changed gear earlier. But
that's the way it is now," she reflected.
Looking ahead, Brand is now focused on recovery and gearing
up for the next stage of her season. "Now it's time to recover well and
make the trip to Spain,” she concluded, setting her sights on future challenges
with renewed determination.
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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