Former world champion reacts to Koppenbergcross second place: "I couldn't find my rhythm"

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.