"I always have the same mindset. I want to win every race I start in" - In the absence of Fem van Empel and Puck Pieterse, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado the big favourite for Dendermonde
Cyclocross
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado has taken advantage of the absence of Fem van Empel and Puck Pieterse to win in Ruddervoorde and yesterday in Niel. As the two youngsters prepare to latter goals Alvarado looks to take her chance, and is the woman to beat in the Dendermonde World Cup.
“But actually I didn't start in Niel with a different attitude than in the races in which Fem was there. Whether my competitors are there or not, I always have the same mindset. I want to win every race I start in," Alvarado told Wielerflits. “If you are given the role of favorite on such a day, it is always extra nice to win. I also confirm my leading position in the Telenet Superprestige. I even walk a bit. If everything continues to go well and I stay healthy, I definitely want to make the final victory a goal.”
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Alvarado leads the cup which is very much based on consistency. For the time being however she can also hope of a World Cup lead as Dendermonde will not feature the World Champion. Alvarado so far is very keen on those two cups specifically, not focusing on the X20 Badkamers Trofee, and is looking to take as many wins as possible.
“You have to build in a block of training somewhere, it doesn't matter whether it is here or abroad," she acknowledges. "It's a very long cross season and otherwise you won't make it to the end. One rider skips a race here, the other there. To keep up, I also have to slow down a bit somewhere. I don't know about skipping yet, but maybe I will be at the start here and there feeling tired because I've had a hard training week."
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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Not a bad day in @SuperprestigeCX Niel for Alpecin-Deceuninck. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado won the women's race, @NielsVDPutte ended 6th in de men's race. Also youngster @JenteMichels did well with a top 15. Up to @UCIcyclocrossWC Dendermonde tomorrow 👏 #alpecindeceuninck
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