"I can look back with great satisfaction" - Lucinda Brand reflects on successful winter after victory at Exact Cross Sint-Niklaas
Cyclocross
For the sixth time this campaign, Lucinda Brand was able to celebrate victory on Saturday afternoon at Exact Cross Sint-Niklaas.
The Dutchwoman of Baloise - Trek Lions was utterly dominant, leading solo throughout the race. “Certainly in the first half of the cross, I just rode very hard to create as big a gap as possible,” said Brand afterwards. “If the gap is that big, you can see where you do and don't ride fast. But at the end you saw a few minor flaws. This happens because the concentration decreases slightly. That put me on edge again to just keep riding.”
In the end, Brand was the best part of a minute clear of her nearest rival, Laura Verdonschot. “If the pursuers remain at the same distance for a long time, you have to think about whether you should continue alone. It is difficult to ride through here alone if the cooperation behind you is good," she continues. "But apparently I was a lot stronger, or they looked at each other a lot. I do not know. But at least we managed to keep moving forward on our own.”
With the season nearing its conclusion, Brand also took time to reflect on a very successful year. “There are still two nice crosses to come, but I can look back with great satisfaction,” Brand concludes. “Every victory is nice. There were a lot more than last year, so I'm very happy with that.”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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De principio a fin ⚡ Lucinda Brand gana en Sint-Niklaas y suma su sexta victoria de la temporada sin oposición 🥈 Verdonschot 🥉 Worst #ExactCross
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