"It really felt like I wasn't participating in the race" - Lucinda Brand on current inability to fight for wins
Cyclocross
In no way has Lucinda Brand been taken out of contention for the top spots in cyclocross since her return from injury, however being away from the fight for the win has been an unusual feeling for the Dutch rider who is having very hard competition from the emerging generation.
“I shot over my pedal. That was not such a good start. After that I had to go around the outside, but then a number of riders fell. I was really in trouble because of that," Brand said in an interview with Wielerflits after this Sunday's race in Overijse. After finishing 7th in Beekse Bergen and 4th the day before at the Superprestige Merksplas, Brand confirmed to still have some form following her break due to injury.
Brand suffered a hand fracture whilst doing a recon of the Tabor course in late October. Her ambitions in the cups were gone with almost a month out of racing, but as she returned new goals will come to mind. Brand has had an unlucky start to the muddy and treacherous race in Overijse, however despite finishing a promising fourth place, she wishes for more.
“I thought for a moment that I should have pedaled a bit more to the acidification uphill. In the end the riders really come to a standstill for me and I finish fourth. I should be happy with that. This weekend was really much better. Last week I was really not feeling well," she continued. Brand, who won all cups, the European Championships and dominated last season, now finds herself distant from a dominating position.
Although she won the early season Berencross, the likes of Fem van Empel, Puck Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij are currently a level above the rest. “It really felt like I wasn't participating in the race, I was cycling in no man's land all the time," Brand said of her feeling during the Overijse race. "I knew it was going to be difficult, but if you don't play a significant role at all, it's very weird and difficult."
However, she is considered to be fully recovered, a month after her injury. “I was able to train a bit, but it was different," she described. "I trained much less long, had to cycle a lot indoors and couldn't do cross training. That's all very different. I was able to complete good training sessions, which I normally will benefit from within a few weeks. At least, I hope so." Now, she will look to build her best form back and chase big wins.
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.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
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)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
- the time for a GC rider to retire is when they cannot win stages, or have a significant level drop like from winner/podium into top 5/10 consistently. Roglic is still competitive and Froome raced even though he became pack fodder.abstractengineer10-11-2026
- He should be in a different team. It was detrimental. For them it does not matter if he does not develop. He should have gone to a team where they need him to succeed.abstractengineer10-11-2026
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A very tough and technical ride today in Overijse. Lars van der Haar made it to the podium again in 3th place. 💪 Shirin van Anrooij got bronze as well. Again 4th for Lucinda Brand. Joris Nieuwenhuis and Thibau Nys sprinted for 5 & 6.
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