"It was very difficult as this was my first double weekend" - Lucinda Brand reflects on third podium result in a row

Lucinda Brand finished in third place on Sunday for the third cross in a row. In the Troyes World Cup she had to let go of Puck Pieterse and winner Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, the duo that rode away from everyone quite early in the race.

"It was very difficult as this was my first double weekend," said Brand, who returned to the field last weekend and rode just one cyclocross, in a quick interview afterwards.

"The start in particular was very difficult for me. I do not know what happened. I didn't feel like I was exploding, but I couldn't pedal any faster either. Everyone passed me. I just had to get into the rhythm, but once I did, I was fine."

Did the tire choice also have an influence? Puck Pieterse already indicated that she went from a heavier profile to a lighter profile during the cross. "As far as I know, everyone started with the same tires," said Brand. "It might have been possible to start with different tires, but I was a bit scared on the first lap. However, I soon knew that I could continue on the other setup."