Lucinda Brand beats Fem Van Empel to take victory in Exact Cross Meulebeke

Lucinda Brand has won the Exact Cross Meulebeke. She beat Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal duo Fem Van Empel and Denise Betsema to secure the victory.

Van Empel had a nice start, soon, Ceylon del Carmen Alvarado joined her, and both of them created a gap with the rest of the pack. But Brand was not going to let them get away easily, she trailed them with a three seconds delay. Brand was riding with Inge van der Heijden, Aniek van Alphen and Denise Betsema.

Brand increased the pace and only Van Empel could follow her in the fourth lap but soon Van der Heijden, Alvarado and Betsema joined them. Van Empel once again got a chance to take lead in the sandy stretch. Brand struggled here a bit while Empel was busy creating a gap.

But Brand made comeback in the later laps and reduced the gap to only 10 seconds. Betsema followed soon. The race entered the final lap and it was sprint between Brand and Van Empel which decided the winner. Brand came out on top while Van Empel got the silver. Betsema took the bronze.