Lucinda Brand officially out of European Championships - "80% recovery is not enough"

Lucinda Brand had been provisionally selected to participate in the upcoming cyclocross European Championships, in an attempt to return to competition. However she will have to wait further, as it is not possible to yet safely race.

Brand sustained a fracture in her right hand when doing a recon of the course in the Tabor World Cup course, which has derailed part of her season. It will no longer be possible for her to contest for the win in any of the cups, and her presence in the European Championships is now also out of questions.

"Unfortunately I cannot defend my European title in Namur on Saturday," the current European Champion said in a message. "The recovery of my right hand is going very well. In a road race I could certainly start. But for cross and Namur in particular, technical skills and control are so important that I have to conclude that 80% recovery is not enough to go for the win on Saturday. Over the next week I will continue to focus on my recovery and training to take the last step towards a race comeback."

Fem van Empel, Marianne Vos, Denise Betsema, Annemarie Worst, Inge van der Heijden and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado will all be amongst the starters for the women's Elite race, and the title is almost certainly to be taken between one of the Dutch riders.