Lucinda Brand reacts to European Championship battle with Van Empel and Alvarado: “Fighting against two very explosive ladies”

Lucinda Brand, the 35-year-old Dutch cyclist and former world and European cyclocross champion, put forth a strong showing at this year’s European Championships. However, on Saturday, she had to concede to the fierce competition from Fem van Empel and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, who ultimately finished ahead of her.

Reflecting on the race, Brand acknowledged the challenging dynamics of the course. “It went as expected,” she told NOS. “That you can cycle very fast on this lap, but you are still together. It was not because of the small mistakes.

“Of course it was better not to make them, but sometimes it did create something. Making a difference was possible here if you are much, much better than the others. But above all it was very difficult.”

From the start, Brand felt she was holding her own but was cautious of the explosive power of her rivals. “In the beginning I was in control, but I didn’t know if it was going to go my way, because you’re fighting against two very explosive ladies. It’s very difficult to win the battle for a corner, but you never know. I was in a good position.”

Despite the result, Brand remains optimistic about her performance and condition. “I feel good, I ride well and things are going easy. I felt completely recovered after the Koppenbergcross, so that says enough I think,” she noted.

“The coming weeks look like standard cross weekends with a double program for me. Then it will be busy again, that's fun! Sitting at home on the couch is also not fun,” she added.

For Brand, the European Championships may not have yielded the victory she hoped for, but her form and focus signal that she remains a formidable contender in the cyclocross circuit as she takes on the upcoming races.