Lucinda Brand takes 50th elite cyclocross victory with faultless performance in Dublin, Alvarado and Backstedt complete podium

On a cold and damp day in Dublin, Lucinda Brand has emerged victorious at the latest round of UCI World Cup action after a fabulous performance, taking her 50th elite win in the process.

With the heavens opening just prior to the start of the race, the conditions were wet and somewhat miserable. Lucinda Brand and Marie Schreiber were the fastest starters in the early stage, with the former world champion a narrow leader at the end of the first lap. But as Schreiber began to drop back, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Zoe Backstedt began to emerge as the leading challengers to Brand.

By the end of lap 3, Brand had extended her advantage to 12 seconds over Alvarado and was beginning to look comfortable. When Alvarado then caught her bars in the netting at the side of the course, Brand was able to stretch even further clear.

With two laps to go, the Baloise - Trek Lions star's lead was up to 20 seconds over Alvarado, with Backstedt 34 seconds back.

From there, Brand was simply uncatchable and although Alvarado kept battling and reaffirmed her second position, she could not reel in her fellow Dutchwoman. In the battle for third, Backstedt managed to hold off Schreiber and secure another World Cup podium.