Results Koppenbergcross Women's 2025 | Lucinda Brand conquers as rising star Célia Gery shines in superb second place
Cyclocross
Lucinda Brand conquered the Koppenberg at long last, claiming her first ever victory on the iconic climb after taming treacherous mud, cobbles and a spirited challenge from French sensation Célia Gery. The Baloise Trek leader finally cracked the 19-year-old in the closing laps to secure a hard-earned win in Round 1 of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, delivering a powerful statement in one of cyclocross’ purest tests of climbing and grit.
The race exploded immediately on the first ascent, but the biggest drama arrived within minutes as world champion Fem van Empel shockingly stepped off the bike less than a lap in — shaking her head in the pits and ending her day abruptly.
Brand pushed on unfazed, duelling early with Sara Casasola and Anais Fouquenet before the conditions tightened their grip. A slick off-camber saw Casasola slide out, and soon Brand’s only company was Gery, who produced a breakout performance worthy of her growing reputation.
The teenager clung to the Dutchwoman on every brutal ramp, recovering superbly from a brief slip to remount and continue the fight. Brand chipped time away methodically, attacking each cobbled stretch and drag with trademark precision. Lap on lap, she eased the elastic, finally forcing Gery into the red when the course kicked skyward again.
Read also
Behind, Casasola distanced Clauzel in the battle for third, while Belgian champion Marion Norbert Riberolle endured a nightmare first lap and could only salvage places rather than contention.
Gery rallied in the final circuit — at one point halving the gap with a daring line on a slick slope — but Brand remained flawless. One final bike change in the pits confirmed her control, and she powered over the cobbles to win with eight seconds in hand. Gery followed for a magnificent runner-up finish, a breakout ride that positions her firmly among the sport’s brightest futures.
A first Koppenbergcross title for Brand, and a new star announced on the toughest hill in cyclocross.
Read also
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment