Results Superprestige Merksplas 2025 | Lucinda Brand dominates late to take sixth win of the season

Lucinda Brand continued her commanding start to the winter with another assured display in Merksplas, powering away in the second half of the race to claim her sixth victory of the 2025/26 cyclocross season. The Dutch champion handled every shift in rhythm, every sand section and even an early mechanical with composure — extending a remarkable run that now stands at 49 consecutive podium finishes.

The Dutch contingent again dictated the race, but this was a performance defined by Brand’s ability to absorb pressure before unleashing a controlled and perfectly-timed acceleration. Behind her, Aniek van Alphen and Inge van der Heijden fought out a tense battle for the remaining podium positions, with Van Alphen ultimately holding on.

Leonie Bentveld made her usual fast start, diving into the opening corners ahead of the pack, but Amandine Fouquenet was quick to take over on the early technical sectors. Brand, who had missed the jump off the line, methodically rode her way forward and was already in the leading quartet — alongside Bentveld, Van der Heijden and Fouquenet — by the end of the first lap.

A small scare arrived when Brand was forced into a bike change after suffering a soft rear tyre, but she wasted no time in correcting the situation and quickly regained contact. With the pace repeatedly lifted through the long sand stretch, Fouquenet began to show signs of strain, allowing the three Dutch riders to close down the front.

Mid-race, the tempo briefly stalled as Bentveld eased off, prompting Van Alphen to bridge across and form a leading group of four. Fouquenet, Bakker and Brouwers edged closer during that lull, but Brand chose that very moment to strike. Accelerating immediately after the barriers, she forced a split that rapidly opened into a meaningful gap.

As the chase trio tried to organise themselves, Brand continued to apply pressure. Three seconds became five, and five became double digits as her smooth passage through the sand sections proved decisive. Bentveld was the first to falter, leaving Van Alphen and Van der Heijden to try — unsuccessfully — to contain the growing gap.

Entering the final two laps, Brand led by around 11 seconds, and despite the persistent efforts behind, the pattern of the race was set. Van der Heijden’s small mistake on a greasy sector allowed Van Alphen to go clear in second place, with Bentveld briefly moving up to third.

Brand remained fully focused throughout the last lap and delivered a rapid final circuit to secure victory with authority. Behind, Van Alphen resisted a late push from Van der Heijden, while Bentveld settled for fourth. Fouquenet came home as the best non-Dutch rider in fifth.