Results Superprestige Overijse Women's 2025 | Sara Casasola takes first major win of the season after late drama scuppers Lucinda Brand
Cyclocross
Sara Casasola claimed arguably the biggest victory of her cyclocross career with a composed and opportunistic ride at Superprestige Overijse, becoming the first Italian rider ever to win the prestigious “Druivencross”. The 25-year-old pounced in the final lap after Lucinda Brand crashed while leading, converting weeks of near-misses into a landmark success in the Superprestige series.
The race began in typical Overijse chaos on a slippery course coated in leaves and mud. French and Belgian champions Hélène Clauzel and Marion Norbert Riberolle led the early charge before the race quickly reshuffled. Brand, back on one of her favourite circuits, took command on the opening lap, forming an early lead trio with Blanka Vas and Anais Fouquenet.
Behind, Riberolle’s challenge unravelled through repeated mechanical problems, forcing multiple bike changes that dropped her out of contention. Further ahead, Casasola and Aniek van Alphen bridged to Brand, forming a front trio that soon became the day’s decisive move. Vas’s return to racing ended with a slip on the cobbles, while Van Alphen later lost ground after sliding out on a descent.
Halfway through, Brand began to apply real pressure, lifting the tempo through the wooded climbs and sandbanks. Casasola refused to yield, matching every acceleration as the two built a clear lead over the fading Van Alphen. The duel produced thrilling back-and-forth racing — until fate intervened on the final lap.
Brand had just taken control, forcing Casasola to the front before clipping a pole and crashing hard. The Dutch rider remounted immediately, but Casasola was already gone, driving smoothly through the final technical section to secure her first win of the season after earlier podiums in Essen and Ruddervoorde.
Brand crossed the line twelve seconds down, visibly frustrated but gracious in defeat, while Van Alphen completed the podium. Behind them, Riberolle recovered to finish inside the top ten after her early setbacks.
For Casasola, the moment marked not just a maiden Superprestige triumph, but a breakthrough that confirmed her as a genuine contender among the sport’s elite.
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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.
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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