Results World Cup Namur | Lucinda Brand’s dominant performance takes victory as Puck Pieterse misses podium on return

Victory for Lucinda Brand in a spectacular World Cup Namur. A stunning display for the Dutch rider’s fifth win in the event. Second was Aniek van Alphen, who holds onto the overall lead by just a single point. Third place for the French rider Amandine Fouquenet ahead of Puck Pieterse on her return.

The race was defined by the return of Pieterse, who started from the second row thanks to her UCI ranking despite not having competed yet this season. A tough start with an opening climb. A course with a lot of elevation, with a lot of elevation and a lot of mud. French champion Amandine Fouquenet blasted off with great power. Her compatriot Celia Gery was second.

A spectacular start with those constant kickers that demand the strength to climb them and the technique to descend. A course where mountain bike specialists adapt very well due to its characteristics. At the end of the first lap, Lucinda Brand came through in the lead with a few seconds’ advantage. The Dutchwoman had won here four times before today.

She crossed with a 4-second lead over Fouquenet and a bit more than ten seconds over the group formed by Aniek van Alphen, Jolanda Neff, Pieterse, and European champion and Saturday’s Exact Cross winner Inge van der Heijden. A bit further back was Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, also a multiple winner in Namur.

On the third pass across the line, the one moving up was Pieterse, who had dropped the chasing group and set off after Brand. Behind, Van Alphen was already closing out the provisional podium more than 17 seconds back with Fouquenet, Neff, and Van der Heijden. Alvarado was seventh but already over half a minute down.

The World Cup leader before the race, Van Alphen, needed to finish second if Brand won to stay on top. During the third lap, Van Alphen caught Pieterse and moved into second. Brand pulled away at the front and, barring a miracle, no one was going to catch her once the race had passed halfway.

It was a delight to watch the World Cup leader descend, without a doubt the most technically gifted rider at the moment. On the fifth pass across the line, Brand led Van Alphen by 20 seconds, and Pieterse saw the Frenchwoman Fouquenet come past her before the line.

With the bell ringing for the final lap, Brand’s victory was crystal clear. The Dutch rider was incredible. Fouquenet and Pieterse were set to battle for the final podium spot.

And so, an impressive final victory for Lucinda Brand, her fifth win in Namur, ahead of the still-overall leader of the World Cup, Van Alphen. The podium was completed by the Frenchwoman Fouquenet. A third win out of four World Cup rounds for an unstoppable Brand.