“That was really stupid” – Lucinda Brand survives late scare to take 5th World Cup win in Namur

Lucinda Brand was forced to dig deep in Namur after a late puncture briefly threatened to turn control into chaos, but the Dutch rider kept her composure to secure a fifth career World Cup victory at the Citadelcross.

“That was really stupid. But it can happen here,” Brand admitted after the race, reflecting on the moment her rear wheel went down on the treacherous circuit. Rather than stopping immediately, she made a split second decision to keep going. “I just thought: I have to keep riding, if the wheel breaks then it breaks and I will take a new one. I had to run some corners, but I did slide away. Fortunately the gap was big enough.”

That buffer was created much earlier, thanks to a start that set the tone for the entire race. Brand, who does not always dominate the opening metres, was already at the front halfway through the first lap. “I felt really strong, I have never had such a good start here,” she said.

Once clear, the race settled into a familiar pattern. Amandine Fouquenet briefly took the lead after a lightning start, but Brand refused to panic. “She always has a great start, I tried to ride my own pace,” she explained, opting for patience rather than risk

That approach paid off as the gaps behind her steadily grew, leaving the fight for the podium to unfold out of sight. Brand was particularly impressed by Fouquenet’s ride. “You can blow yourself up in the first lap. But she finished third here, so a very good race from her, I really did not expect that,” she said. “I personally just had good legs.”

Even with a late scare, Brand’s authority never truly disappeared, as she once again underlined her mastery of Namur’s demanding slopes and slick surfaces.