"The fact that I can make things difficult for Fem here until the final is fantastic" - Lucinda Brand returns from altitude on a high note in Herentals

Lucinda Brand missed out on winning the X2O Trophy Herentals, but she made it an incredibly exciting cross. Only in a sprint she lost out to this year's phenomenon Fem van Empel.

Brand and Van Empel started the final lap together. What was the plan of the Baloise Trek Lions rider? "I must honestly say that I never really think: this is what I have to do. And today it was very difficult to really make a difference," she admits to WielerFlits.

Brand has been in Spain for training in recent weeks. "I don't know if I immediately feel that I have taken a step forward. What I did there may not be immediately reflected. But I think I will benefit a lot from it in the coming weeks. The fact that I can make things difficult for Fem here until the final is of course fantastic."