Zoe Bäckstedt involved in "a fight to the finish" with Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado in Gullegem
CyclocrossSaturday, 04 January 2025 at 15:18
As Lucinda Brand surged clear towards victory at Superprestige Gullegem cross on Saturday afternoon, behind the Dutch national champion, a thrilling battle for 2nd between Zoe Bäckstedt and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado was unfolding.
In fact, for much of the race, Bäckstedt and Alvarado were actually battling for the lead, only to see Brand come from behind on the final couple of laps to take the victory. “I knew she would come back at some point,” Bäckstedt said of race winner Brand post-race. “She has so much power, she is super strong. This course is almost made for her. So yes, I knew she would come back and that I had to try to stay with her as long as possible. That didn’t work for very long, but after that I just had to fight for second place.”
In the fight for 2nd though, the Brit and Alvarado went all the way to the very last pedal stroke in a thrilling sprint finish. “I passed her in the last corner of the running lane,” says Bäckstedt, who took it on a photo finish. “It was a fight to the finish. She passed me in the chicane, after which it was a sprint to the finish. Luckily I took it.”
Read also
| 01 | Brand Lucinda | - | 44:22 |
| 02 | Backstedt Zoe | - | + 06 |
| 03 | Alvarado Ceylin del Carmen | - | + 06 |
| 04 | Bentveld Leonie | - | + 39 |
| 05 | Norbert Riberolle Marion | - | + 01:30 |
| 06 | van Alphen Aniek | - | + 01:47 |
| 07 | Cant Sanne | - | + 02:42 |
| 08 | Kastelijn Yara | - | + 02:54 |
| 09 | Franck Alicia | - | + 03:03 |
| 10 | Langenbarg Puck | - | + 03:20 |
| 11 | Truyen Marthe | - | + 03:25 |
| 12 | De Beer Jamie | - | + 03:47 |
| 13 | Peeters Jinse | - | + 04:09 |
| 14 | Van Sinaey Xaydee | - | + 04:22 |
| 15 | Coppens Nette | - | + 04:23 |
| 16 | Knijnenburg Anne | - | + 04:56 |
| 17 | Bramati Lucia | - | + 05:09 |
| 18 | Hurteloup Adèle | - | + 05:28 |
| 19 | Devigne Camille | - | + 05:47 |
| 20 | Coraboeuf Léa | - | + 05:59 |
| 21 | Verkerk Katja | - | + 06:10 |
| 22 | Vervloet Sterre | - | + 06:10 |
| 23 | Klaes Lise | - | + 06:29 |
| 24 | De Martin Mia | - | + 06:36 |
| 25 | Baele Lotte | - | + 06:53 |
| 26 | De Smedt Febe | - | + 06:54 |
| 27 | Perryman Amy | - | + 07:35 |
| 28 | De Bruyckere Xenna | - | + 08:08 |
| 29 | Rombouts Tine | - | + 08:34 |
| 30 | Sels Loes | - | + 09:29 |
| 31 | Delcommune Juline | - | + 09:34 |
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