Alvarado holds off Brand and Casasola in thrilling battle in Hamme and completes stunning hat-trick

The race in Hamme had a new spot on the race calendar. Whereas last season it was scheduled early in the new year, after Christmas, this time it took place several months earlier. Last year's winner, Fem van Empel, opted for a training period instead of racing. As a result, on a day with delightful weather, the crowd eagerly awaited the successor to the world and European champion.

The race started with a long straight section, allowing the riders to approach the first corner at high speed. Zoe Bäckstedt and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado had an excellent start, but Lucinda Brand did not. She had to push hard early on to avoid losing sight of the leaders. Sara Casasola, the runner-up in the X2O standings behind Brand, also had a mediocre start. The British rider at the front pushed hard and was already going solo in the first lap. After one lap, she had an eight-second lead over Alvarado, who saw the gap with the riders behind her closing.

In the second lap, Brand, Casasola and Annemarie Worst joined Alvarado. The Italian champion moved ahead and set off in pursuit of the young leader. With the Crelan-Corendon rider as the main chaser, the gap was closed. Bäckstedt paid the price for her strong start, allowing Casasola to take the lead. A clumsy move by Worst created a moment of chaos: she failed to ride up a steep hill and fell, taking Bäckstedt down with her. Bäckstedt kept fighting to reconnect, but Worst was no longer in contention.

In the middle section of the race, Casasola and Brand appeared to be the strongest. They alternated taking the lead, with Alvarado consistently a few seconds behind. However, after a bike change, the Fenix-Deceuninck rider rejoined the fray. Bäckstedt remained about ten seconds behind and was unable to close the gap. In the final lap, the three riders at the front gave each other little space. Alvarado took the lead and powered through with tremendous intensity. She created a small gap, appearing to have more left than her rivals. Brand suddenly closed the gap, but in the sprint, Alvarado proved to be the strongest, finishing ahead of the Dutch champion.