Brand extends phenomenal streak of 26 (!) podiums in a row, but savvy Vas steals spotlight ahead of World Championships

In cyclo-cross, mistakes happen, bikes break, and bodies don’t always cooperate. It’s rare to see a rider deliver consistent results in every race, but Lucinda Brand is the exception to that rule. On Saturday in Maasmechelen, the 35-year-old Dutch star secured her first overall title of the winter season by extending her podium streak to an astonishing 26 races. Despite being outpaced by the younger Blanka Vas and Zoe Bäckstedt, Brand had plenty of reasons to smile.

Brand is on track to win all three major cyclo-cross series titles this winter, as she currently leads the World Cup, Superprestige, and X2O Trophy standings. Her success stems from remarkable consistency and rarely skipping a race. Of the 26 races she completed with the one in Maasmechelen, Brand has claimed seven victories, 14 second places, and five thirds. In Dutch, she has even been nicknamed 'Brandje Constantje,' which translates to 'Little Miss Consistent'.

Even in Maasmechelen, she showed her trademark resilience, recovering after an early setback to make the podium. "It feels amazing to secure the World Cup title after such a tough and exciting day," Brand said with a smile. "I had mixed feelings during the race. In the first part of each lap, I felt strong, but in the second half, I struggled. It was hard to make anything happen, especially with how super strong the others were today."

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Brand had been wearing the World Cup leader's jersey for some time

Vas takes the win thanks to solid preparation

Those others brand was referring to were Vas and Bäckstedt, who displayed their strength on the highest stage just a week before the World Championships in Liévin. Bäckstedt may have appeared to be the strongest, but Vas simply made fewer mistakes and managed to finished first, claiming her first World Cup victory since Overijse in 2021. "I’m so happy to finally be back at the top after three years," Vas said, visibly trembling with emotion.

Those emotions were understandable, as Vas has long been seen as a potential superstar but had struggled to fully deliver in cyclo-cross. While she had won some smaller races, she often fell short on the biggest stage, largely due to the dominance of the Dutch riders. "It was worth the wait, even though it’s sometimes hard to spend all winter in Belgium. This is a reward for all the hard work I’ve put in," she said.

Her win in Maasmechelen was thanks to a combination of extraordinary form and smart tactics. "We arrived here yesterday, and I practiced the sloping section a lot — five times just this morning. It was also smart to only switch bikes once, which helped me get back to the front. After the final running section, I thought I had it, but when I looked back, I saw Zoe still coming at full speed. Thankfully, I still had the legs for a sprint. Now, my focus is on recovery, and only after the World Championships will I allow myself to truly enjoy this."

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Blanka Vas, earlier this season at the Koppenberg

Bäckstedt refuses to ride World Championships with elite women after all

Bäckstedt had to settle for second place, despite also showing strong form. "I’d say I’m disappointed because I came so close. But I just made too many mistakes to win today, on what is probably the best course for me this season. Mud is just so much fun, especially after a gravel race like Benidorm. This was proper cyclo-cross weather," she said with a laugh.

A crucial moment came in the final lap when Bäckstedt chose to switch bikes, giving Vas the chance to open a gap. "I slipped on the sloping section in the last lap, so I wanted a fresh bike. It was more of a precaution, but it seemed like the best decision at the time."

"That sloping section was incredibly tough, especially the corner leading into it — you had to go really slow and sometimes had to run, which turned it into a bit of a lottery," Bäckstedt explained, acknowledging that she lost her lead twice at that section during the race. Despite the challenges, she remains optimistic about her strong form. However, fans won’t see her in the elite women’s category at the World Championships in Liévin. Instead, she’ll race in the U23 category. One last time. "That decision has already been made. The U23 battle won’t be easy either, and I’m looking forward to it."

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