Schreiber solos to a glorious victory in cyclo-cross World Cup in Hulst, Brand and Pieterse also on the podium

Marie Schreiber claimed the win in a rain-drenched edition of the cyclo-cross World Cup in Hulst, the Netherlands. From the very first corner, the Luxembourger seized the lead and never looked back. She showcased her skill and composure, delivering an almost flawless performance on the slippery course, while her rivals grappled with both the conditions and each other.

Behind Schreiber, the battle for the podium remained tense for a long time. Lucinda Brand, Inge van der Heijden, Annemarie Worst, and Puck Pieterse formed a chasing group, but mistakes on the technical course prevented anyone from truly breaking away. Only in the penultimate lap did Brand manage to pull away from the others. She convincingly rode to second place, while Pieterse completed the podium in third.

Schreiber was off to a flying start

The Dutch fortress town of Hulst, located near the Belgian border, was the picturesque setting for a highly technical race. The big news leading up to the event was Fem van Empel’s withdrawal due to injury. This opened the door for other riders to leave their mark. Schreiber, riding for SD Worx-Protime, seized her chance immediately and took a flying start. Like a jack-in-the-box, she shot forward, gaining a ten-meter lead within half a lap.

The rain turned the Hulst course into a technical minefield, with muddy stretches and slippery sections causing constant crashes and mistakes among the riders. The Luxembourger, however, remained unaffected, steadily building her lead while chaos reigned behind her.

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Lucinda Brand 🆚 Puck Pieterse The battle for 🥈 is heating up but Pieterse loses 6s at the moat section. Can she bring it back? #CXWorldCup #FLCS

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A chasing group forms

In the second lap, Schreiber continued her impressive ride. She flawlessly picked the right lines and had the strength to push through the heaviest mud. Her lead grew to 30 seconds, while the chasers battled both the course and each other. A group of five formed, featuring Brand, Van der Heijden, Backstedt, Pieterse, and Worst. Behind them, Alvarado — surprisingly weak after her victory last week and later hampered by a crash — rode with Bentveld and Vas further back.

Schreiber remained solo at the front, keeping a comfortable 23-second lead over the chasing group, now down to three riders: Van der Heijden, Brand, and Pieterse. Backstedt, who had to switch bikes, couldn’t keep up with the group’s pace and fell back further. Worst also lost contact but stayed close.

Even in the fourth lap, the situation remained largely unchanged. Worst managed to rejoin the chasers, who kept putting pressure on each other. But the course had its pitfalls for everyone. Puck Pieterse visibly struggled with the bridge at the end of the course every lap. Schreiber, on the other hand, seemed untouchable and showed no weak moments in Hulst.

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Led from start to finish 👊👇 Women Elite 🥇 for Marie Schreiber 🇱🇺. An absolute masterclass form the young star in Hulst! #CXWorldCup #FLCS

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In the lead from start to finish

Schreiber began the penultimate lap with a 19-second lead. While the chasers continued testing each other, Lucinda Brand stood out by making relatively few mistakes. She opened a small gap to Pieterse, who in turn dropped Worst. Van der Heijden lost momentum and fell further behind.

At the front, Schreiber pressed on undisturbed. As if she were on a casual Sunday ride, she effortlessly tackled the final obstacles. Raising her arms in celebration, the young Luxembourger crossed the finish line, claiming an impressive victory on an exceptionally technical and challenging course.

Behind her, Brand finished in second place, with Pieterse securing third. Worst and Van der Heijden completed the top five. But the day undoubtedly belonged to Marie Schreiber, who completely dominated the rain-soaked Hulst race with her flawless ride and exceptional strength.

Results Women's Cyclo-cross World Cup Hulst 2024

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