Two in a row for the relentless Lucinda Brand in a fantastic mudfest in Dendermonde

Lucinda Brand triumphed at the Dendermonde World Cup. In an incredibly muddy spectacle, the Dutch champion emerged as the strongest after a well-paced race. Puck Pieterse led the first laps but couldn’t keep up with the World Cup leader, finishing second, followed by Fem van Empel in third.

This was only the fourth edition of the race in East Flanders. Brand claimed victory in the first two editions, while Ceylin Alvarado took the win in 2024. The event has since become infamous for its muddy conditions. Sunday’s race was no exception, with heavy rain turning the course into a true spectacle for cyclo-cross fans. The World Cup was the third race in three days: Pieterse had delivered a phenomenal performance to win the sandy Koksijde race on Friday, while Brand took the win in Gullegem on Saturday.

At the start, Van Empel and Alvarado lost a few positions, while Pieterse got off to an excellent start. However, it was Brand who blasted ahead from the first muddy section. The World Cup leader quickly built a gap. Pieterse gave chase, followed by a strong-starting Manon Bakker. Fem van Empel and Alvarado trailed the leaders by around twenty seconds after the first lap, as the front group solidified with Brand, Pieterse, and Zoe Bäckstedt.

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Pieterse starts fast, Van Empel forced to chase

After a bike change by Brand, Pieterse took the lead alone. She found her rhythm and began to build a gap, while a crash by the Dutch champion made her comeback even harder. After two laps, Pieterse’s lead had grown to fifteen seconds, but her race wasn’t flawless either. A few small mistakes by the solo leader and a well-timed bike swap allowed Brand to close the gap. Regaining her momentum, Brand reclaimed the lead and steadily pulled away, as Pieterse began to fade after three laps. Meanwhile, Alvarado had a tough day, dropping out of the race halfway through.

Van Empel did not seem to be running on empty. Despite a maximum deficit of thirty seconds, she began to close the gap steadily. The world champion slowly reeled in Pieterse and kept Brand within sight. Yet, the leader proved as relentless as ever, pressing on with a determined expression. The muddy course at Dendermonde made conditions brutally tough, leaving everyone nearly unrecognizable. Pieterse was stubborn, attempting to run less than her competitors, but ultimately lost second place to Van Empel, who overtook her on foot.

As a result, the fight for second place remained tight, but there was no contest for the victory. Brand dominated for the second cross in a row, crossing the finish line with more than a thirty-second lead, further solidifying her lead in the standings. Van Empel suffered a puncture in the final lap, losing her position to Pieterse. As a result, the podium places were settled. Behind the unstoppable top three, Bakker saw her strong race rewarded with an impressive fourth-place finish.

Results World Cup Dendermonde 2025, women:

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