Brand solos to victory in Overijse

Dutch champion Lucinda Brand has won the second round of the Telenet Superprestige 2024 - 2025. She finished ahead of world champion Fem van Empel and Italian champion Casasola.

Until the third lap, the race remained locked and no one could really get away. The leading group consisted of Brand (Baloise Trek Lions), Casasola and Van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon), Van Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike), Clauzel (Van Rysel Racing Team) and Vas (Team SD Worx-Protime). The most striking event of the race was the pursuit by Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck), who was victorious just a week before in Ruddervoorde. At the end of the second lap, last season’s overall winner managed to catch up with the leading group, but Brand did not let the pace drop and opted to attack.

Casasola was the only one able to keep up with her. World champion Van Empel and also Alvarado had to give chase. The latter had a tough day and would not be in contention for a place on the podium. In contrast, the world champion closed the gap on Casasola, who had dropped off from the front, and she then went off alone in search of the race leader.

Brand had paced her effort well and was able to maintain her lead of about 10 seconds until the finish. She rode solo to victory in the Telenet Superprestige, followed by world champion Van Empel. Casasola finished third, 35 seconds behind. With her third place in Ruddervoorde and this victory in the Druivenstreek, Brand moved into the lead in the general classification, ahead of Van Empel and Alvarado.