Lucinda Brand crowns herself queen of the mud in Dendermonde

Lucinda Brand claimed an impressive victory in the ninth round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Dendermonde. In a grueling mudfest, she pulled away from the competition after an intense opening phase and solidified her lead in the standings.

The race began with a lightning-fast start from Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), who was the first to tackle the muddy terrain. With powerful laps in the early stages, she built a small lead. While others struggled with the treacherous conditions, Pieterse kept up her speed and looked untouchable for a while.

Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions), however, stayed calm and focused. In her typical style, she gradually closed the gap to Pieterse, showing patience and determination. Midway through the race, Brand launched a decisive attack, mastering both the technical sections and the heavy stretches. From that moment on, there was no stopping her, leaving the rest of the field in her wake.

Behind her, the fight for the remaining podium spots heated up. Pieterse held on to take an impressive second place, while Fem van Empel (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), after a challenging start, secured the bronze. The young Van Empel continues to make her mark in her first full season at the highest level.

With this dominant victory, Brand extends her lead in the World Cup standings. The upcoming races will reveal whether anyone can challenge her, but in Dendermonde, she proved to be untouchable for now.