Lucinda Brand crowned elite women's European cyclocross champion after Marie Schreiber relegated for sprint deviation

Marie Schreiber (Luxembourg) won the elite women's European cyclocross title, beating Lucinda Brand (Netherlands) in a close sprint but then was relegated to second place by race officials after she squeezed Brand into the barriers. 

Schreiber led out the sprint and then closed the door on Brand with a flick of her bike. The world champion was forced to slow slightly but still gave her all and threw her bike to the line. Schreiber was slightly ahead and thought she had won, only for officials to reverse the result a few minutes later. 

Ceylin Alvarado (Netherlands) finished third at 17 seconds after a late crash cost her a chance of victory.

Schreiber did not attend the podium ceremony to collect her silver medal, while Alvarado held an ice-pack on her left wrist after a late fall. 

Brand sportingly admitted that her third European title was different due to the race officials decision. 

"Every title is really nice but this one will feel a little bit different," Brand said. "Marie was strong, especially on the stairs, she really pushed us to the limit. 

"When we came on the tarmac for the sprint, she started a little second earlier than I started. I tried to come-up and next to her. How it ended up is a jury decision." 

The riders sprinted up the long start and finish straight and Schreiber went clear off the front to take control of the race.

Alvarado soon set off in pursuit and then Brand also surged across after a lap, knowing she could not let the 20-second gap open any further.

The three came together, only for Brand to lose contact after a crash. The world champion fought back on and then the three began to trade attacks. Alvarado got a gap but then stumbled on the 99 steps, while Schreiber chased down the attacks.

Brand tried to make a decisive attack on the steps with two laps to go but Schreiber responded again and even tried to attack on the long compacted sand sector.

The trio led the chasers by 54 seconds with one lap to go and so knew they were fighting for the European title and the medals.

Brand was first onto the 99 steps for the last time but Schreiber was stronger and passed both Alvarado and Brand and opened a slight gap.

Alvarado crashed at speed, on a muddy corner and lost any hope of victory, leaving Brand and Schreiber to fight for the title.

Schreiber went early and used her sprinting skills to close Brand against the barriers but the sprinting move ultimately cost her victory.