World champion Lucinda Brand takes back-to-back victories at Koppenbergcross

Lucinda Brand soloed to victory at the Koppenbergcross in the opening round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee series. 

The world champion broke clear of Italian champion Sara Casasola midway through the fourth lap. 

In the end, Brand’s winning margin atop the final ascent of the iconic cobbled climb was 53 seconds over Casasola, while Marie Schreiber took third, 1:22 behind the world champion.

It marks Brand’s fourth victory in her sixth outing of the cyclo-cross season, adding to victories in Dendermonde, Ardooie and Overijse. 

With the X2O series using a time-based GC for the overall standings, Brand’s winning margin of 53 seconds becomes even more significant. 

French duo Hélène Clauzel and Amandine Fouquenet stormed out of the blocks leading up the first ascent of the Koppenberg. 

The duo were reeled in by a selective group over the course of the opening lap, before Marie Schreiber upped the pace on the second lap, which only Casasola, Brand and Clauzel could match.

At the end of the second lap, Clauzel was starting to be distanced from the leading group, as the chasers found themselves around 30 seconds from the head of the race.

Brand launched an attack on lap 4, which distanced Schreiber immediately. Casasola managed to keep the world champion close for around half a lap longer before she was also distanced. By the end of lap 4, Brand had an 11-second advantage over Casasola with two laps remaining. 

The world champion would continue to extend her lead over the remaining laps, while Casasola and Schreiber maintained their positions in second and third.