Brand secures overall World Cup win, Van der Poel extends lead over Nys

Lucinda Brand has secured the overall victory in the World Cup. The rider from Baloise Insurance-Het Poetsbureau Lions won the race in Benidorm on Sunday and can no longer be caught in the standings. Among the men, Mathieu van der Poel further extended his lead.

After nine of the twelve races, Brand was already in a strong position. She had 310 points, while her closest challenger Aniek van Alphen had 228. In theory, that gap was still bridgeable, but that is no longer the case.

Brand won in Benidorm, while Van Alphen only managed fourteenth place. As a result, Brand's lead is now 110 points. Even if Van Alphen were to win the last two rounds (in Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide), she could earn a maximum of 80 points.

Van der Poel in pole position
On paper, the fight among the men looks closer. Leader Van der Poel, after his win in Benidorm, holds a 20-point lead over Thibau Nys, who finished second in the Spanish race. In theory, Nys can still overtake Van der Poel, but in practice, this seems very unlikely. MVDP is scheduled to start in both Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide and has won all his races so far this season.