


This time it was a hard-fought victory, but Lucinda Brand has also claimed the X2O Trophy at Loenhout. The Dutch rider was pushed to the limit until the bitter end by a strong Kristýna Zemanová, but once again came out on top.
Officially, Dendermonde holds the title of Ambiancecross, but the Azencross in Loenhout is certainly not to be outdone in terms of crowd atmosphere. In this Christmas classic, the focus among the women—who else?—was on Lucinda Brand. The Dutchwoman is dominating wherever she starts this season, and on the other hand, the field in Loenhout was certainly not the strongest she has had to conquer this winter.
With absences such as Puck Pieterse, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Shirin van Anrooij, Amandine Fouquenet, Blanka Vas, Aniek van Alphen, Celia Gery, and Inge van der Heijden, many were missing. However, with Marion Norbert Riberolle, Zoe Bäckstedt (returning after a long injury layoff), Marie Schreiber, and Yara Kastelijn (back from a break), there were still some formidable contenders present in the cyclocross-crazy Loenhout.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2021 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2015 |
Zemanová sets the pace
For Schreiber, this has been a season to forget so far, but the Luxembourger got off to a classic flying start here. The SD Worx-Protime rider was first into the field but couldn’t enjoy her lead for long. Kristýna Zemanová also had an excellent start and boldly took over the lead. The Czech champion shook things up early on, but it didn’t immediately create a separation.

Zemanová and Schreiber had a strong start – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
Under Zemanová’s leadership, about a dozen women managed to break away, but the Czech decided to ease off slightly at the start of the second lap. This was the signal for Manon Bakker to take the initiative, but after a forced bike change, the Dutch rider slipped back to the front ranks of the lead group. Schreiber immediately retook the lead, but was then met by a counterattack from Brand.
Brand’s first acceleration
The overwhelming favorite for the win initially watched from a distance but decided to open the throttle after about twenty minutes of racing. For her rivals, it was suddenly all hands on deck, but after Brand’s surge, the pace visibly dropped again and we saw yet another regrouping. Was this then the prelude to a quieter middle phase?
No, because Norbert Riberolle now saw a perfect moment to try her luck. Setting a brisk tempo, she stretched the lead group, now down to eight women, into a line. Brand, Zemanová, Bakker, the revitalized Worst, and Bäckstedt could follow, but after a second acceleration from Brand, the front group was further thinned out. Where Brand usually wears down the competition, this time it was not quite so straightforward.
Brand secures a hard-fought victory
Strong riders Zemanová and Bakker were able to keep up, so it had to come down to Brand in the final lap. With some heavy hammer blows, she seemed to pull the race back under her control, but Zemanová didn’t give up, gritted her teeth, and stayed on the Dutchwoman’s wheel. Brand did not let up on the pace, while the tough Czech gradually gave ground.
This proved to be a decisive moment in the race. In the final lap, it was Brand once again who triumphed on character, toughness, and class. The leader of Baloise Glowi Lions notched her sixteenth win of the cyclocross season, ahead of Zemanová and Bakker. Bäckstedt crossed the line fourth, a much-needed boost for the British rider after a difficult period.
🚵🇧🇪 | It certainly wasn’t easy for Brand, but the 12th consecutive win is a fact. She wins at Loenhout. 👏
📺 Stream cyclocross on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/RzAehj3Aap
— Eurosport Nederland (@Eurosport_NL) December 29, 2025

Zoe Bäckstedt contested the victory up to the final lap – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 48:34 | |
| 2 | + 05 | |
| 3 | + 12 | |
| 4 | + 22 | |
| 5 | + 35 | |
| 6 | + 36 | |
| 7 | + 37 | |
| 8 | " | |
| 9 | + 01:20 | |
| 10 | + 01:21 |
| Rank | Rider | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 04:32:25 | ||
| 2 | 04:44:15 | ||
| 3 | 04:51:39 | ||
| 4 | (2) | 04:52:41 | |
| 5 | (1) | 04:52:55 | |
| 6 | (1) | 04:55:04 | |
| 7 | 04:56:00 | ||
| 8 | (12) | 04:56:22 | |
| 9 | (1) | 04:56:52 | |
| 10 | (1) | 04:57:08 |