After winning the Kermiscross in Ardooie, Lucinda Brand also took the victory at the Exact Cross Essen. The Dutch rider defeated Sara Casasola and Marion Norbert Riberolle after an exciting final lap.
After starting her cyclocross season on Thursday with a win at the Kermiscross in Ardooie, Lucinda Brand lined up again on Saturday in Essen. The leader of Baloise Glow Lions was once again the top favorite. On paper, Aniek van Alphen and Marion Norbert Riberolle appeared to be her main challengers. However, Norbert Riberolle had a tough start to her race. She had to enter the very first penalty box and was forced into a chase from there.
Brand shakes things up
There was still time to recover because the peloton stayed together in the first lap. Leading that group: Denise Betsema. The Texel rider, racing this season for De Ceuster-Bouwpunt, was soon replaced at the front by Sara Casasola. Under the Italian’s leadership, the first cracks began to appear in the pack. Brand and Van Alphen were always part of the leading group of riders. Norbert Riberolle passed the end of the first of seven laps at eleven seconds down.
The Belgian champion was able to reconnect afterwards since the pace hadn’t truly intensified yet. That changed in lap three. Brand herself put in a strong effort after fifteen minutes of racing. Casasola, Van Alphen, and Hélène Clauzel followed, while a small gap opened behind them to Norbert Riberolle and Betsema. In the fourth of seven laps, these six came back together; the rest were no longer in contention for the victory.
Decision comes in final lap
When Norbert Riberolle returned to the front, she immediately took over to push the pace. However, this did not lead to separation. Even a surge from Betsema in lap five didn’t create gaps. Then Brand tried again, and this move had consequences. Brand, Casasola, and Van Alphen started lap six with a nine-second lead over the other three. Still, Norbert Riberolle, Clauzel, and Betsema managed to catch back on during that penultimate lap, despite a push from Van Alphen.
That same Van Alphen got a flat tire at the start of the final lap. While the Dutch rider was changing bikes, the race at the front intensified. Casasola then pushed the pace. Brand was able to follow, but the others had to concede a small gap. Yet that gap did not grow. Clauzel, Norbert Riberolle, and Betsema were able to return once more, and then Van Alphen rejoined the group. With six riders, the race entered its final moments.
Brand holds off Casasola
Heading toward the barriers, Casasola attacked again, but Brand countered the Italian. Although the leader of Baloise Glowi Lions couldn’t open a gap, she took the front position — and she wasn’t giving it up. Casasola made one last effort but couldn’t get past. In the sprint, Brand managed to hold off her rival. This marked her second consecutive win in the still early cyclocross season.
Exact Cross - Essen| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45:59 | |
| 2 | + 01 | |
| 3 | + 02 | |
| 4 | + 04 | |
| 5 | + 12 | |
| 6 | + 18 | |
| 7 | + 01:22 | |
| 8 | " | |
| 9 | " | |
| 10 | + 01:23 |
