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The third version of Dublin’s UCI Cyclocross World Cup was received solo by Lucinda Brand (Baloise-Trek Lions), who took benefit of a mistake within the sand by World Champion Fem van Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike) within the mid a part of the race.
Van Empel had suffered a puncture early on however managed to recuperate. Then, on the fourth lap of six, Van Empel entered the sand part on the wheel of Brand and appeared to lose management, unclipping and permitting a spot to open up the the Dutch champion. Brand powered on, extending her lead over the rainbow jersey, who appeared in need of her greatest, and was by no means seen once more.
Van Empel completed second, 24 seconds down, whereas Zoë Backstedt (Canyon-SRAM) equalled her best-ever UCI World Cup consequence by rounding out the rostrum.
“It’s a giant one, so I’m proud of it,” Brand stated within the TV interview after the end.
“I felt robust. I acquired a bit caught within the first lap, however then I might transfer up shortly so I knew I had good legs. It was nonetheless tough. Fem had a puncture additionally, it is possibly not the nicest means however I assumed that I needed to take my benefit over it as properly. Then individuals struggled with the tempo I believe.”
“But Fem was robust, she got here again. But then she made a mistake and misplaced a while and I believe I used to be the stronger one at that time,” Brand concluded.
How it Unfolded
On a chilly however sunny Irish afternoon, it was to be a Dutch battle for glory on the third version of the Dublin UCI Cyclocross girls’s World Cup race.
In the opening lap, Van Empel seemed assured on the entrance, stretching issues out whereas swapping turns with Backstedt. Before the top of the lap, although, the World Champion had pulled out a slight hole over the remaining with Backstedt, Brand and others chasing on. It was Brand who managed to reel Van Empel in, however solely 5 others might go along with the Dutch pair because the opener concluded.
Heading by way of the pits within the second lap, Van Empel suffered a puncture and was distanced as she modified bikes. Brand pushed on on the entrance of the lead group and Van Empel wasn’t instantly capable of shut it down.
Brand continued to drive the tempo, dropping the 4 riders on her wheel by the top of the second lap as Van Empel picked her means by way of the sector, sitting in sixth and trailing Brand by 12 seconds on the finish of lap two.
Keen to not get caught in visitors, Van Empel impressively weaved by way of the riders in entrance and wound in Brand mid-way by way of the third lap. Brand had invested closely within the opening levels and struggling at this level as Van Empel floated over the mud.
Brand was gifted a spot as soon as once more quickly after as Van Empel acquired all of it improper within the sand, veering to the left and shedding management, having to unclip from her pedals and run.
Van Empel was on the chase once more. This time, Brand expandws her hole as Van Empel pursued. Behind Zoë Backstedt and Inge van der Heijden had been in a battle for the ultimate spot on the rostrum. Brand’s lead stretched out over twenty seconds as the ultimate lap approached.
The former world champion’s lead over Van Empel was thirty seconds as the ultimate lap started and Brand would keep robust to ship her second Dublin victory in as a few years. Van Empel was second, having closed the hole minimally within the remaining lap. Backstedt broke clear within the remaining few hundred metres to take her equal-best ever UCI World Cup consequence.
Results