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Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck) showcased her ability in treacherous circumstances, conquering the sand to say her second victory of the 2024-2025 World Cup at Zonhoven. She completed forward of Zoe Backstedt (Canyon-SRAM) and present World Cup chief Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions). A morning storm introduced heavy rain and wind, delaying earlier races and reworking the course with packed sand, puddles, and dirt.
After a powerful begin, Backstedt surged to the entrance alone, sustaining a lead of round 15 seconds because the chase group behind regularly shifted. Midway by way of the race, Brand and Inge van der Heijden (Fenix-Deceuninck) bridged throughout to affix her. Alvarado caught the leaders one lap later and capitalized on a mistake by Brand, powering forward to safe the victory.
Behind her, Brand and Backstedt dueled it out for the remaining podium spots with Backstedt profitable the battle for silver, crossing the road 5 seconds behind Alvarado, Brand took third, an additional 10 seconds later.
Alvarado was glad however shocked to get the win after a tricky day of racing in yesterday’s Hulst Word Cup the place she completed eighth.
“I believe [the win means] so much after yesterday’s day of feeling, I believe immediately was completely totally different, and I did not count on to win immediately, in order that’s an excellent higher victory,” Alvarado stated.
After skipping the Dublin World Cup, Alvarado stays unsure about her possibilities of claiming the general title. She additionally opted out of touring to Sardinia for the Cabras World Cup, which was in the end canceled as a consequence of hazardous climate circumstances.
“I skipped two races and yesterday was not day, so I believe for the [overall] victory can be a tough one. So we are going to see. I preserve using, hopefully good throughout the World Cups after which we’ll see on the finish.”
Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds) crashed out of the entrance group on the massive sand drop on the second lap, and deserted the race.
How it unfolded
After a quick begin, Backstedt took the race lead on the steep drop, placing a niche to the remainder of the 85-rider area led by Brand.
Brand spent the race constantly chasing, although different riders briefly took over the pursuit. Worst and Blanka Vas (SD Worx-Protime) took turns making an attempt to shut the hole, nevertheless it wasn’t meant to be for Worst, who crashed exhausting on the second lap and was pressured to withdraw from the race.
By the beginning of the third lap, Backstedt had a 22-second lead on Brand, Inge van der Heijden (Fenix-Deceuninck) whereas Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), Alvarado and Vas had been an additional seven seconds in arrears.
Brand took up the reins, finally passing Backstedt because the hail and the rain got here down with a vengeance on the fourth lap, however a mistake by the Dutch rider led to Backstedt taking up the entrance once more. Alvarado, who’d been chasing the entire time, dropped Van der Heijden and caught up with Brand. Both the riders would reel in Backstedt by the penultimate lap.
Alvarado accelerated away, capitalizing on a mistake by Brand when she had bother clipping in, forcing Backstedt to place her foot down.
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