Lucinda Brand takes Cyclocross World title as Worst falls in final
Britain's Evie Richards finished seventh, a minute behind Brand
Lucinda Brand topped an all-Dutch podium at the Cyclocross World Championships in Ostend, Belgium, after Annemarie Worst slipped in the final as the pair were neck-and-neck heading towards the finish line.
The pair had dropped Denise Betsema towards the end of the five-lap race, who would eventually finish third, 19 seconds down, as Worst and Brand continued to battle it out.
After Worst had put in a dig and looked to be gapping her rival, Brand caught up on the inside of a right-hand corner towards the end of the final lap. Worst had to take a wider line and slipped in the mud, which handed the rainbow jersey to Brand, crossing the line eight seconds clear of her compatriot.
"I just touched her elbow or something," Brand said of the incident after the finish. "Of course, it was the weakest point to touch her so it wasn't that nice but also not easy to avoid that situation. Unfortunately, it happened..."
>>> The cycling jukebox: Eight rider-inspired hits lurking on your Spotify
Brand finally reaches the top spot after making the podium the last three years, saying it's a big relief to claim the rainbow jersey at long last with her 12th victory of the season.
"Yes, definitely, for so many years I was so close and now finally after such a great season, to finish it off like this is really cool."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Defending champion Ceylin del Carman Alvarado could only manage sixth place, having fallen early in the race.
Britain's Evie Richards finished seventh overall, nearly matching her sixth place last year in Dubendorf, but finishing half a minute closer to the winner.
Result
UCI 2021 Cyclocross World Championships, Ostend
1. Lucinda Brand (Ned), in 46-53
2. Annemarie Worst (Ned), at eight seconds
3. Denise Betsema (Ned), at 19s
4. Clara Honsinger (USA), at 52s
5. Yara Kastelijn (Ned), at 1-04
6. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Ned), at 1-12
7. Evie Richards (GBr), at 1-13
8. Sanne Cant (Bel), at 1-43
9. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger), at 2-07
10. Christine Majerus (Lux), at 2-08
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Is Lotte Kopecky's bog-standard Specialized Crux proof that you don't need wide tires and fancy suspension systems for gravel racing?
Kopecky finished second at Gravel Worlds on a bike with minimal modifications
By Joe Baker Published
-
Undercover Mechanic: Cyclists have become very excited about aerodynamics without a correlated excitement for pilates - the result is a lot of spacers
90% of the front area is you, not the bike; having a kamtail downtube will make sod all difference if you’re unable to reach the bars, argues CW’s Undercover Mechanic
By Undercover Mechanic Published
-
‘I only live 10km away’ - Cameron Mason on the pressure of a home British Cyclo-cross Championships
Scotsman says he will look to try and ‘take the race on’ at Callendar Park in Falkirk
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock to race just 10 cyclo-cross events this season
Former world champion confirmed as skipping World Championships in February
By Adam Becket Published
-
The six cyclo-cross races where Wout van Aert will face Mathieu van der Poel this year
The great Dutch and Belgian rivals will clash first on 22 December
By Adam Becket Last updated
-
Opinion: Are ‘the big three’ of Van Aert, Van der Poel and Pidcock good for cyclo-cross?
They have been world champions for the last decade, but are yet to race yet this season. What's going on?
By Adam Becket Published
-
European Cyclo-cross Championships rescheduled due to stormy weather
Local authority in western France stops Saturday's planned races from happening; races rescheduled to Sunday
By Adam Becket Published
-
Five riders to watch in UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup opener in Waterloo, USA this weekend
Here's who we think will boss the cross in Waterloo on Sunday
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Watch: Cyclo-cross rider snaps dislocated finger back into place mid-race
Michael van den Ham said his finger was at "the grossest 45-degree angle"
By Tom Davidson Published
-
17-year-old CX rider ‘catapulted’ into layby by tractor scores top ten finish at national champs
Raph Tabiner from Warrington nearly gave up racing all together after shocking incident
By Tom Thewlis Published