UCI World Cup Namur: Lucinda Brand dominates from start to finish as Puck Pieterse fourth on cyclocross return

Lucinda Model (Baloise-Glowi Lions) was peerless over the steep climbs and banked sections in Namur to win the fourth spherical of this season’s UCI World Cup.

Model took the lead in direction of the top of the primary lap and by no means seemed troubled, beating World Cup chief Aniek van Alphen (Seven Racing) by 43 seconds. After taking a really early lead on the opening lap, France’s Amandine Fouquenet (Arkéa-B&B Inns) claimed a formidable third place precisely one-minute behind Model.

Making her season debut in cyclocross, Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) light after a powerful opening third of the race to complete in fourth place, 1:21 down on Model.

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Model has received all three of the UCI World Cup races she has competed on this season, with Van Alphen taking the second spherical in Flamenville. Model is now one level behind her compatriot within the general standings.

“I used to be actually robust. I simply by no means have such a great begin,” Model remarked after the end, commenting on Fouquenet’s early burst of pace.

“She all the time has a tremendous begin,” Model continued, “and I attempt to simply maintain my very own tempo as a result of positively the primary lap right here you’ll be able to blow up your self.”

“I simply had good legs,” she added.

Model needed to maintain a cool head on the third lap when she suffered a front-wheel puncture. Nevertheless, she seemed to be on one other stage to her opponents in Namur, so it did not trigger an excessive amount of of a dent in her ambitions to win.

“It was tremendous silly, however you realize what can occur right here. I simply saved attempting to trip, and if the wheel breaks, it breaks, we get a brand new one…I had sufficient of a niche. It was good.”

The way it unfolded

Namur is all the time one of many extra feared and revered after all in cyclocross, with its relentless climbing, technical descents and banked straights giving issues to even essentially the most seasoned riders. Ultimately, it was to be a present of sophistication from the rider who has dominated the cyclocross season to date.

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Yesterday’s winner in Kortrijk, Inge van der Heijden (Crelan Corendon), was quickest out the blocks however was rapidly handed by Fouquenet who rocketed up the brutal climb which kicked off the lap. Célia Gery was in scorching pursuit to make a French 1-2 within the opening sections.

Alert to the hazard, Model surged to the entrance of the race earlier than the top of the primary lap and stretched right into a lead with Fouquenet and a chasing group together with Pieterse, Van Alphen and Van der Heijden behind.

By the third lap, Model had expanded her lead, pursued by Pieterse who seemed to be tiring on the third time around the course. Van Alphen moved previous the Dutch champion into second place with a deficit of 28 seconds to Model.

Mid-way by means of the fourth, Model suffered a puncture with a couple of hundred metres to go to the pits when she may swap her Trek for a recent one. Model solely misplaced round 10 seconds, holding a niche of 19 seconds to Van Alphen heading right into a technical descent earlier than one more cobbled climb.

The climbing is relentless in Namur, it normally comes all the way down to which rider has essentially the most stamina over the 50 minutes of racing. Model is thought for her power, and powering by means of the hardest elements. Behind, Pieterse was paying for early efforts as Fouqenet got here previous into third place.

Heading into the penultimate lap of seven, Model had re-established a wholesome lead as much as greater than 30 seconds over Van Alphen and seemed peerless over this iconic cyclocross course. She would lengthen that on the ultimate lap to take one more resounding victory.

Outcomes

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