Lucinda Brand Makes History in Hulst, Racing to Sublime Cyclocross World Championships Gold

Lucinda Brand made a remarkable return from a disappointing showing last weekend, winning her second cyclocross world championship title on Saturday.

The 36 year old stormed to victory ahead of fellow Dutchwoman Ceylin Alvarado, beating her by 27 seconds.

Puck Pieterse, who had been running second on lap three, crashed hard and had to be content with third, 51 seconds back.

Brand’s victory at 36 years of age makes her the oldest winner of the women’s cyclocross worlds. Marianne Vos previously held that stat when she won in 2022 at 34. Brand previously won the title in 2021, and was runner up in 2022, 2024 and 2025.

“It feels amazing,” she said. “It is really good after such a great season to also win on the most important day, as some people call it, is just fantastic. And with home crowds.

“What makes it way more special is that there were a lot of people to cheer me on, instead of just five people, staff, in Oostende [in 2021]. It is great.”

The success will be tinged with extra emotion as Brand lost her mother in recent months. She had been ill for some time, with Brand being one of her carers.

An incredible year

A successful road pro with the Lidl-Trek team, Brand has been the dominant cyclocross competitor this winter, winning a staggering 18 races prior to the worlds. However she suffered a concussion in early January when she crashed in the Zonhoven World Cup and then had calf pain last weekend.

She had a scare when she was only tenth in Maasmechelen last Saturday, her first time off the podium in two years, and opted not to ride the following day’s event in Hoogerheide.

However she was back to her best on Saturday, starting steady, hitting the front 16 minutes in, and then gapping key rivals Alvarado and Pieterse. The latter fell on lap three and had to change her bike, with Alvarado chasing alone. She got a lifeline when Brand stubbed her pedal on the ground on lap 4 and crashed, with the two riders trading the lead for some time after that.

However Brand would not be denied and opened a slight gap on lap 5. She grew her advantage on the flat, fast section and was a full ten seconds ahead at the bell. She further extended that advantage on the final lap and crossed the line on foot, beaming widely and holding her bike high overhead.

Behind, Pieterse attacked the chase group and tussled with Blanka Vas. The Hungarian rider calmly sat on her wheel, waiting for the sprint, but slid out on a corner and had to stub her foot down. That gave Pieterse a slight gap and she powered on from there to the line.

Bronze was welcome, but gold was what she really was after. However there was no denying Brand, who translated a stunning run of form in recent months into the second world title of her career.

Results powered by FirstCycling.com