Brand shines with a solo from start to finish in Dublin

Lucinda Brand has completed the fifth round of the season. Right from the first lap, the Dutch cyclist rode away from the peloton. Alvarado was still trying to close the gap but had to be satisfied with a second place. As in Dendermonde, Backstedt came third.

Just before the women's competition started, the heavens opened over Dublin. The rain immediately turned the course into a muddy track. This served as a cue for Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) to unleash the strength in her legs. By the end of the first lap she had already secured a six-second lead. World Cup leader Alvarado (Alpecin – Deceuninck) followed with the young duo Backstedt (Canyon//SRAM Racing) and Schreiber (Team SD Worx) in her wake.

Not long after, Alvarado succeeded in distancing herself from her competitors and appeared to be independently closing in on Brand, who was in the lead. She got to four seconds but switched bikes in the third lap. Her gap immediately increased to 12 seconds. From that point forward, Brand started to gradually increase her lead.

At the start of the final lap, Brand's lead was 18 seconds. The Dutch cyclist could sense the impending victory and powered her way solo to triumph in Dublin. At the finish she had a 38-second lead over Alvarado. As in Dendermonde, Backstedt drove to a podium spot. She finished third in 45 seconds behind winner Brand.