Brand wins solo and takes leader's jersey

In rainy Fayetteville in Arkensas the second round of the cyclo-cross world cup took place today. It was a very exciting race where world champion Lucinda Brand proved to be the strongest. Denise Betsema and Clara Honsinger took silver and bronze.

In the first of six rounds the riders stuck together like magnets. It was not until the second lap that Brand (Baloise Lions - Trek) and Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma Women Team) were able to create a gap on the chasing ladies.

During the third lap Brand went down in the mud. Vos of course took full advantage of this. She clicked her pedals more firmly and raced on. For a moment Vos and Brand were 10 seconds apart, but a very strong Brand was able to close the gap.

In the background, a group including Vas (Team SD Worx), Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Honsinger (Cannondale/cyclocrossworld) and Pieterse (Alpecin-Fenix) went in search of bronze. But at the end of the fourth lap that group had also fallen apart and Betsema was able to cross over to Vos and Brand.

In the meantime it seemed to be getting more and more difficult for Vos. She dropped from second to third and finally fourth place. Brand crossed the finish line solo, followed by Betsema and Honsinger. The world champion thus takes over the leader's jersey from Marianne Vos.