Flandriencross: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado holds off Lucinda Brand for victory

Dutch Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the women elite race of the 'Flandriencross' cyclocross cycling event, stage 3/8 in the 'X20 Badkamers Trofee' competition, Sunday 17 November 2024 in Hamme.
BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS (Photo by JASPER JACOBS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck) wins Flandriencross (Image credit: Getty Images)

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In a repeat of Saturday’s Superprestige Merksplas, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck) held off a chasing Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) to claim her third consecutive victory at the third round of X2O Trofee Flandriencross in Hamme.

Locked in a three-way battle on the final lap, Alvarado forced the pace at the front as a chain issue forced Brand into the pit to get a new bike. Alvarado pressed the pace, with Sara Casasola (Crelan-Correndon) and Brand trailing closely behind. The Dutch champion managed to overtake the Italian champion on a small ramp that had caused problems throughout the race, to give chase, launching a fierce pursuit that nearly caught Alvarado on the finish straight.

After taking the holeshot on the fast course in East Flanders, Zoe Backstedt (Canyon-Sram) built up a small gap until a bobble on a somewhat unassuming small ramp forced the under-23 world champion to put a foot down. The British rider was caught by Alvarado, Brand, Casasola and Annemarie Worst (Fenix-Deceuninck). by the third lap, but the same ramp caused more problems for Worst who had to put her foot down with Backstedt behind her.

Lyne has been involved in professional cycling for more than 15 years in both news reporting and sports marketing. She founded Podium Insight in 2008, quickly becoming a trusted source for news of the North American professional cycling world. She was the first to successfully use social media to consistently provide timely and live race updates for all fans. She is proud to have covered men's and women's news equally during her tenure at the helm of the site. Her writing has appeared on Cyclingnews and other news sites.