Lucinda Brand Leads Dutch Domination at the 2021 Cyclocross World Championships: Results, Report – Ostend, Belgium

As the Elite Women removed their rain jackets to prepare for five laps of a wet, sandy and muddy course in Ostend, Belgium, all eyes were on the Dutch women.

After sweeping the podium last year at the Worlds in Dubendorf, Switzerland and dominating the season’s major races, the orange-clad powerhouse team from the Netherlands boasted all the top favorites. Lucinda Brand, fresh off her World Cup overall series win, had to be the oddsmaker’s pick for the win.

Defending champ Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, coming off her World Cup win in Overijse, showed she’s on top form, especially when it comes to muddy descents. Denise Betsema has shown consistency throughout the season, and has been a constant presence on the podium, while former U23 World Champ Annemarie Worst showed in Overijse her break during the holidays helped her return to form.

Could Belgian Sanne Cant use the sand to claim back the rainbow jersey? Might American Clara Honsinger upset the Dutch dominance and claim a medal?

A Furious Start and a Favorite Falters

Alvarado looked determined to show she was the woman to beat. She rocketed off the line to grab the holeshot and have a clear line into the course’s slippery, muddy grass.

Turning left off the starting straight, Alvarado’s front wheel slid out, and behind her, Cant went down in an attempt to avoid the prone Dutch racer. Suddenly, the last two World Champs were swarmed, forcing to chase after their impressive starting sprints.

Alvarado gaat onderuit in de eerste bocht #WKOostende pic.twitter.com/40tWUBQx7N

— Sporza 🚴 (@sporza_koers) January 30, 2021

Avoiding the crash were Betsema, Brand, Worst Canadian Maghalie Rochette and Brit Evie Richards.

Rochette, entering the first corner in third, suddenly found herself in the lead.

Following the season’s script to a tee, Betsema moved to the front, leading the race up to the bridge and its punishing 21-percent grade, ready to launch into the sand for the first time.

Betsema Best on the Beach

In the sand, Betsema showed off her sand skills honed from her island living.

Betsema was best in the sand on the early laps, leading Richards and Brand. Elite Women, 2021 Cyclocross World Championships, Ostend, Belgium. © Alain Vandepontseele / Cyclocross Magazine

She hugged the water with Brand in tow, pushed her bike climbing from the beach, and after remounting, found a clean line to the pavement while Brand and others had to run again.

Just three minutes into the race, Betsema was in the clear, and clearly at home in the sand.

Betsema led the first two and a half laps. Elite Women, 2021 Cyclocross World Championships, Ostend, Belgium. © Alain Vandepontseele / Cyclocross Magazine

She scaled the bridge with speed, and hit the muddy grassy half of the course with a few seconds. By the end of the first lap, her gap was 6 seconds.

Betsema, the early leader. Elite Women, 2021 Cyclocross World Championships, Ostend, Belgium. © Alain Vandepontseele / Cyclocross Magazine

By the end of Lap 2, it was 11 seconds to Brand and Worst.

Brand leads the chase of Betsema. Elite Women, 2021 Cyclocross World Championships, Ostend, Belgium. © Alain Vandepontseele / Cyclocross Magazine

Alvarado was chasing back from her crash in fourth, with teammate Kastelijn leading Richards in the chase.

Down to Three on Lap Three

While five Dutch claimed the top five spots heading into the third lap, three separated themselves from the rest.

While Betsema was best through the sand on the first two laps, on the third pass through the beach, Brand and Worst took advantage of Betsema’s slower trudge through the sand.

Behind the three, Alvarado led Kastelijn with Richards, Honsinger, Cant and Christine Majerus (LUX) giving chase.

Honsinger beat the two most recent World Champs to finish fourth. Elite Women, 2021 Cyclocross World Championships, Ostend, Belgium. © Alain Vandepontseele / Cyclocross Magazine

For the second year in a row it looked to be not a question of whether the Dutch would win, but which one, and whether another country could break into the top five.

Honsinger worked her way through traffic to finish fourth. Elite Women, 2021 Cyclocross World Championships, Ostend, Belgium. © Alain Vandepontseele / Cyclocross Magazine

Betsema Fades, Worst Tumbles

Just as the three leaders looked to exit the sand together, Worst tumbled.

Het Nederlandse trio blijft niet lang samen. Worst komt ten val in het zand en moet achtervolgen #WKoostende pic.twitter.com/TaK83NL5zk

— Sporza 🚴 (@sporza_koers) January 30, 2021

Up ahead, Brand drove the pace, with Betsema sitting on and Worst on the defensive. Heading into Lap Four, Worst was six seconds back.

Brand looked most at home in the muddy grass, powering away on the straights.

One lap after her crash, Worst was back within sight of the leaders. On the final sand section on lap four, Worst was first to dismount, but held her speed while running and closed the gap.

Heading into the bridge from the sand, Worst reconnected. Would she pay for her effort?

Down to Two

While Brand went in for a bike change on the final half of Lap Four, Worst pushed the pace, leaving Brand with a four-second gap to close.

Betsema took to the front as Brand closed in. Did she have something left with one more crossing of the beach?

Denise Betsema started fast and held on for third. Elite Women, 2021 Cyclocross World Championships, Ostend, Belgium. © Alain Vandepontseele / Cyclocross Magazine

As Brand rejoined the two, Worst slid out in a muddy corner. She was quickly back on her bike, chasing furiously to rejoin the leaders down the finish straight for the penultimate time, and seizing the lead once again up the steep bridge.

On the sand, Worst accelerated, gapping Betsema.

Betsema would reconnect once more, but then cracked on the run.

Brand attacked, but Worst stayed glued to Brand’s wheel on the final time up the bridge. With half a lap to go, the final two were off to the races.

Bar to Bar

With Brand on the attack, Worst was dangling but undeterred.

With one final surge, she passed Brand to take the lead under two minutes from the finish.

The lead didn’t last.

Heading up a slight rise, her rear tire slipped, giving Brand a chance to come back.

The two entered a right turn side-by-side. Worst leaned into Brand, but Brand had the inside line.

Worst slid out, hit the ground, and watched her chances of an Elite rainbow jersey ride away.

Lucinda Brand is wereldkampioen bij de vrouwen na een bitse strijd met Annemarie Worst en Denise Betsema pic.twitter.com/JXAyp3ZXN3

— Sporza 🚴 (@sporza_koers) January 30, 2021

Brand navigated the final slippery corners flawlessly, while Worst dabbed on a final, desperate rise to make it official. She was out of matches, her world title chances were up in flames, and Brand was launching to victory.

After countless close calls, Lucinda Brand can add World Champ to her palmares. Elite Women, 2021 Cyclocross World Championships, Ostend, Belgium. © Alain Vandepontseele / Cyclocross Magazine

Lucinda Brand sprinted down the final straight, and let out an exuberant primal scream. Her near misses are over.

The queen of the season is now the World Champ.

Brand gets her rainbow stripes ahead of Worst and Betsema. Elite Women, 2021 Cyclocross World Championships, Ostend, Belgium. © Alain Vandepontseele / Cyclocross Magazine

Rider Reactions

“So many years, I was so close!” said Brand after the finish with relief. “Finally, after such a great season, to finish it all off is really cool.”

After countless close calls, Lucinda Brand can add World Champ to her palmares. Elite Women, 2021 Cyclocross World Championships, Ostend, Belgium. © Alain Vandepontseele / Cyclocross Magazine

Recalling the fateful moment Worst went down, “I touched her elbow or something, it was the weakest part, so that’s why she crashed. It was not really nice, but it was not easy to avoid the situation.”

Honsinger had a stellar race to finish fourth, just off the podium. “Today’s race was a huge challenge between the sand and the cold rain, but difficult conditions suit me well,” she said. “I rode a steady race and continued to catch riders. It feels extremely satisfying to finish the season with a fourth-place finish at Worlds. I’m looking forward to some rest but extremely motivated for next year!”

Clara Honsinger excelled in the sand. Elite Women, 2021 Cyclocross World Championships, Ostend, Belgium. © Alain Vandepontseele / Cyclocross Magazine

Follow all our 2021 UCI Cyclocross World Championships coverage from Ostend, Belgium here.

2021 UCI Cyclocross World Championships Saturday Results: Elite Women

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