The Off-Camber Giveth and Taketh Away in Elite Women’s World Cup Hoogerheide – Report

Heading into the final round of the 2019/20 Telenet UCI World Cup, only 5 points separated main contenders Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Fenix) and Annemarie Worst (777) in the general classification. If Worst finished before Alvarado today, she would likely win the overall. Alvarado faced the task of bettering her Dutch rival.

The stage for the exciting finale of the 2019-2020 Word Cup was the cyclocross course in the Dutch city of Hoogerheide, the original stomping grounds of Adri van der Poel, the 1996 World Champion cyclocross and father of current World Champion cyclocross Mathieu van der Poel.

Hoogerheide offers one of the most beautiful courses in cyclocross and has been the scene of multiple world championships, the last time in 2014 when Marianne Vos (CCC – Liv) captured her 7th title. In 2023, Hoogerheide will once again host the World Championships.

On Sunday, Inge van der Heijden (CCC – Liv) and Worst led the pack in the first lap. Alvarado made sure to hold on to Worst’s wheel as the overall win in the World Cup was at stake. Katie Compton (KFC Racing p/b Trek/Knight), who won in Hoogerheide in 2011, attacked at the end of the first lap but was immediately countered.

Lucinda Brand leads a group of riders early in the race. 2020 World Cup Hoogerheide, Netherlands. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

In lap 3, it was European champion Yara Kastelijn (777) who took the lead. She gave her all on the long climb, but Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing CX) took Worst, Alvarado, Lucinda Brand (Telenet Baloise Lions), World Champion Cant (IKO-Crelan) and Van der Heijden back to her wheel. On the off-chamber Brand decided to take the lower track, which soon turned out not to be her best decision as she dived into the Dutch soil.

As the race and the 2019-2020 World Cup was coming to an end, Alvarado and Worst started tormenting each other. The consecutive attacks gave them an advantage on the others, but not being able to get rid of each other the pace dropped again. Brand, Cant, Kastelijn and Richards rejoined.

Annemarie Worst leads the group of riders battling at the front. 2020 World Cup Hoogerheide, Netherlands. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Brand then attacked at the end of the second to last lap. Alvarado responded with Worst on her wheel. The three distanced themselves and prepared themselves for the last World Cup lap in the 2019-2020 season.

Brand attacked at the start of the last lap. 2020 World Cup Hoogerheide, Netherlands. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Brand lifted the pace to an ultimate high going towards the last passage of stairs. Alvarado pushed herself passed Brand on the stairs, while Worst seemed to have a tough moment. Was this the decisive moment with only the off-chamber and the final stretch left?

It wasn’t, as spectators saw a drama unfolding.

As Alvarado entered the off-chamber, her front wheel dropped off the upper level of the track. She crashed and quickly tried to find her bike, as Worst was passing by her. The chain, however, had dropped and Brand and Worst took off towards the final stretch.

Brand put down a powerful sprint and took the win.

Lucinda Brand celebrates her win. 2020 World Cup Hoogerheide, Netherlands. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Worst took second, but as she finished in front of Alvarado, she won the overall classification in the 2019-2020 World Cup. Cant, Kastelijn and Richards all passed Alvarado as well, but it was the World Champion who took the last spot on the podium. Alvarado still won the U23 World Cup title.

World Cup overall podium: Annemarie Worst, Ceylin Alvarado and Katerina Nash. 2020 World Cup Hoogerheide, Netherlands. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Despite the drama for the World Cup victory, Brand seemed very happy with her 5th win of the season.

“It’s very nice to win here. The last race before the World Championships, it’s always good to win that one,” Brand said.

Maghalie Rochette (Specialized x Feedback Sports) finished 8th, Caroline Mani (Pactimo / Colorado Proud) 14th, Compton, 15th, Katie Clouse (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld) 17th, Katerina Nash (Clif Pro Team) 19th, Clara Honsinger (Team S&M CX) 21st, Rebecca Fahringer (Kona Maxxis Shimano) 30th, Sammi Runnels (Squid x Eliel) 37th, Madigan Munro (Boulder Junior Cycling) 38th, Ruby West (Pivot / Maxxis p/b Stan’s NoTubes) 46th, Hannah Arensman (JA King Cyclocross) 53rd, Lizzy Gunsalus (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld) 54th, Emily Johnston (Naked Factory Racing) 55th, Emily Werner (Amy D. Foundation) 57th, Shannon Mallory (NW Women’s CX Project) 65th, Dana Gilligan (Hardwood Next Wave) 74th and Claire Steciuk (Hardwood Next Wave) 79th.

Full results are below.

Elite Women Results: 2020 World Cup Hoogerheide