Lucinda Brand wins X²O Trophy Hamme-Zogge 2026 after final-lap duel with Casasola

Lucinda Brand completed a winning double across the Belgian cyclocross weekend by taking the women’s X²O Trophy at Hamme-Zogge on Sunday, 15 November. Just 24 hours after victory at Superprestige Merksplas, the world champion edged Sara Casasola in a two-rider sprint to secure her seventh win of the 2026–27 season.

Brand finished the Bollekescross in 47:31, two seconds ahead of the Italian champion. Amandine Fouquenet claimed third at ten seconds after Denise Betsema crashed in the final corner, with Manon Bakker taking fourth at 12 seconds. The result strengthened Brand’s position in the X²O Trophy, in which overall places are settled on cumulative time rather than the points system used in the Superprestige.

The outcome was far from straightforward. A relatively fast, dry course kept the leading group together for long periods, while Casasola worked her way back from a poor start and matched Brand through most of the decisive final lap. The world champion only established the winning advantage in the last technical sections and the finishing sprint.

How it unfolded

The Flandriencross returned to the traditional Hamme-Zogge circuit, bringing back a version of the course that had not hosted the event since 2013. Its distinguishing features included a constructed hill, short technical sections and a series of undulations, but the dry conditions allowed riders to maintain high speeds between obstacles.

Brand had arrived as the leading contender despite the ankle sprain that ended her race at Niel on Wednesday. She had already answered the immediate fitness question by winning Saturday’s Superprestige Merksplas, though Hamme would demand another series of sharp accelerations against riders who had also raced the previous day.

Fouquenet was first to take control at the start, with teammate Leonie Bentveld, Brand and Betsema quickly prominent. A small front group began to form as the race crossed the hill and the technical sections. However, a substantial group of challengers remained within reach, and the faster parts of the course made prolonged solo efforts difficult to sustain.

Betsema forces the first substantial selection

After one lap, Betsema and Fouquenet were among the leaders, with Bentveld and Inge van der Heijden attempting to close a small gap. The riders were closely matched, and the lead changed hands repeatedly rather than following the familiar pattern of one rider taking control early.

Casasola had made a poor start and spent the opening laps moving back through the field. By the third lap she had regained contact with the leading group, restoring her chances of another podium after narrowly missing victory in Merksplas.

Betsema attempted to force a separation during that third circuit, opening a small advantage of approximately four seconds. Brand immediately reacted, crossing to the front and pressing onwards. Betsema and Bakker were able to follow as the world champion briefly stretched the group.

That acceleration did not settle the race. Casasola continued her recovery until she rejoined the leaders, and Fouquenet also made it back. With a small group still disputing the front, every rider had to consider whether an attack could be sustained or simply bring the others back together for the finale.

Casasola challenges Brand on the final lap

Fouquenet accelerated as the race approached the final circuit, but the decisive battle soon shifted to Brand and Casasola. The Italian champion moved to the front and attacked through the open field, forcing Brand to respond instead of allowing the Dutch rider to control the entry to the technical section.

Brand came past over the barriers and carried greater speed through the uneven washboard section and onto the descent. For a moment, that looked sufficient to create the winning margin. Casasola refused to concede and worked back onto Brand’s wheel, setting up a sprint between the two riders.

The final metres favoured Brand. She accelerated clear and crossed the line two seconds in front of Casasola, claiming her second victory in as many days. It was not a long-range demonstration of superiority, but a precise final-lap effort after repeated changes at the front.

The struggle for third changed at the very last corner. Betsema appeared on course to complete the podium but slipped and fell, allowing Fouquenet to take third at ten seconds. Bakker was another two seconds behind in fourth, while Betsema recovered to finish fifth at 19 seconds.

Another narrow win reinforces Brand’s X²O Trophy advantage

Bentveld finished sixth at 35 seconds, with Kristýna Zemanová given the same gap in seventh. Van der Heijden followed at 48 seconds, ahead of Alicia Franck at 1:10 and Hélène Clauzel at 1:11. Those gaps reflected the repeated accelerations that finally separated a leading group which had spent much of the race almost inseparable.

For Brand, Hamme extended a striking recovery from her withdrawal at Niel. Rather than simply completing the following weekend’s races, she won twice, first by riding away through the sand at Merksplas and then by beating Casasola in a tight finish at Hamme.

Casasola’s second place was another strong performance, particularly after her slow start, but she was again unable to turn sustained pressure into a victory. The order mirrored the opening X²O round at the Koppenbergcross, with Brand ahead of the Italian champion, and further consolidated the world champion’s advantage in the time-based competition.

X²O Trophy Hamme-Zogge women 2026 result