Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado secured back-to-back victories at the Citadelcross in Namur, the third round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup. The Dutch rider attacked decisively midway through the race, holding off a relentless late challenge from Lucinda Brand to repeat her triumph from last year. Puck Pieterse, making her season debut, crossed the line in third after a strong performance on the demanding Namur course.
The race began with Marie Schreiber leading the charge up the steep opening climb, her explosive start once again setting the early pace. Puck Pieterse quickly positioned herself in third, showcasing her sharpness despite this being her first cyclocross appearance of the season. However, others were less fortunate in the treacherous conditions. Fem van Empel, the reigning world champion, slid out twice on the slippery course during the opening lap, falling back alongside Brand, who also suffered an early crash on the descent to the cobbled climb.
While Schreiber and Blanka Kata Vas led the field through the opening laps, Alvarado began to take control. The Fenix-Deceuninck rider powered to the front during the second lap, bridging to the leaders before pulling clear. By the halfway point of the six-lap race, she had established a 20-second gap over Vas and Pieterse, both of whom struggled to match her pace. In the chasing group, Brand was beginning to recover from her slow start, using her technical skill to pick off riders and close in on the podium positions.
Alvarado’s dominance looked unshakable as she entered the final laps with a healthy lead, but Brand was not done yet. The Dutch national champion, riding with renewed strength, pushed past both Vas and Pieterse, setting her sights on Alvarado. On the final lap, a rare slip from Alvarado on the off-camber section briefly opened the door for Brand, who had reduced the gap to mere seconds. However, Alvarado rallied, delivering a final surge to take the victory by a slim margin.
Photo Credit: Cor VosBehind the leading duo, Pieterse held firm to claim third, marking an impressive return to cyclocross after months away. Vas faded slightly in the closing stages, finishing just outside the podium places, while Van Empel battled back to take seventh after her disastrous start.
After the race, Alvarado spoke about her thrilling victory: “I had to give it everything in the last lap. Lucinda was getting closer, but I managed to hold her off. Winning again here feels incredible – this course really suits me.”
Brand, who consolidated her lead in the World Cup standings with her second-place finish, reflected on her recovery ride. “It was a tough start for me today. I made a big mistake on the descent, but I just kept going. In the last laps, I felt really strong and thought I could maybe catch Ceylin, but she was just out of reach.”
Pieterse, pleased with her podium finish, admitted the race had been challenging. “It was heavy, and I had to get used to it again,” she said. “Of course, not everything went perfectly, but I’m glad I avoided major crashes or stupid mistakes. I think third place was the maximum possible today. Ceylin was just superior. At one point, I was riding with Blanka. I tried to drop her on the longer climbs, but when I saw that wasn’t working, I let her take the lead. When Lucinda came back, that spurred me on to chase too.”
Van Empel, who came into the race off the back of a solo victory in Herentals, acknowledged it had been a frustrating day. “I was way too eager on the first lap,” she admitted. “I made some mistakes and lost a lot of time. I soon knew I wasn’t going to compete for the prizes anymore, but I gave everything in the rounds that followed. My condition is good, and fortunately, I didn’t sustain any damage from the crashes. I’m already looking forward to the upcoming crosses.”
Brand now leads the World Cup standings with 100 points, 11 clear of Van Empel in second.
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Photo Credit: GettyVanthourenhout takes dramatic World Cup win in Namur as Aerts crashes late
Michael Vanthourenhout claimed his second consecutive UCI World Cup victory in Namur, capitalising on a dramatic final lap crash by Toon Aerts to secure the win on the demanding Belgian course. Aerts, who had attacked decisively at the start of the last lap, looked set for victory before a fall on the treacherous off-camber section allowed Vanthourenhout to power past and take the honours. Emiel Verstrynge completed the podium in third, delivering a career-best result.
The men’s elite race unfolded on the steep banks of Namur, with Aerts making the strongest start, leading on the opening climbs. Gerben Kuypers briefly took over the front as a large group formed, including key contenders Laurens Sweeck, Kevin Kuhn, and Verstrynge. Meanwhile, Vanthourenhout, the World Cup leader, struggled in the early laps, falling behind after a poor start.
Disaster struck early for Belgian champion Eli Iserbyt, who appeared to be suffering from nerve pain in his back. After dropping to 24th and clutching his leg in visible discomfort, Iserbyt abandoned the race. “It’s the same injury as last year,” his team boss Jürgen Mettepenningen told Het Nieuwsblad. “A muscle puts pressure on a nerve and causes a lot of pain. It has to be treated now, and we hope for improvement.” The injury leaves Iserbyt with a significant deficit in the overall World Cup standings.
As the race progressed, Vanthourenhout began to recover, moving steadily up the field. By the third lap, he had joined the leading group alongside Verstrynge, Aerts, and Kuypers. The quartet battled over the next laps, with Verstrynge attacking on lap five and distancing Kuypers. However, Vanthourenhout stayed close and made his move on the steep climb at the start of lap seven, taking the front as Aerts and Verstrynge hung on.
Aerts, who had measured his efforts carefully throughout the race, launched his attack on the final lap. Accelerating past Verstrynge, he opened a gap over Vanthourenhout on the descent. However, his hopes were dashed when he crashed on the off-camber section, allowing Vanthourenhout to take the lead. The World Cup leader stayed clean through the final technical sections and held on to take victory by a few seconds.
“It’s very important for me to do well in the overall,” Vanthourenhout said after extending his series lead. “I thought the race was over when Toon got the gap, but I knew this course can punish mistakes. When I saw him crash, I went full gas to the finish.” Reflecting on his form, he added, “If you are in good condition, then luck is by your side. I had an incredible feeling this weekend.”
For Aerts, the crash was a cruel end to what had been an impressive ride. Returning from a doping suspension earlier this season, he showed he could still compete with the best, finishing second despite his late misfortune.
Verstrynge celebrated his first elite World Cup podium, having pushed hard throughout the race. “It’s amazing to be on the podium here in Namur, especially after winning the U23 race here last year,” he said. “I felt strong, but those last laps were brutal.”
Vanthourenhout’s victory strengthens his hold on the World Cup lead, where he now sits 27 points clear of Aerts, with Iserbyt falling to fourth in the standings after his DNF. The next rounds, in Hulst and Zonhoven, will provide further tests on contrasting terrain, but for now, Vanthourenhout remains the man to beat.
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Main photo credit: Getty
