On a muddy course in Niel, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado proved unstoppable, soloing to her fourth win of the cyclocross season in commanding style. Alvarado powered away from her competitors early, navigating the mud and tricky terrain of the Jaarmarktcross to take a definitive victory in the women’s race. Meanwhile, Laurens Sweeck took the men’s title, also breaking away early on to ride his way to a long-awaited Superprestige win.
Alvarado’s uncatchable lead in the women’s race
With her rival Fem van Empel on a break after the European Championships, Alvarado seized her chance to make an impact in Niel, one of Belgium’s most challenging cyclocross circuits. Heavy rain had left the track muddy, with the infamous Muur van Niel—a gruelling 500-metre forest climb—acting as a punishing final obstacle on each lap. Alvarado wasted no time, striking first in the opening lap as she surged to the front, leaving the rest of the field scrambling to keep up.
Lucinda Brand, fresh off a win in Lokeren the day before, tried to match Alvarado’s pace. Yet the Dutch national champion struggled to close the ten-second gap that quickly grew as Alvarado forged ahead. Brand’s difficulties were evident; after the race, she explained to WielerFlits, “I knew this morning it would be tough to win… I just didn’t have my day.” She mentioned that back pain, aggravated during the Lokeren race, continued to hinder her performance, further widening the gap between her and Alvarado.
As the laps went on, Alvarado continued to extend her lead, executing a nearly flawless ride despite the mud. She navigated the technical sections, including the sandpit and sharp turns, without missing a beat. In the later laps, Alvarado’s rivals fought for position behind her, with Sara Casasola initially holding third before Marion Norbert Riberolle overtook her in a final-lap sprint to secure the last spot on the podium. Reflecting on her day, Alvarado told WielerFlits, “It’s a tough course, but I actually enjoy riding here… If you’re at the front, there’s a clear advantage.”
Following her previous day’s mechanical issues in Lokeren, Alvarado’s victory in Niel was a hard-earned triumph. “Yesterday, I had bad luck, which was frustrating,” she shared. “So today, I was extra motivated to go for it from the start.”
With this win, Alvarado climbed to the top of the Superprestige standings, where she now shares the lead with Brand at 42 points each, establishing her as a strong contender for the overall title.
2024 Women’s Superprestige Niel result
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Photo Credit: Gregory van Gansen/PN/Cor VosSweeck solos to victory in men’s race
The men’s race also saw a powerful solo performance, as Laurens Sweeck took the lead from the outset and never looked back. The Belgian rider, who hadn’t won a Superprestige event in almost two years, found his rhythm early and maintained his advantage to the finish. The race saw eight laps, with Sweeck gradually extending his lead as heavy rain added another layer of difficulty.
“In the beginning, I didn’t really put pressure on it,” Sweeck said in his post-race interview with WielerFlits. “I just tried to find a good rhythm, tackle the obstacles well and get into a flow. That actually worked out pretty quickly.”
As Sweeck moved ahead, the race for second and third unfolded in the group behind. Niels Vandeputte and Spanish champion Felipe Orts battled it out for the podium, with Orts ultimately securing second place in an impressive finish. Sweeck’s lead held steady throughout, although he admitted that the relentless mud and rain made for a gruelling ride. “You do start to get tired and then it becomes treacherous. The mistakes did creep in,” he noted, though he managed to maintain control to the finish.
Despite Vandeputte’s efforts, he was eventually overtaken by Orts, who pushed ahead on the final lap to take second place. Vandeputte crossed the line third, finishing at 16 seconds behind Sweeck, while Eli Iserbyt, who led a late charge, came in fourth.
Sweeck’s long solo effort secured a popular victory and pushed him into the lead of the Superprestige standings. “I didn’t expect to be in the lead here from start to finish,” Sweeck admitted, noting that the course made it difficult to ride in groups. His victory and overall lead position make him one to watch as the Superprestige series continues.
2024 Men’s Superprestige Niel result
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Main photo credit: Cor Vos
