On 10th November, Lucinda Brand powered her way to a solo victory in Lokeren’s Rapencross, the second round of the X2O Trofee series. With reigning European champion Fem van Empel opting to rest after her recent title win, Brand and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado emerged as the primary favourites. However, a mechanical issue for Alvarado in the first lap shaped the race, allowing Brand to build an unassailable lead.
Italian champion Sara Casasola took the holeshot, with Brand working her way up from seventh. As Casasola led, a five-rider lead group formed, including Brand, Casasola, Laura Verdonschot, and debutant Zoe Bäckstedt. Alvarado was conspicuously absent, having suffered a chain issue as she rode over the planks. “We were riding over those planks, and I caught my pedal, which pushed my foot back,” Alvarado explained. “I wasn’t in the lightest gear, but the chain came off and wouldn’t go back on.” The setback forced her to chase from behind as Brand pressed forward.
Realising Alvarado’s difficulty, Brand ramped up the pace. “I saw that Ceylin was having trouble with her chain, so I knew I needed to push harder,” Brand noted post-race. Verdonschot initially worked to control the lead group, but Brand seized her opportunity and began to extend her lead. By the third lap, she had widened the gap over her main rivals, with Alvarado still struggling to regain contact.
With two laps remaining, Brand held a 13-second advantage, gradually increasing it to a secure 25-second cushion over Alvarado by the bell lap. Alvarado’s chase efforts proved strong but insufficient to close down the gap. “Every time I made up two or three seconds, I lost it again,” Alvarado lamented, acknowledging that the course’s narrow sections complicated overtaking. She ultimately took second, finishing 21 seconds behind Brand, with Casasola rounding off the podium in third. Reflecting on her ride, Casasola said, “Lucinda and Ceylin were both very strong, so third was the best I could do today. I’m pleased with how I felt during the race.”
Despite her victory, Brand remained self-critical, pointing out moments where she lost focus. “I was trying to balance going hard to the finish while saving a bit for tomorrow’s race in Niel. But I made some silly mistakes, something I need to be more critical about,” she admitted.
2024 Women’s X20 Badkamers Trophee Lokeren result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Nys charges to victory in men’s race as Iserbyt’s crash alters lead group
In the men’s race, Thibau Nys seized his first victory in the European champion’s jersey, attacking his way to a commanding win. Nys rode away from a lead group including Eli Iserbyt, whose race took a dramatic turn when he crashed and faced mechanical problems, ultimately costing him a shot at the win.
The race opened with Lars van der Haar and Niels Vandeputte taking the lead, but it was Iserbyt who quickly surged forward, initiating a split in the main group. Nys slotted in behind, joined by Van der Haar and Vandeputte as the race settled into its early rhythm. Baloise Trek Lions capitalised on their team strength when Nys attacked in the second lap, as Van der Haar eased off slightly to support the move.
While the group behind Nys worked to close the gap, Iserbyt pressed hard in the fifth lap, pulling away with Vandeputte, Van der Haar, and Laurens Sweeck in pursuit. However, as he attempted to increase the tempo, Iserbyt crashed, sustaining damage to his bike’s gearing system. “I went down there on the hill on the right side, and my gears were jammed into safe mode, so I couldn’t shift anymore,” he explained. “After that, it was all about keeping my head down and pushing forward.”
The incident proved pivotal, as Iserbyt struggled with the mechanics of his bike and dropped back, leaving Nys to surge ahead. “When Eli fell, I took the opportunity to increase my effort,” Nys said post-race. “That was the moment everything came together; my rhythm and my legs fell into place.”
Nys continued to pull away, leading by 18 seconds with three laps remaining. Vandeputte and Jente Michels pursued, with Van der Haar and Sweeck attempting to regain ground. Iserbyt, meanwhile, fought back to limit his losses, eventually finishing in fifth behind Van der Haar.
After an intense nine laps, Nys crossed the line with a comfortable gap, celebrating his debut win in the European champion’s jersey. Vandeputte took second, while Michels completed the podium in third.
2024 Men’s X20 Badkamers Trophee Lokeren result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Cor Vos
