Lucinda Brand is a late scratch from the Antwerp World Cup race today. The Baloise Trek Lions rider has a cold and doesn’t feel fit enough to take part. Confirming the news via Instagram, Brand had had a hard race the day before at Boom. Not running near the front of the race, she pulled to the side and out of the race.
“My stupid head wanted to, but my body said no. I want to thank all the spectators for their encouragement.”
Lucinda Brand
Brand is expected to still take part in the Dublin round of the World Cup on 11th December but is expected to skip the Val di Sole round the following weekend. It’s been a tougher year for the former CX World Champion. Crashing in the build-up to the Tabor round of the World Cup, Brand broke her metacarpal bone which required surgery and time off the bike. It’s still not quite as it was, with Brand suffering an infection in her hand and requiring antibiotics. In her absence, the younger generation has taken full opportunity and has stamped their authority on cyclocross racing.
Brand isn’t the only absentee at Antwerp – Marion Norbert Riberolle will also not start. She also has a cold and so won’t race. She was 13th the day before at the Boom Superprestige race.
