Lucinda Brand of Baloise Trek Lions clinched her first World Cup victory since January 2022 at the Dublin event, triumphing in challenging muddy conditions to the surprise of even herself. “I hoped for this but certainly didn’t expect it,” Brand remarked post-race. She described the intense start and how she managed to establish a small lead after a tough technical section, choosing to then apply pressure, although maintaining the gap proved challenging. “I felt incredibly strong,” she admitted, acknowledging the rain and mud in Dublin played to her advantage, allowing her to push hard and recover along the way.
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado solidified her lead in the World Cup standings but couldn’t secure the Dublin win, settling for second place behind Brand. “This was the best I could do today,” Alvarado conceded, expressing a mix of disappointment and satisfaction, particularly in keeping Zoe Bäckstedt and Marie Schreiber at bay. She admitted struggling to find a rhythm and acknowledged Brand’s strength. “My mistakes made a big difference on this challenging course,” Alvarado added, reflecting on an incident where her handlebar caught a fence, costing her valuable seconds.
Bäckstedt, finishing third, mentioned feeling tired but found the rainy conditions and muddy terrain to her liking, leading to an enjoyable race. She shared her initial nervousness at the start but was pleased with her performance and the race’s nature.
The event marked Brand’s first World Cup win since her victory in Hulst in 2022. Leonie Bentveld initially led but soon gave way to Alvarado, with Brand, Bäckstedt, and Schreiber quickly showing their prowess. Brand eventually broke away, establishing a lead that only Alvarado briefly challenged. Despite a hiccup involving the fence, Brand maintained her lead, crossing the finish line solo after nearly 55 minutes of racing. Bäckstedt secured third place, managing to stay ahead of Schreiber, while Sara Casasola fell back to ninth place in the final stages of the race.
2023 Dublin World Cup Women result
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