The Superprestige Diegem saw Lucinda Brand return to winning ways in the women’s event, seizing control in the final laps of a cold and damp evening race. The Dutch national champion surged ahead of her main rival, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, in the penultimate lap and maintained her lead to secure a decisive victory.
The action began with Leonie Bentveld claiming the first corner, while a crash in the packed field disrupted the race early. As the riders navigated the opening lap, Brand joined Alvarado, French champion Hélène Clauzel, and Bentveld in a lead group. Soon after, Inge van der Heijden closed the gap, forming a select group of contenders. Behind them, Belgian champion Sanne Cant led a chasing pack, while Anna Kay impressed by overtaking multiple riders on an off-camber section.
The second lap saw Alvarado and Van der Heijden open a slight advantage, forcing Brand to bridge across in pursuit. As light rain began to fall, the technical sections became more treacherous, particularly the sand pit and steep climbs. Van der Heijden, known for her skill in the sand, briefly lost touch with the leaders but showed determination to claw her way back.
The decisive moment came on the Regimentsberg climb during the fifth lap. Brand attacked fiercely, capitalising on Alvarado’s bike change to break away. “When she switched bikes, I knew I had to take the risk and keep going with what I had,” Brand explained post-race. Alvarado admitted she couldn’t match Brand’s strength in the final laps, saying, “Lucinda saw her chance and took it. I already felt it would be tough to keep up with her pace.”
Van der Heijden overcame mechanical issues in the final laps, twice having to deal with a dropped chain but recovering to secure third place. “I tried to stay calm and focus on getting back in the race,” she reflected afterwards. Bentveld finished fourth, with Cant rounding out the top five in an emotional farewell to her home fans.
Brand’s victory tightens the Superprestige standings, with Alvarado now just one point ahead as the series heads into its final two rounds.
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Photo Credit: Cor VosLaurens Sweeck triumphs after a dramatic finale in the men’s race
Laurens Sweeck powered to victory in the men’s event in Diegem after an intense final lap battle with Niels Vandeputte and Thibau Nys. The Belgian rider showed determination and strength in the closing stages to outpace his rivals, while Nys, the European champion, faltered in the final metres.
The men’s race began with chaos as a fierce sprint for the hole shot left Lars van der Haar narrowly avoiding a crash. US champion Andrew Strohmeyer briefly led the field with a daring move through the off-camber section, but the race soon settled into a battle between the main contenders. Early attacks from Michael Vanthourenhout, Felipe Orts, and Tibor Del Grosso shaped the race, with Nys and Vandeputte joining the fray after recovering from slower starts.
By the halfway mark, a strong group of ten riders emerged, including Sweeck, Nys, Vandeputte, Del Grosso, and Vanthourenhout. The sand pit proved pivotal, splitting the group and leaving Sweeck, Nys, and Vandeputte as the main contenders. Despite several attempts to break away, the trio remained locked together heading into the final lap.
Vandeputte launched the first major attack on the final climb, but Sweeck responded decisively, and Nys bridged the gap to rejoin the leaders. In the final technical sections, Sweeck outmanoeuvred Nys, passing him before the run-up. Nys struggled to clip in after the climb, allowing Sweeck to sprint to victory and Vandeputte to steal second place.
Reflecting on his win, Sweeck said, “It was a tough race with constant pressure, but I’m glad I could finish it off.” A disappointed Nys, who finished third, acknowledged his mistake in the final moments, saying, “I missed my chance in the sprint when I couldn’t clip in.”
The victory marks a significant milestone for Sweeck in the Superprestige series, while Vandeputte retains the overall lead. The men’s standings remain tight, setting up an exciting conclusion to the series in the coming weeks.
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Main photo credit: Getty
