Luxembourg’s Marie Schreiber overcame a strong challenge from world champion Lucinda Brand to claim a stunning victory in the women’s elite race at the UEC European Cyclo-cross championships in Zeddam on Saturday. She became the first non-Dutch rider since 2017 to take the title, after a thrilling battle with Brand and her compatriot Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado.
Schreiber put in her characteristic lightning-fast start to take an early lead, and her strength on the gruelling stair climb made life difficult for the stacked Dutch side, who were finally able to close her down on lap three. They could not shake her entirely though, and it all came down to a final sprint for the line across the long uphill start/finish straight. Brand came off Schreiber’s wheel and fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the younger rider all the way to the line, with the pair appearing to cross the line side by side. Finally confirmation came that Schreiber had edged out Brand, denying the Dutch a victory on home soil on day one of the Championships.
