Alvarado back to her best at Jaarmarketcross Superprestige

Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck) took her first win of the season at the Niel Superprestige race, beating Denise Betsema (Pauwel Sauzen-Bingoal) after a close duel. 

Alvarado was behind her rivals at the start of the final lap but surged past on a climb and held on to win alone. Inge van der Heijden was third ast 54 seconds.

Alvarado broke into tears after her victory, letting out the emotions of her first win since 2021. 

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"My last win was way too long ago," she said in tears. "I had to wait a long time for it. Hopefully I've finally kicked things off and can now compete for the win every time."

Alvarado talked about her battle with Betsema, who won the first round of the Superprestige in Ruddervoorde.

"It was a tough race. The first half of the race was better for me, the second for Denise. Then in the final lap it was all or nothing. It was one lap full of speed."

A number of big names were missing from the Niel start list, including new European champion Fem van Empel and three-time winner Lucinda Brand, who is still recovering from her fractured hand.  

Inge van der Heijden, Sanne Cant and Aniek van Alphen all tried to follow Alvarado and Betsema after the fast start but soon faded or lost ground due to technical errors. 

Alvarado sensed her chance of victory but couldn’t get rid of Betsema, the two swapping positions on the technically demanding course. 

She finally got away on a steep rise as Betsema slowed and lost contact. She managed to close the gap through the sand pit on the final lap but then Alvarado surged again to secure victory after 21 months, and so celebrate in tears. 

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