Lucinda Brand wins Merksplas Superprestige

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Lucinda Brand claimed a convincing victory at the Merksplas Superprestige on Saturday, soloing home ahead of Annemarie Worst and Denise Betsema after leading from start to finish.

Only Inge van der Heijden could try to follow Brand’s onslaught on the opening lap, but she was soon distanced. By the midpoint, the world champion had an advantage of 20 seconds, and she extended her advantage in the latter part of the race to take the spoils.

With the World Cup in Koksijde - one of the hardest races on the calendar - on Sunday, Brand was happy to be able to control her efforts on the last part of the race.

“It was advantageous that I did not have to go so deep in the final. I made sure that I quickly had a good gap, after that I was able to meter it nicely," Brand said.

"After the start I quickly realized that there was a gap, only then did I come up with the idea to continue. It's better to have them chasing."

Now with four victories in a row, Brand has found another level and explained how. "I got better. Everything I train in technique ensures that I reach a higher level every year. It also ensures that I go to the 'cross relaxed, and that makes a big difference."