GP Sven Nys: Alvarado draws first blood in 2021

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World champion gets the better of Brand and Betsema in Baal

X2O Trophy Herentals 2020
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Fenix) drew first blood in 2021, getting the better of Lucinda Brand (Telenet Baloise Lions) at the GP Sven Nys in Baal on New Year's Day. 

The pair have shared the spoils over much of the cyclo-cross campaign so far and once again duked it out in the fifth round of the X²O Badkamers Trofee series. 

Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) claimed the final spot on an all-Dutch podium, having made the early running. 

When Brand launched a stinging acceleration, Betsema fell away. Alvarado, however, hung firm, and even changed bike on the final lap before opening a gap on a descent and prizing it open all the way to the finish. 

The world champion crossed the line alone, four seconds ahead of Brand, while Betsema trailed in at 19 seconds. Fem van Empel (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Sanne Cant (Iko-Crelan) were the next across the line, but more than a minute in arrears. 

Alvarado's win was not enough to repair the damage she suffered in the overall series standings when she had a costly mechanical at Scheldecross in round 3. The GC is based on overall time and Brand extended her lead at the top of the leaderboard with three rounds remaining.

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Full Results
Pos.Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Ned) Alpecin - Fenix 0:39:52
2Lucinda Brand (Ned) Baloise Trek Lions 0:00:04
3Denise Betsema (Ned) Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal 0:00:19
4Fem Van Empel (Ned) Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal 0:01:04
5Sanne Cant (Bel) Iko - Crelan
6Annemarie Worst (Ned) 777 0:01:24
7Clara Honsinger (USA) 0:01:36
8Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Credishop-Fristads 0:01:53
9Manon Bakker (Ned) Credishop-Fristads 0:02:05
10Laura Verdonschot (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal 0:02:34
11Aniek Van Alphen (Ned) Credishop-Fristads 0:02:42
12Maghalie Rochette (Can) 0:02:57
13Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) 777 0:03:09
14Anne Tauber (Ned) 0:03:44
15Madigan Munro (USA) Trek Factory Racing Cx 0:04:08
16Marthe Truyen (Bel) Baloise Trek Lions 0:04:20
17Katherine Compton (USA) 0:04:27
18Kaitlin Keough (USA) 0:04:31
19Kiona Crabbé (Bel) 0:05:04
20Julie De Wilde (Bel) Iko - Crelan 0:05:38
21Sidney Mcgill (Can) 0:06:58
22Fauve Bastiaenssen (Bel) 0:07:20
23Sara Cueto Vega (Spa) 0:07:39
24Esther Van Der Burg (Ned) Proximus - Alphamotorhomes - Doltcini Ct 0:07:56
25Tessa Zwaenepoel (Bel) Proximus - Alphamotorhomes - Doltcini Ct 0:08:27
26Laura Greenhalgh (GBr) 0:08:52
27Julie Brouwers (Bel) 0:08:57
28Paula Diaz Lopez (Spa) 0:09:14
29Sandra Trevilla Samperio (Spa) 0:10:18
30Siobhan Kelly (Can) 0:11:07
31Maria Parajon Fuentes (Spa)
DNFKim Van De Steene (Bel)
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