Brand’s runner-up position on the day solidified her top prize, with the Dutch rider the clear winner of the X2O Badkamers Trofee title after delivering six consecutive wins in the series leading up to the Brussels event. She was only off the podium at the opening round at Koppenbergcross where she was fifth. Betsema was second in the series, while Annemarie Worst (777), who was fifth on the day, completed the series top three.
Sunday’s victory was a long-awaited return to the top step for Betsema, who last won back-to-back races in October 2021 at World Cup Zonhoven and Superprestige Ruddervoorde. She finished second overall in those two series as well.
"I felt very good from the start and I soon saw that I had a gap on Lucinda. I played all or nothing, but the legs remained good. Finally I got another win,” Betsema told Sporza at the finish.
“The lead remained stable and that was good for my morale. It's nice to be able to win at the end of the season. This win is very happy."
On Sunday in Belgium, Betsema rode off the front with Worst on the opening lap, but Brand was charging behind.
By the third lap, Betsema opened a gap of more than 10 seconds after Brand had a slight bobble. On the next lap in the same off-camber section it was Worst who took a tumble, which delayed Brand.
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Because of a second fall by Worst on the slippery surface, Bakker was able to gain an advantage, which she held for third place. The top two spots were never in jeopardy of changing at the end.
"I wasn't good with it and went too much in the red in the beginning. Denise was super strong today, it's not for nothing that I went down. I couldn't drive comfortably. I felt I could still get there I was able to drive, but after my fall I couldn't anymore," Brand told Sporza.
There are just two cyclo-cross events remaining on the calendar, for next weekend, with the final round of Ethias Cross in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium on Saturday.
Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. On the bike, she has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast), and spends time on gravel around horse farms in north Georgia.
My best guess would be that social media has accelerated the glorification and fetishization of the Alpe d’Huez atmosphere, and more and more people are heading up with the primary focus of seeking out the hot-spots where the music is loudest, and the costumes are wildest.
