Strong Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado dominates from start to finish in Superprestige Niel

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado has taken her fourth victory of the cyclo-cross season. The Dutch rider from Fenix-Deceuninck turned out to be in a class of her own in Niel’s Superprestige. Alvarado rode away from her opponents in the first lap and soloed to victory on the muddy course. Lucinda Brand finished second at an appropriate distance, Marion Norbert Riberolle finished third.

On November 11 it is traditionally time for the Annual Market Cross in Niel. The route of the Jaarmarktcross is a blueprint from last year. The toughest zone awaits at the very end of the round. This is the so-called Wall of Niel, a 500-meter passage through the forest, which was only added to the course in 2021. Furthermore, the round – especially in the initial phase – also contains some technical zones, with a washboard, sharp bends and a sixty-meter sandbox.

Now that Fem van Empel has started her rest period after the European Championship, it was up to the other riders to reap the rewards. Most eyes were focused on Lucinda Brand – who was the best in the X2O Trophy of Lokeren on Sunday – and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado. We were also looking forward to Italian champion Sara Casasola, Inge van der Heijden, Laura Verdonschot and Marion Norbert Riberolle, among others.

Alvarado takes initiative early on
Due to the rainfall, the course in Niel – unlike the first crosses of the season – was muddy and difficult. Van der Heijden was not deterred and was the first to enter the field after a razor-sharp start, but the other top players were also alert. Alvarado decided to throw her cards on the table for the first time after half a round. The Dutch woman with Dominican roots pushed on strongly and immediately made a big break with the first pursuers.

Brand smelled the danger and decided to start the hunt for her compatriot, but after one lap she was already behind by about ten seconds. In short, the Dutch champion was forced to chase early on and had to passively watch as Alvarado drove further and further away. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider proved unstoppable and managed to more than double her lead in the second round. Brand in turn defended a limited lead over Van der Heijden, Aniek van Alphen and Casasola, who was busy catching up.

One-woman show, fierce battle for other podium spots
But today there was no problem against Alvarado. The leader managed to further expand her lead over Brand and Casasola, who had now climbed to third place, in the subsequent rounds. The victory seemed to be beyond Alvarado’s grasp, but the battle for the remaining podium spots promised to be very interesting. Brand was joined by Casasola in the penultimate lap and an unleashed Marion Norbert-Riberolle also had the prospect of more.

Alvarado also remained clear in the fifth and final round and impressively soloed to her fourth victory of the season, after previous victories in Ardooie, Ruddervoorde and on the Heerderstrand. Alvarado also did excellent things with a view to the overall victory in the Superprestige: she is once again in the lead in this regularity criterion.

In the battle for second place, the tough and experienced Brand came out on top. Casasola seemed to be on his way to third place, but was stopped in the final straight line by Norbert Riberolle.