Superprestige Merksplas (women)
13:40 Merksplas
A few days after her victory in Niel, Ceylin Alvarado also won the Merksplas Superprestige Cross. On the grounds of De Kolonie, former world champion Lucinda Brand was just ahead. Laura Verdonschot (10th) was the first Belgian.
With a solo in Niel and 2 victories in the past 2 years in Merksplas, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado was again the favorite today.
But it wasn’t a solo from start to finish like in Niel. The holeshot went to Marie Schreiber and the Luxembourg champion continued that blitz start strongly. She only had to tolerate the company of Alvarado and Lucinda Brand in the 2nd round.
In the end, 7 riders stayed together and it was a matter of waiting for mistakes to cause separation. First it was Brand who got the lead, but Alvarado closed the gap.
And in the penultimate round, Sara Casasola provided the decisive moment. She wanted to pass Brand on the inside bend, but hindered the Dutch and could not get past her herself. Alvarado was in the lead at that moment and got some advantage.
She didn’t give it up anymore, although she still had a scared moment in the last sandbox. But Brand did not return and Alvarado was victorious in Merksplas for the 3rd year in a row. Marie Schreiber surprisingly came 3rd.
Alvarado is now also the sole leader in the Superprestige, 1 point ahead of Brand.
Alvarado: “Had to seize that moment”
Ceylin Alvarado was still panting during the flash interview. “I had to go deep, but that gap meant that I had to grab my moment. I knew that on such a fast lap it would be difficult to close the gap unless you have super legs.”
“We have already seen in Lokeren that Lucinda and I are evenly matched. I took that moment, but the last round was really tough.”
Yet things still seemed to go wrong during the last passage in the sand. “I was tired and thinking that I had to get through that sand passage one more time to win. But then something went wrong halfway through and I lost focus. I ran as fast as I could, but that wasn’t fast anymore. “
“Lucinda was almost on my wheel, but I just kept riding until the finish because the sprint was too short to really sprint.”
Result Superprestige Merksplas
| name | result | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ceylin Alvarado | |
| 2 |  Lucinda Brand | |
| 3 | Marie Schreiber | |
| 4 | Sara Casasola | |
| 5 | Inge van der Heijden | |
| 6 | Annemarie Worst | |
| 7 | Zoe Backstedt | |
| 8 | Manon Baker | |
| 9 | Leonie Bentveld | |
| 10 | Laura Verdonschot |
Rash
1. Alvarado
2. Brand
3. Schreiber
4. Casasola
5. Van der Heijden
6. Worst
7. Bäckstedt
8. Bakker
9. Bentveld
10. Verdonschot
Hattrick Alvarado
The mistake in the sandbox made it even more exciting. But Alvarado wins in Merksplas, her 3rd win in a row here.
Brand comes 2nd, Schreiber is surprisingly 3rd ahead of Casasola.
Alvarado has to get off the bike and into the sandbox, which brings Brand closer. But she no longer visits Alvarado.
Brand pulls out all the stops, but the hole seems too big. Especially with the sandbox in mind, where Alvarado made a better turn than Brand for the time being.
Brand passes Schreiber and makes another effort to bring Alvarado back. Can she still return all the way to the front?
Last round
Alvarado has 5″ ahead of Schreiber and Brand, everything is still possible.
Alvarado goes clear through the sandbox, while Casasola hinders Brand somewhat. Schreiber moves up to place 2.
Alvarado rides 7″ ahead of Brand, Casasola and Schreiber. Will they return?
Casasola tries to outpace Brand with a clever maneuver, but her plan does not fully succeed. On the contrary, Alvarado has an advantage.
The leading trio becomes a fivesome again. Schreiber and Casasola return and Worst is also not far away. Tension is key!
Just before the sandbox, Alvarado passes Van der Heijden so she can choose her own line. A good move, because that’s how she gets to Brand’s wheel.
Brand was in the lead and made a mistake. As a result, she holds up everything else and gives her an advantage. Is this the beginning of her solo or will the rest come back?
Inge van der Heijden stayed on the bike and is now in the lead. Halfway through the race there are still 7 leaders.
Versnelling Casasola
Just before the sandbox, Casasola accelerates. Well seen from the Italian, because she has to get off the bike and the rest is held up.
Casasola and Bäckstedt also join the front, where Schreiber has not yet taken the lead. We have to wait for a new acceleration from Alvarado or Brand.
Schreiber caught up
After about fifteen minutes, Marie Schreiber’s solo is over. Alvarado and Brand make the connection, Bäckstedt and Casasola are also not far away.
The sandbox could play a decisive role in the match later. After that passage it is not far to the finish.
In the sandbox, Alvarado flies away from Brand, she is already almost on Schreiber’s heels. Fire is not far behind.
Alvarado takes over from Brand, but Schreiber still has a gap of 6 seconds.
Brand puts pressure and the group of pursuers splinters, only Alvarado is still in the wheel.
Brand and Alvarado pass Bäckstedt and take the initiative in pursuit of Schreiber. Verdonschot is suffering.
After the first round, Schreiber still has a gap. Behind the Luxembourg champion there is a long ribbon where Leonie Bentveld closes the line.
In the sandbox, Alvarado makes a nice passage together with Verdonschot, they connect with Casasola and Bäckstedt. Worst moved up to 2nd place.
Norbert Riberolle follows just under 20 seconds later. She is once again faced with a race to catch up.
Last year it was a struggle in Merksplas, but now it is dry and fast. Schreiber has already opened a small gap on Casasola. Can she keep this up?
Brand and Alvarado are already riding each other’s wheels in places 6 and 7. Will they continue to do this for the entire race? Then we could have a nice match.
Casasola is in 2nd position, followed by Worst, Verdonschot and Bäckstedt.
They’re gone!
The women have started it. Brand didn’t get off to a great start, Marie Schreiber took the holeshot.
The women are ready for the Strawberry Cross in Merksplas. Will Alvarado win her 3rd in Merksplas and in the Superprestige? Or will Brand put a stop to that?
A duel today?
Last weekend, Brand won in Lokeren after a long solo, partly because Alvarado had material problems. A day later in Niel, Alvarado triumphed again with a solo slim. Will we get to see a duel in Merksplas today?
No Fem van Empel yet
Fem van Empel is still taking a break after her European Championship triumph. Today the favorite status is shared between Alvarado and Brand. Last year, Alvarado won with a 25 second lead over Brand. Marion Norbert Riberolle then came 3rd, just like last Monday in Niel. Can she confirm today?
Round 4 in the Superprestige
After Ruddervoorde, Overijse and Niel, the 4th round of the Superprestige will be completed today in Merksplas. Ceylin Alvarado and Lucinda Brand share the lead with both 42 points. Will we have a duel for victory and the leadership position today?
Super prestige
