Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado defeats Lucinda Brand at Flandriencross Hamme

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado has taken victory in the final round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee at Flandriencross Hamme, beating her rival Lucinda Brand in a dramatic victory.

For the first time since her return to cyclocross, Zoe Backstedt took the lead for the first two laps, getting off to a brilliant start. However, in the third lap, the Welshwoman was left behind and overtaken, first by the national champions of Italy and Holland, Sara Casasola and Lucinda Brand, and then by Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado.

Heading into the final two laps, the trio of Casasola, Brand and Alvarado seemed to be deciding the win between them, but Backstedt was still not completely out of the running in fourth position. On the penultimate lap, Casasola tried to distance himself, but the bell rang and the three leaders were still together. Alvarado led the entire last lap, with Casasola at the wheel and Brand holding on behind. However, in the final part, Brand buried herself, leaving the Italian behind and slipping into the slipstream in the final stretch. Alvarado held on and took the victory.