“I didn’t like it very much”

Things have long seemed rosy for Ceylin del Carmen at Superprestige Gullegem. But in the final round she had to bow her head not only to the returning Lucinda Brand, but also to Zoe Bäckstedt. In the last race lane there was some push from Alvarado towards Bäckstedt. What happened there?

“She walked past me and immediately cut me off,” Alvarado said in the flash interview that followed. “That’s why she pushed me with her bike. I didn’t like it very much. She could have done it, but maybe a little further. I try to push her back on her line. This is what happened. Did this have an influence on the final result? I don’t know. We sprinted to the finish. No idea.

Did Alvarado see Brand’s return coming? “Yes yes. It never lasted more than ten seconds. I tried it myself, but it didn’t work. At some point you know what time it is. Today I couldn’t do any harder than that. I knew it was going to be a difficult story. When he returns, it’s about trying to limit the damage as much as possible, or at least being in control. But it just wasn’t possible.

Place of the lost leader and Superprestige
However, Alvarado is a little disappointed. “I would have liked to maintain my leading position,” she emphasizes, affirming having lost first place in the Superprestige to Brand. As Alvarado “only” finished third, she is now one point behind the Dutch champion. “But that’s how it is. If you’re not at your best today and someone else is, so be it. I fought for what I am worth.