Brand reasserts overall victory with win in Hoogerheide

Lucinda Brand had already secured the overall victory in the classification after the penultimate World Cup round in Maasmechelen. By winning in Hoogerheide, she gave her overall victory yet more lustre. She finished ahead of Vas and Pieterse.

In the last round of the World Cup season, it was Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) who grabbed the lead on the first lap. World champion Van Empel (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) swapped bikes on the opening lap, causing her to drop a few places. Meanwhile, at the front, Pieterse was joined by Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions). The two appeared to be working well together, but a slide by Pieterse on the second lap left Brand alone in front.

Behind, a chasing group of three formed with Pieterse, Vas (Team SD Worx-Protime), and Van Empel. World champion Van Empel impressed with her powerful running passages, but was unable to bridge the gap to Brand. Quite the opposite in fact; the World Cup winner extended her lead second by second. After three of the five laps, Brand had built up a 23-second lead.

Pieterse fell out of contention after a second slide, and world champion Van Empel also took a tumble. This left Vas alone in pursuit of Brand, the race leader. Entering the final lap, the difference between the two was 27 seconds. That gap would remain too much for Vas. Brand ultimately crossed the finishing line 28 seconds ahead of the Hungarian. In the end, Pieterse held off world champion Van Empel and took third place on the podium in the final event of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup 2024-2025.