Alvarado breaks Lucinda Brand's reign in a chaotic and snowy World Cup in Zonhoven

The Zonhoven Cyclocross World Cup left one of those races that alone justify the fame of the Belgian circuit. Snow, constant falls, decisive mistakes, and a tense conclusion served as the backdrop for Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado to end Lucinda Brand's historic winning streak, which had accumulated thirteen consecutive victories.

Ceylin Alvarado breaks Lucinda Brand's streak in an epic Zonhoven World Cup marked by snow

The course, transformed into a true minefield after the snowfall that fell during the morning, once again turned the feared Kuil into a critical point of the race. There, no one was safe, and every mistake came at a high cost. Brand started as the clear favorite, although Zonhoven has always been an elusive stage for her, she had never won here and carried bitter memories from previous seasons.

The start was explosive, with Puck Pieterse charging to the front with an aggression that set the pace from the first lap. Brand, on the other hand, had a complicated start due to a mechanical problem and a fall that forced her to climb back from behind. Only Alvarado was able to stay with the best without taking excessive risks, a race reading that would prove to be key.

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As the laps went by, the race turned into a battle of endurance. Pieterse paid dearly for several mistakes and a fall that forced her to change bikes, while Brand, true to her style, managed to recover and even took the lead. However, the succession of small errors began to undermine her chances.

The decisive moment came in the last lap. When Brand seemed to have neutralized Alvarado again, a snag with a banner forced her to put a foot down. Alvarado did not hesitate, accelerated decisively, opened a definitive gap, and headed towards her second consecutive victory, also closing a complicated stage of the season.

After the race, Alvarado acknowledged that this victory means “leaving behind a difficult period” and confirmed that she feels back to the level that has allowed her to win major events in the past. Brand, finishing second, accepted the outcome with sportsmanship and, despite the end of her streak, reinforced her lead in the overall World Cup standings.

Top 10 Cyclocross World Cup – Zonhoven (Elite Women)

1. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix–Premier Tech) – 51:33
2. Lucinda Brand (Baloise Verzekeringen–Het Poetsbureau Lions) +23”
3. Puck Pieterse (Fenix–Premier Tech) +49”
4. Amandine Fouquenet (Pauwels Sauzen–Altez) +1:27
5. Shirin van Anrooij (Baloise Verzekeringen–Het Poetsbureau Lions) +1:39
6. Aniek van Alphen (Seven Racing) +1:46
7. Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen–Altez) +2:21
8. Kristýna Zemanová (Brilon Racing Team MB) +2:28
9. Manon Bakker (Crelan–Corendon) +2:29
10. Zoe Backstedt (Canyon//SRAM Racing) +2:42

Top 10 Overall Standings UCI Cyclocross World Cup 2025-2026 (Elite Women)

1. Lucinda Brand – 310 pts
2. Aniek van Alphen – 228 pts
3. Amandine Fouquenet – 180 pts
4. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado – 174 pts
5. Leonie Bentveld – 167 pts
6. Shirin van Anrooij – 160 pts
7. Puck Pieterse – 145 pts
8. Inge van der Heijden – 135 pts
9. Manon Bakker – 132 pts
10. Denise Betsema – 114 pts