Mason and Bakker win as Brand abandons the Superprestige in Niel in tears

The Superprestige in Niel, held this Wednesday, has left two unexpected winners on a day marked by mud, rain, and numerous difficulties on the circuit. Cameron Mason and Manon Bakker took the victories, although the most concerning news was the withdrawal of Lucinda Brand due to a possible ankle injury.

Cameron Mason achieves his first major victory

The British rider Cameron Mason has secured the most important victory of his cyclocross career after winning a particularly challenging men's race due to mud and mechanical issues.

Michael Vanthourenhout seemed to be one of the main candidates for victory, but a flat tire and a fall on the penultimate lap ended his chances. Joran Wyseure, Kevin Kuhn, and Joris Nieuwenhuis also faced mechanical problems.

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Mason took advantage of the situation to distance himself from Wyseure before the final lap and crossed the finish line with a 20-second lead. Nieuwenhuis completed the podium, while the Spaniard Felipe Orts achieved a notable fourth place, just 39 seconds behind the winner. Additionally, Mason becomes the new leader of the overall Superprestige standings.

Superprestige Niel 2026 Results – Men

• Cameron Mason – 1:03:44
• Joran Wyseure – +20"
• Joris Nieuwenhuis – +27"
• Felipe Orts – +39"
• Giel Lejeune – +54"

Manon Bakker dominates the women's race and wins a major event three years later

In the women's competition, Manon Bakker took advantage of a particularly demanding circuit to achieve her first victory in a major cyclocross event since December 2023.

The Dutch rider attacked in the early laps and built a lead that her rivals could never neutralize. The numerous sections where it was necessary to dismount favored her characteristics and allowed her to maintain the lead until the finish.

Sara Casasola, who had to recover after a poor start, finished second, 14 seconds behind, while Denise Betsema completed the podium. Aniek van Alphen, in fifth place, retains the lead in the overall women's standings.

Concern for Lucinda Brand after withdrawing in tears

The most concerning image of the day came in the first lap of the women's race. Lucinda Brand, the reigning world champion and recently crowned European champion, had to withdraw after just five minutes of competition. The Dutch rider went off the line on a small climb and, while trying to brace herself to avoid falling, suffered a sprain in her right foot. Although she tried to continue, the pain prevented her from going on, and she ended up withdrawing in tears.

| The race in Niel lasts only 5 minutes for the newly crowned European champion Lucinda Brand. She hits the fence and steps off in tears. #Superprestige Cross HBO Max https://t.co/ekxYrJbPjp

— Eurosport Nederland (@Eurosport_NL) November 11, 2026

Her sports director, Sven Nys, explained that Brand could not apply pressure with her foot and needed to undergo an examination to rule out ligament damage. "If Lucinda has tears in her eyes, it's usually not a good sign. She's a very tough woman, so I'm quite worried," Nys admitted. For now, there is no definitive diagnosis regarding the extent of the injury, which could complicate the excellent start to the season for the Dutch rider.

Superprestige Niel 2026 Results – Women

1. Manon Bakker – 45:22
2. Sara Casasola – +14"
3. Denise Betsema – +22"
4. Leonie Bentveld – +37"
5. Aniek van Alphen – +47"