Michael Vanthourenhout and Lucinda Brand win as the Belgian cyclocross season gets underway

Michael Vanthourenhout and Lucinda Brand have been the winners of the Mosselcross in Dendermonde, the event that kicked off the Belgian cyclocross season this Sunday. Both secured victory on the final lap and claimed the peculiar prize of 100 kg of mussels that we had already mentioned in the preview of the Mosselcross 2026.

Vanthourenhout takes advantage of his team's work to win

The men's race was marked by the prominence of Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw, which managed to place three riders among the top four.

After several attempts to break away and numerous regroupings, Michael Vanthourenhout launched his decisive attack on the final lap, taking advantage of a mistake by Joran Wyseure and the difficulties faced by his rivals in the technical sections. The Belgian opened a small gap that he maintained until the finish line to achieve his second victory of the season.

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His teammate Yordi Corsus finished second, two seconds behind, while Joran Wyseure completed the podium after narrowly surpassing Gerben Kuypers. Niels Vandeputte, one of the main favorites, finished fifth.

Brand triumphs over Alvarado and a surprising Betsema

The women's race had an even tighter finish. World champion Lucinda Brand, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, and Denise Betsema battled for victory until the last meters after a race in which none managed to establish definitive differences.

Brand took the initiative in the final part and, despite attempts by Alvarado and Betsema to overtake her, managed to cross the finish line with just one second advantage over Alvarado and two over Betsema.

The world champion thus begins her cyclocross season with a victory, while Betsema delivered one of the standout performances of the day by returning to the podium in a top-level race.

Mosselcross 2026 Results

Elite Men

1. Michael Vanthourenhout — 59:20
2. Yordi Corsus — +2 s
3. Joran Wyseure — +2 s

Elite Women

1. Lucinda Brand — 47:03
2. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado — +1 s
3. Denise Betsema — +2 s