Flandriencross: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado holds off Lucinda Brand for victory

In a repeat of Saturday’s Superprestige Merksplas, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck) held off a chasing Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) to claim her third consecutive victory at the third round of X2O Trofee Flandriencross in Hamme.

Locked in a three-way battle on the final lap, Alvarado forced the pace at the front as a chain issue forced Brand into the pit to get a new bike. Alvarado pressed the pace, with Sara Casasola (Crelan-Correndon) and Brand trailing closely behind. The Dutch champion managed to overtake the Italian champion on a small ramp that had caused problems throughout the race, to give chase, launching a fierce pursuit that nearly caught Alvarado on the finish straight.

After taking the holeshot on the fast course in East Flanders, Zoe Backstedt (Canyon-Sram) built up a small gap until a bobble on a somewhat unassuming small ramp forced the under-23 world champion to put a foot down. The British rider was caught by Alvarado, Brand, Casasola and Annemarie Worst (Fenix-Deceuninck). by the third lap, but the same ramp caused more problems for Worst who had to put her foot down with Backstedt behind her.