Cycling: After her World Championship title a few days ago, Lucinda Brand can now also celebrate overall victory in the Superprestige competition. But today it should be close again at the race in Middelkerke. The day's victory went to her compatriot Denise Betsema. For men, Laurens Sweeck. Despite not having a good day's result, Toon Aerts can be happy about the overall victory because the Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal team did not use any stable orders.
Betsema confirms her top form
Lucinda Brand missed out on a victory in the rainbow jersey in her first race after winning the world championship title. The Dutch rider only managed third place at the Superprestige in Middelkerke. A poor start, including a crash, and problems in the mud and sand prevented a better result. She finished 68 seconds behind the beaming winner, Denise Betsema, who thus secured a victory in all three major cyclocross series this year. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado finished 33 seconds behind in second place, having briefly entertained dreams of the overall victory. In the end, however, the European champion fell two points short of the world champion.
The daily standings at the Superprestige in Middelkerke:
1. Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal)
2. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin – Fenix) +0:33
3. Lucinda Brand (Telenet – Baloise) +1:08
4. Manon Bakker (Credishop - Fristads) +1:32
5. Yara Kastelijn (Credishop – Fristads) +1:54
Final score in Superprestige after 8 runs:
1. Lucinda Brand (Telenet – Baloise) 114 points
2. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin – Fenix) 112
3. Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal) 101
4. Yara Kastelijn (Credishop – Fristads) 83
5. Annemarie Worst (777) 79
🏆 @Deniesoverseas wins the last few of the Telenet Superprestige! Alvarado is tweede 🥈, @lucinda_brand finished on the derde plaats and won the classification. 🍾 #Superprestige2021 #SPMiddelkerke pic.twitter.com/zJ5goxwSNb
— SuperprestigeCX (@SuperprestigeCX) February 6, 2021
Aerts trembles to overall victory
Laurens Sweeck delivered an impressive performance to take the men's title. His slow finish allowed teammate Michael Vanthourenhout to close the gap to just one second. Third place also went to the Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoa team, with Eli Iserbyt securing the victory. Despite this team's sweep of the podium, the management was dissatisfied with the final result. They missed their chance to clinch the overall Superprestige title. A team order would have allowed Eli Iserbyt to overtake leader Toon Aerts for first place. Aerts, after a long charge through the field, finished only sixth – narrowly securing the overall victory.
The daily standings at the Superprestige in Middelkerke:
1. Laurens Sweeck (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal)
2. Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) +0:01
3. Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) + 0:52
4. Corne van Kessel (Tormans) +1:23
5. Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions) +1:51
Final score in Superprestige after 8 runs:
1. Toon Aerts (Baloise Trek Lions) 99 points
2. Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) 97 points
3. Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal) 94
4. Laurens Sweeck (Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal) 93
5. Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions) 89
The goat in Middelkerke is for @LaurensSweeck the two were overleden beautifully. Ploegmaats @vth_michael and @IserbytEli like me on the podium. @ToAerts pakt de eindzege in de Telenet Superprestige. #Superprestige2021 #SPMiddelkerke pic.twitter.com/hy3uA6Jp4o
— SuperprestigeCX (@SuperprestigeCX) February 6, 2021