Brand on the verge of landmark tally with Superprestige Merksplas win, Nieuwenhuis also back on top
Lucinda Brand and Joris Nieuwenhuis took elite victories at 'Strawberrycross' Merksplas on Saturday, round four of the season-long Superprestige series.
Brand stayed calm after a threatening early move found an advantage, eventually going solo about halfway through, leaving Aniek van Alphen behind. New European champion Inge van der Heijden's third place was enough to hold onto the series lead, but it is finely poised with Van Alphen now just one point off the leader's 50, Brand now fourth on 44 (having only raced three of the four rounds so far).
In the men's race, Nieuwenhuis took his third win in what might be considered a comeback season, a week after respiratory issues held him back at the European Championships. It was not without mishap as Nieuwenhuis navigated tricky conditions and an immensely competitive field, however, the bearded Dutchman seemed to get stronger as the laps went on, and on the final passage across the sand, Nieuwenhuis surged clear. Second-place Niels Vandeputte took over the Superprestige lead from Michael Vanthourenhout.
Elite women's top 5
- Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions) 45:20
- Aniek van Alphen (Seven Racing) +0:10
- Inge van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon) +0:13
- Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez) +0:14
- Amandine Fouquenet (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) +1:38
Elite men's top 5
- Joris Nieuwenhuis (Ridley Racing Team) 1:00:26
- Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +0:06
- Emiel Verstrynge (Crelan-Corendon) +0:07
- Jente Michels (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +0:08
- Cameron Mason (Seven Racing) +0:27
