Lucinda Brand's rainbow jersey shines at the traditional Koppenbergcross in Oudenaarde, the opening race of the Challenge X20 Badkamers held in Belgium. The world champion from Baloise Verzekeringen-Het Poetsbureau Lions made the difference with two laps to go, changing pace and leaving behind a combative Sara Casasola, who was the true protagonist of the day. Marie Schreiber completes the podium.

Making her seasonal cyclocross debut, the Italian champion from Crelan-Corendon demonstrated she can immediately compete at the highest international levels. Staying long in the slipstream of the Dutch star, Casasola managed the decisive phases of the race with authority, securing a second-place finish of absolute prestige that confirms her ambitions for the winter season.

For Lucinda Brand, this represents yet another show of strength on one of the most iconic courses on the cyclocross calendar, while for Sara Casasola the result is an extremely encouraging signal ahead of the upcoming appointments of the season. A performance of great substance for the Friuli-born rider that immediately projects her among the protagonists of the international scene.