The Maasmechelen World Cup has delivered high-octane action today in the women’s race as for the first time in years, Lucinda Brand did not manage to finish on the podium, and neither did Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, which opened way for other riders to take the spotlight. Puck Pieterse grabbed this opportunity with both hands and took her second win of the season.The track was dry and the start was very fast. Maasmechelen is a race marked by its steep banks and constant turns and accelerations, making it more convenient for the more technical riders whilst also making it more difficult to make recoveries after a bad start. Gaps quickly began to emerge, with Leonie Bentveld taking the holeshot and Marie Schreiber having a badly-timed mechanical, whilst Lucinda Brand had a bad start.At the end of lap 2 Puck Pieterse led the race with a small gap over Fouquenet, Blanka Kata Vas and Sara Casasola. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado was 1 seconds down and Lucinda Brand was 25 down, in a surprising 10th position. The duo gained positions throughout the race however the victory seemed to be a battle between two other riders, as Fouquenet caught up with Pieterse on lap 5, but then punctured right after.
