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Interview<\/a><\/p>\n Brand spoke about the transition from a historic cyclocross season into a busy road campaign after In Flanders Fields-In Wevelgem.<\/p>\n Brand won the Cyclocross World Championships for the second time in her career. <\/p>\n Cor Vos<\/p>\n A little less than a month after ending her historic cyclocross campaign, in which she claimed 20 victories \u2013 including another world title \u2013 and finished off the podium only once, Lucinda Brand returned to the road for Lidl-Trek at Strade Bianche. Brand normally acts as a captain on the road, a job that means she needs to be present at the tail-end of races, but her efforts are almost always for others. It’s a very different experience than the one she is used to when racing ‘cross, but one the Dutchwoman loves. We sat down after In Flanders Fields-In Wevelgem, where the team finished second with Fleur Moors, to talk about Brand’s cyclocross season, how she transitions to the road, and how Lidl-Trek remains upbeat despite some bad luck at the start of this season.<\/p>\n Abby Mickey: I wanted to start by talking about your cyclocross season, because it was incredible. Win after win after win, always on the podium, and to end the year with a win at the World Championships … How was it for you? Looking back on your ‘cross season now, how are you feeling about it?<\/p>\n Lucinda Brand: Of course, it was a really good season. I think the nicest was that I had a couple of things from the year before that I struggled with, and we tried to work on them during the season, already in summer. So it’s very nice then to see that working out. So that was really nice.<\/p>\n Besides that, I tried to have a different approach. I went a bit longer to Spain, instead of training in the forest. So I was a bit scared with that, because normally I like to keep focusing on technique and staying on the ‘cross bike more. But in the end, this also didn’t turn out so badly.<\/p>\n It was a bit of a different winter; also, it was a lot of cold, but not really wet. Energy-wise, it was nice because after the races, you don’t have so much work, but sometimes, like for example, in Dendermonde, it’s the one that we normally always run a lot, and now it was just a super fast course. So it did change a few races, then it was a very good season. Of course, also at the Worlds it worked out.<\/p>\n AM: You’re one of the few people now who are juggling a full cyclocross calendar as well as the road calendar. In years past, we’ve seen a handful of riders do the same, but nowadays, it’s mostly a few riders that do ‘cross and then dabble in road, and riders who do road and dabble in ‘cross \u2013 but for you, it’s really full-time with both. <\/p>\n LB: I also really understand why it becomes very rare. It’s just getting harder and harder to prepare properly. You need moments to relax a little bit, not just your body, but also your head, of course. Also, everybody is having more proper blocks to train for certain goals, and then they go back to training again. And in that way, it becomes more and more professional, and also the level gets stronger. So it’s not so easy to combine focus [on] two programs; it’s very busy, and then I think it’s still really good to do, if you like it, to combine it, but then just focus on the races that suit you really well and make a really nice, balanced schedule there. Of course, it’s great if you still keep some full-time cyclocross people, because we do need them. But for the big riders, I totally get it that it’s quite a lot if you have to do it every year full on both.<\/p>\n This post is for paying subscribers only Already have an account? Sign in<\/a><\/p>\n Did we do a good job with this story?<\/p>\n \n \ud83d\udc4dYep![\"Abby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Abby-Mickey-150x150.jpg\")
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Brand’s World Championship win in Hulst, Netherlands, was a big deal for the Dutch rider. She previously won the race in 2021 and has been on the podium every year since. <\/p>\n
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