Description
November 18, 2023
Superprestige 2024 WE 🇧🇪 – Merksplas, Belgium
The Telenet Superprestige series is one of four major, season-long cyclocross series. Organised by Flanders Classics, the Telenet Superprestige series is made up of eight rounds,
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November 18, 2023
Superprestige 2024 WE 🇧🇪 – Merksplas, Belgium
The Telenet Superprestige series is one of four major, season-long cyclocross series. Organised by Flanders Classics, the Telenet Superprestige series is made up of eight rounds, all of which are held in Belgium. Points are awarded to the first 15 finishers of each race, with 15 points awarded to the race winner and in descending order from there on. After the eighth and final round of the series, the overall winners of both the elite men’s and elite women’s categories are decided by which rider has accumulated the most points throughout the series. The Superprestige series began in the 1982/83 season. Since then it has been a firm fixture on the cyclocross calendar and has often produced some of the most exciting racing in recent seasons.
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck) fought through the mud and rain to win the Merksplas Superprestige race, extending her run of cyclocross victories to three.
Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) challenged Alvarado as she continued her comeback but errors in the rain ultimately cost her precious seconds and she finished 26 seconds behind.
Marion Norbert Riberolle (Crelan-Corendon) fought with Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds) to finish third at 52 seconds.
“It was a really hard race, not only due to the weather conditions but also about the race itself with the riders,” Alvarado said post race.
“I can be really happy about this victory because I fought hard for it. I’m happy with that one.”
The four-lap race started fast, with Brand taking an early lead as Alvarado was forced to chase, stuck behind other riders.
Alvarado was six seconds down on Brand after lap 1 but she closed the gap as Brand struggled and lost speed on a technical, muddy descent section.
Alvarado surged past into the lead and opened a 15-second lead.
Brand was able to reduce the gap on lap 3 but Alvarado accelerated on the fourth lap and to secure her third consecutive victory.
Almost a minute behind Brand, Norbert Riberolle and Worst fought hard for third. Worst appeared stronger but then Norbert Riberolle made a decisive late attack to take third place.
Results :
 fought through the mud and rain to win the Merksplas Superprestige race, extending her run of cyclocross victories to three.
Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) challenged Alvarado as she continued her comeback but errors in the rain ultimately cost her precious seconds and she finished 26 seconds behind.
Marion Norbert Riberolle (Crelan-Corendon) fought with Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds) to finish third at 52 seconds.
“It was a really hard race, not only due to the weather conditions but also about the race itself with the riders,” Alvarado said post race.
“I can be really happy about this victory because I fought hard for it. I'm happy with that one."
The four-lap race started fast, with Brand taking an early lead as Alvarado was forced to chase, stuck behind other riders.
Alvarado was six seconds down on Brand after lap 1 but she closed the gap as Brand struggled and lost speed on a technical, muddy descent section.
Alvarado surged past into the lead and opened a 15-second lead.
Brand was able to reduce the gap on lap 3 but Alvarado accelerated on the fourth lap and to secure her third consecutive victory.
Almost a minute behind Brand, Norbert Riberolle and Worst fought hard for third. Worst appeared stronger but then Norbert Riberolle made a decisive late attack to take third place.
<strong>Results : </strong>
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