Cyclo-Cross World Cup: Untouchable Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado wins in Namur

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck) dominated the women's elite race at the Namur Cyclo-Cross World Cup, leading the race from almost start to finish to take the win and extend her lead in the overall standings.

The win was also Alvarado's third UCI World Cup win of the season.

Four-time Namur winner Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) was forced to settle for third after Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) caught her on the final climb of the race.

Fem van Empel (Jumbo-Visma) did not start the race due to a heavy cold.

Alvarado, however, was in a league of her own, breaking clear on the opening lap and establishing a lead over the rest of the competition. Brand and Pieterse both suffered poor starts with Pieterse suffering a mechanical and Brand slipping outside of the top-ten.

Both riders came back to mount respectable challenges, holding Alvarado to within 20 seconds for most of the race but they were rarely able to trouble the leader.

Alvarado's technical skills and raw power held the chasers at bay with a 17-second winning margin at the finish.

"I didn't expect to be this good," the winner said at the finish.

"To take such a gap for the whole race. I was quite nervous before the race and I don't know, it went really well. I saw that Puck had chain problems and Lucinda was a bit behind, so I just took my opportunity and went full gas. I'm happy to win here.

"I've wanted to win here for years, and this is my first win here. It's a really special one."

On the last lap it looked as though Brand had done enough for second after Pieterse through some of the more technical sections but on the final climb before the line Pieterse came storming back to take second place on the line ahead of a frustrated Brand.

"My start up the hill was quite good," said second place Pieterse, who battled back from two bike changes and an early mechanical with her shoes.

"I was in second or third position but then my chain went off, so I had to put it back on and then I couldn't shift to my outer ring. I tried to overtake as many people on the descent. I don't think that I was very nice to people but it was quick. I switched bikes and started the pursuit.

Pieterse linked up with Brand on the second lap and the pair held Alvarado for the next few laps. Given the nature of the course mistakes had to be kept to a minimum and the chasing pair combined their efforts until the second to last lap, when a shoe mechanical hampered Pieterse.

"It just went loose. I had to stop and make it up again. It's little things that cost a few seconds. Then luckily I could pull it together with a fighting spirit. Ceylin was one step ahead today."

Sara Casasola was best of the rest, finishing in fourth, and over two minutes down on the winner.

© Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images

Lucinda Brand and Puck Pieterse went head-to-head for second in Namur