Daphny Van den Brand takes third European Champion title
On Sunday, Daphny Van den Brand won the elite women’s European cyclo-cross championships in Frankfurt, Germany, nine seconds ahead of fellow Dutchwoman Sanne Van Paassen. British national champion Helen Wyman finished in third, 40 seconds behind, and local
three-time winning favourite Hanka Kupfernagel finished in fourth, 1:01 behind the leader.
“The course wasn't hard enough to shake each other off and thus I had put all my money on the last lap. The outcome is great, putting on this blue shirt with stars for a third time,” said Van den Brand.
The winner was overjoyed to have matched Kupfernagel's record of three European Championship victories, and plans to set a new record of four next year, when the competition will be held in Lucca. Wyman was disappointed to have finished in third but admitted
that it was a clear improvement from last year.
“It was a fast course, but there were still places you could use your strengh and technical skills. I know the course well having ridden here for the last three years so I felt confident,” said Wyman to
Cyclingnews. “It's still a championship medal and I'm always proud to win a medal. It shows I'm in good condition, and it shows how far I have come in the last 12 months.”
Wyman commended the form of the two Dutch women, admitting that they deserved the top two steps of the podium. The podium trio was joined by Kupfernagel in an breakaway, distancing themselves early on from the other 26 starters. Kupfernagel was the first
to lose the leaders, but Wyman soon followed suit. Van Paassen attacked in the penultimate lap but the eventual winner managed to hold on.
"I had to work hard when Sanne van Paassen accelerated during the penultimate lap. I was happy just to stay with here, more wasn't possible at that moment," said Van den Brand humbly. "Luckily Sanne made a small mistake of which I could take profit. I wasn't
better than my compatriot today."
The pair was lined up for a sprint final during the final lap, but then Van Paassen made the error which may have cost her the European Champion title.
"I forgot to shift ahead of the stairs making the whole thing lock up. Closing the resulting gap wasn't possible anymore," said Van Paassen.
Czech rider Pavla Havlikova rounded out the top five, 1:08 behind the winner and six seconds ahead of a third Dutchwoman, Sophie de Boer.
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