Lucinda Brand has extended her cyclocross contract with the Baloise Verzekeringen-Het Poetsbureau Lions for another two seasons, keeping her with Sven Nys’ team through to February 2028.
The deal comes with a major consequence on the road. From 1 January 2027, Brand will leave Lidl-Trek, with her continued cyclocross commitment to Nys no longer compatible with remaining with the American WorldTeam.
For Brand, the decision was about loyalty as much as racing. She has credited Nys and his team with helping revive her cyclocross career and says that relationship was more important than staying with Lidl-Trek.
The reigning world champion is expected to race around 25 cyclocross events this winter, with the defence of her rainbow jersey at Oostende one of her biggest targets.
Brand has already agreed terms with another WorldTeam for the road, although the identity of that squad has not yet been announced.
At 37, she remains one of the dominant figures in women’s cyclocross, and her decision underlines just how central the discipline remains to her career.
