Schreiber Takes Third at Koppenbergcross
Marie Schreiber finished third in the elite women's race at the Koppenbergcross in Oudenaarde, Belgium, ahead of the European Championships.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Cycling
Lucinda Brand won the elite women's race at the Koppenbergcross in Oudenaarde, Belgium, with Marie Schreiber finishing third, 1 minute and 22 seconds behind. The event served as the final dress rehearsal before the European Championships in Zeddam, Netherlands.
Why it matters
The race offered a preview of form ahead of the European Championships, with Brand's late surge at the front reshaping the field. Schreiber's podium finish showed she can contest the leaders on a demanding course.
Brand won by 53 seconds over Sara Casasola, while Schreiber trailed the winner by 1 minute 22 seconds after starting sixth and running 29 seconds behind by the end of the fourth lap. Maïté Barthels finished 25th in the same elite field.
The players
Marie Schreiber
A German cyclo-cross rider who finished third in the elite women's race at the Koppenbergcross, after starting sixth and setting the pace on the second lap.
Lucinda Brand
A Dutch cyclo-cross rider who won the elite women's Koppenbergcross, attacking on the fourth lap to open a 53-second lead over Sara Casasola.
The details
Schreiber started sixth, moved to third by the first passage across the line, and took the lead during the second lap to help split the field. Brand then accelerated at the front on the fourth lap, forcing Schreiber to let go of the leading group.
Timeline
Koppenbergcross held in Oudenaarde, Belgium, as the final dress rehearsal before the European Championships.
European Championships in Zeddam, Netherlands, scheduled for next weekend.
Season Trajectory
The Koppenbergcross functions as a final dress rehearsal within the European cyclo-cross calendar, so results there influence how riders are positioned for the continental championships. Schreiber's third-place finish places her among the contenders heading into the European Championships in Zeddam.
Riders who finished near the front at Koppenbergcross enter the European Championships with fresh race data on the Oudenaarde course. Fans tracking the championship can use the podium order and gaps to gauge who is peaking heading into Zeddam.
The takeaway
Results from a final dress rehearsal can signal which riders are in form, but the gaps seen at Oudenaarde do not guarantee the same order at the European Championships. Watching how the front group handles the pace will show more than the final standings.
What happens next
The European Championships in Zeddam, Netherlands are scheduled for next weekend, where the Koppenbergcross form will be tested.
Further reading
Follow more results and coverage in our Cycling section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RTL Today.
