Sara Casasola finished second at the Koppenbergcross on her first cyclocross appearance of the season ahead of the European Championships. The Italian champion crossed the line 53 seconds behind Lucinda Brand and 29 seconds ahead of Marie Schreiber.

“I surprised myself, even though I knew my fitness was good,” Casasola told Sporza afterwards.

The Crelan-Corendon rider began her winter campaign following a road season that included the Tour de France Femmes and World Championships. “I’m really happy with the start of my cyclocross season. You never quite know what to expect,” she said. “I’m pleased to be on the podium straight away.”

Casasola took the initiative early in Oudenaarde, collecting the maximum 15 bonus seconds at the first-lap intermediate sprint. Schreiber subsequently did much of the work at the front, while Inge van der Heijden and Helene Clauzel lost contact as the repeated climbs reduced the leading group to three.

Casasola in action

Casasola initially held Brand’s wheel when the world champion accelerated on the fourth of six laps, distancing Schreiber. A less fluent passage through a technical section then opened the gap to Brand, who continued pulling away.

The Italian maintained a clear advantage over Schreiber to secure second, improving on her third place in the same race last year. She also finished the opening round of the time-based X²O Badkamers Trofee second overall, with a 53-second deficit to Brand after bonuses were applied.

European podium already familiar territory

Casasola won European bronze in Pontchateau in 2023 and finished fourth in Pontevedra the following year. “Now I’m heading to the European Championships with confidence,” she said.

She also finished fourth at last year’s Europeans in Middelkerke, where a fall in the sand on the penultimate lap damaged her medal chances. Her next opportunity comes in Zeddam on Saturday 7 November, six days after her season opener.