After falling during a reconnaissance lap in Tábor more than a week ago, cyclocross rider Lucinda Brand thought she might have to thwart her plans at next weekend’s European Championships in Namur, Belgium. But despite her broken metacarpal bone, which she sustained in the Czech Republic, the defending champion can still start.

After her unfortunate fall in Belgium, the 33-year-old Brand underwent hand surgery on Monday and, according to national coach Gerben de Knegt, received permission from the attending doctor to defend her title on Saturday.

Eight orange riders

The rider from Dordrecht, who has missed two World Cup races but finished third and second in the first two on American soil, is one of the eight Dutch aces in Namur.

Among them are Fem van Empel, who won all four World Cup competitions this season, as well as former champions Marianne Vos (2005 and 2009), Annemarie Worst (2018) and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (2020).

Puck Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij, who finished second and third in Maasmechelen on Sunday, are trying for gold with the U21s in Namur. 20-year-old Van Empel is also likely to compete in this category, but understandably prefers the elite competition.

Also Van der Haar defending champion

Five Dutchmen will be used for the men, including Lars van der Haar, who surprised last year by winning the European title on the VAM mountain in Drenthe. The 31-year-old from Amersfoort has been on the podium in three of the four World Cup competitions, twice in second place.

Corné van Kessel is celebrating his comeback at the European Championships after breaking his collarbone in early October. Van Kessel has also received clearance from his board doctor to make his comeback in the title fight.