It was a difficult year for most athletes as the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted racing for five months, but for Lucinda Brand it was more of a challenge.

Brand, now healthy and back in cyclocross racing, vowed that she would come back strong and fulfill her promise to lead Trek-Segafredo in the 2021 road season.

"I'm happy to have another year because I didn't race as many races this year and I had a lot of other challenges. I hope to give Trek-Segafredo a better season next year," Brand told Cycling News.

Brand signed a two-year contract with Trek-Segafredo for 2020 and 2021 to assume the leadership role. However, he crashed in the Giro delle Miglia after the season resumed in August. However, after crashing at the Giro Delle Miglia in August, he competed in the Dutch Championships, but suffered two physical problems at the Giro Rosa in September and lost the rest of the season.

"It was a very crazy year and forced me to make a lot of changes. Missing the Giro Rosa was a huge disappointment. Missing the Giro Rosa was a huge disappointment.

"I can't control or change what happens. I'm not really used to being out of shape and of course I want to give more than I can during the season for the team. I'm very happy that I have another year and that I can give the team what they deserve."

Trek-Segafredo has been successful in many of the Women's World Tour races, demonstrating world-class tactical skills. Lizzie Dienyan won the GP de Plouët, La Course, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. In the Giro Rosa, she won the opening team time trial, and Elisa Longo Borghini took the stage win and third overall. In many races, Deignan and Longo Borghini were the team's two best riders, and both have renewed their contracts with the team through 2022.

"I'm proud of the team's success because it's not easy to have a season like this," Brand said.

"We needed to be in the race because our sponsors rely on us and continue to pay our salaries. [All the riders] give their all, get results, and help each other get stronger. The strength of our team is that we have riders who can help each other, so we don't have to play only one card. They have the brains to race smart, which also makes for fascinating racing."

The brand is skeptical that next season will be a return to normal, given the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. It is also an Olympic year, and for many riders hoping to compete in Tokyo, the calendar will eventually change.

Brand said she is aiming for a strong start to the season next spring, depending on how far the cyclocross season stretches over the winter. She also has her sights set on the first ever women's Paris-Roubaix.

"I'm very disappointed that it was cancelled and I was really looking forward to it," Brand said of the inaugural women's Paris-Roubaix, which was supposed to take place on October 25, 2020. I want to be well prepared for next year. I want to be well prepared next year. Hopefully everyone will be healthy and things will be as normal as they were for the first edition of the event. We still need to plan for next spring, but I would love to be in Paris-Roubaix."

Organizers have announced the Paris-Roubaix route as 116 km from Denain to the Roubaix Velodrome. The route will feature 17 pavé sectors, with Mont-en-Pevere and Carrefour de l'Arbre being the two most difficult sections of the race. The cobblestones will occupy 29.5 km.

Brand previewed the cobblestone sectors with Trek-Segafredo and said it was a tough experience.

"I had previewed the Paris-Roubaix cobblestones and had some knowledge of them, but the race is completely different. It was a tough experience. I can't compare it to any other race," Brand said. [Being a cyclocross racer helps. Bike skills, positioning, how you sit on the bike to keep traction, it's all very important, and it's an area I train in cyclocross.

Brand will focus on cyclocross with the Telenet-Baloise team, which will be renamed Baloise-Trek in January. Six World Cup races have been cancelled, but Brand will concentrate on the remaining races in Tabor, Namur, Dendermonde, Hulst, and Overijse. He will also compete in the European Championships in the Netherlands next weekend.

"I plan to compete in all the World Cups, most of which are held in Belgium, and I want to keep it that way," Brand said. The situation for COVID in Belgium is not so good right now. We have the European Championships this weekend and we are also allowed to race in the Netherlands.

"Normally, we have the whole program set, but this year we are not thinking too far ahead.

Brand said that organizers have more control over the COVID-19 protocol and feel they can compete safely in cyclocross events because the events are held on closed courses.

"There are no fans and the organizers are strict. It's odd that cyclocross doesn't have any fans."

"Only two mechanics, a soigneur, and a team manager are allowed in, and the media are in a remote location. It's a closed little parcours. If you're not working on a race, you can't be there."

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