Fem van Empel from Den Dungen has become the cyclocross world champion for the third time in a row. The 22-year-old cyclist won in an exciting final sprint in Liévin, Frasher Lucinda Brand in France. Inge van der Heijden from Schaijk finished fourth.
“I barely realize that I won,” Van Empel said in the Flash interview after the match. “I had to go very deep, it was a fierce battle.” She found it especially mentally heavy, because of the past weekend. She made many mistakes in the World Cup crosses in Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide.
“Before the game I knew it was going to be difficult and it was. Lucinda was a strong opponent. Also respect for her. She drove a good season.”
Nerve -racking final round
After the starting shot, Van Empel and Puck Pieterse took the lead. Van Empel soon drove the lead. Lucinda Brand reported in the two rounds behind the two. In the fifth round she increased the pace and started the battle between the two.
Reason for Empel and Brand in the lead. The tension was to cut. With one of the last turns, the two elbow elbow drove. But on the last nod in the course, Brand no longer progressed and Van Empel was the first to cross the finish line.
Fem van Empel said after the game that the course was different than during the exploration. “Because the sun came up, the top layer thawed and you get other traces. But after a few laps you know where you can get the winning opposite the competition.”
Profit after profit
The cyclist peaks again at the right time. Earlier this winter she also won her third European cross title in a row. Then she carefully chose her field rides with the battle for the rainbow jersey as a big goal. Fem van Empel also won the World Cup cyclocross in 2023 and 2024.