Fem van Empel (21) cannot believe that she became cyclocross world champion on Saturday afternoon. The rider from Den Dungen won her first title on the course in Hoogerheide by force majeure. “It is quite emotional with all the family that has come to watch and the pressure that is now falling off my shoulders.”
Beforehand, Van Empel was the clear favorite for the world title. The battle for the rainbow jersey went as expected between her and Puck Pieterse. Only after a few small mistakes by her competitor, including a crash, Van Empel ran out considerably. Her first senior world title was no longer in danger.
“World champion sounds cool, but it still has to sink in.”
Van Empel was already shaking her head on the bike in the last meters of her victory. Even after the finish, when she fell into her mother’s arms crying, the realization was not yet there that she had won the World Cup in her own Brabant. “I can’t believe it. World champion sounds very cool, but it still has to sink in,” the rider says to NOS a little later.
The key moment in the battle for the world title was the fall of Puck Pieterse. In the fourth of seven rounds, Van Empel’s big competitor went down. It was a small slide, but she was unable to get close to the rider from Den Dungen after that.
Van Empel kept a tight pace, she said. “I also had confidence, stayed calm when I had to and kept driving constantly. After that fall I took off ‘full throttle’.”
“It’s quite a bit emotional.”
The first world title hit Van Empel visibly. “It’s quite emotional with all the family that came to watch. You also put so much time and energy into cyclocross and I have such good people behind me. I have to thank them.”
The world champion visibly enjoyed the massive crowd of home crowds. “The spectators today were incredible. I’ve never seen this before. It was a very special day.”
“It takes a weight off my shoulders.”
Despite her big lead, Van Empel had to work hard for it and there were also nerves. “I was the top favorite and then you feel the pressure. The title now lifts a burden from my shoulders,” said the Brabant woman with a trembling voice.
Fem van Empel is only 20 and was already world champion with the promises, but decided to prematurely exchange the category under 23 for the elite last year. Puck Pieterse, who finished second, did so last month after competing side by side with Van Empel in World Cup crosses all winter.
The rider from Den Dungen has a dream season. She previously became European champion and also won the Cyclo-cross World Cup. On Friday she also became cyclocross world champion in the mixed relay.
Omroep Brabant will broadcast the Cyclocross World Cup for women and men live this weekend. On Sunday, the men with favorites Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert will start at three o’clock in the afternoon.
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