Van Empel Begins Cyclo-Cross Season with Victory in Beringen
Dutch cyclist Fem van Empel kicked off her cyclo-cross season in style by securing a victory at the Beringen race. The course featured shorter climbs this year, resulting in an interval-style race that played to Van Empel’s strengths. Reflecting on her performance, she admitted feeling nervous as the favorite but managed to create a gap and maintain a fast pace throughout the race. Van Empel, who recently finished second at the European gravel championships, has a busy cyclo-cross calendar ahead, including races in Waterloo and Overijse.
In an interview, Van Empel expressed her enthusiasm for wearing the rainbow jersey this season, which she described as a motivating factor in every race. While her main focus is on defending her European and World Cyclo-Cross Championships titles, she acknowledged the tough competition from riders like Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Puck Pieterse. Van Empel also highlighted the emerging talents of Zoe Bäckstedt and Fleur Moors, while emphasizing the need to take the rest of the field seriously.
Van Empel made her road debut this spring, initially facing challenges but ultimately showcasing her talent in this discipline. She achieved notable results in races like the Tour de Romandie Féminin and the Giro d’Italia Donne. Reflecting on her road season, Van Empel acknowledged the differences in her cyclocross preparation this year, attributing her recent racing experience on the road to her physical and mental development. Looking ahead, she expressed satisfaction with her road season and a desire to continue improving at the WorldTour level in the future.
