Fantastic Fem van Empel glides to Cyclocross World Championship defence in imperious display

The magnificent Fem van Empel has successfully defended her Cyclocross World Championship title with a faultless performance in Tabor ahead of her Dutch compatriots, Lucinda Brand and Puck Pieterse.

It didn't take long for the cream to rise. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado flew out the blocks from the start but within a couple of minutes, reigning world champion Fem van Empel already had a gap up front. At the end of lap 1, van Empel was already 16 seconds clear of Puck Pieterse and Lucinda Brand, seemingly having the title in the bag.

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In the battle behind the flyaway Dutchwoman, Pieterse had stretched clear of Brand who in turn had gapped Alvarado. On the penultimate lap though, Brand turned the tables on Pieterse and that's how things stayed on the final lap. The final podium a Dutch lockout, van Empel, Brand and Pieterse.