Fem Van Empel after beating Puck Pieterse in CX Dublin - "We were evenly matched, but today it was for me"

Fem Van Empel once again proved to be the best rider on the field at the Dublin World Cup. She beat Puck Pieterse in a thrilling duel and secured her tenth victory of the season.

It wasn't the best of days for her before the race, but she decided to ride anyway. "Although I didn't feel very good during the race," she said in the post-race interview. She continues, "My stomach was not 100 per cent, and it got worse during the race. However, I tried to make the best of it. It wasn't down to the legs, they were pretty good."

In the last two laps, Pieterse was the only one who could keep up with the Dutchwoman. "There was a really great atmosphere. Puck is very strong this season, and it's a lot of fun to fight duels like this with her. We were evenly matched, but today it was for me. I'm very happy with that," concluded Van Empel.