Fem van Empel beaten for the first time in 11 months - Puck Pieterse wins on brutal race in Gavere

It was a tough task in hand but Puck Pieterse has finally won for the first time this winter. he Dutchwoman won a very complicated and muddy race in Gavere, whilst Fem van Empel didn't manage to triumph for the first time since the national championships back in January.

The race saw Marie Schreiber take the holeshot, closely following by Puck Pieterse who then took the lead of the race. In hard and tiring conditions, gaps quickly began to develop, and both Fem van Empel and Lucinda Brand found themselves having to chase.

Pieterse was joined by World Cup leader Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado briefly, a strong display, but she was dropped at the start of lap 3. By then, van Empel was in third spot and still within sight of her rivals, but Brand was ultimately distanced. Blanka Kata Vas stood out in fifth place, showing her best level once again.

Alvarado struggled in the final lap of five and Fem van Empel took advantage of that situation to ride into second place, but the win was for Pieterse. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado finished in third place place and extended her World Cup lead over Lucinda Brand.