Fem van Empel is back! World champion takes dominant Urban Cross Kortrijk victory in first race for 20 days

Fem van Empel has made a winning return to cyclocross this Saturday afternoon at Urban Cross Kortrijk. Racing for the first time in 20 days, the world champion dominated from start to finish, asserting her authority on proceedings early and then never relenting. 

One of the most unique circuits on the cyclocross calendar, the field was missing a few elite names this time around. One of those present though was world champion Fem van Empel and the Visma star wasted no time in asserting her authority on the race, riding clear solo on the very first lap. Racing for the first time in nearly three weeks, Van Empel has no visible signs of rust, extending her advantage over the likes of Inge Van der Heijden and Marion Norbert Riberolle to 25 seconds at the end of lap 3.

As the two Crelan-Corendon teammates battled it out amongst each other for second and third, Van Empel had sailed off into the distance. In the end, it was Norbert Riberolle that took second place, around half a minute down on Van Empel.