Fem van Empel times sprint to perfection to take title at 2024 European Championship ahead of Alvarado and Brand

World champion Fem van Empel has taken the title at the 2024 Cyclocross European Championship ahead of Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Lucinda Brand after a thrilling fight in Spain.

Over the course of the opening lap, Fem van Empel and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado held the front but things were still relatively bunched together, with a number of riders still in contact. Towards the end of lap 2 though, Alvarado started to make a big move, stretching things out behind without really managing to snap the elastic. On lap 4, the consistently tough pace began to take a toll as Alvarado, Van Empel and Lucinda Brand drew clear from the rest of the chasers. As Brand made a couple of notable errors though, the leading trio was soon a duo.

Showing the fighting capabilities that made her a world champion in the past though, Brand refused to give up, working hard to close the gap back to the leaders and get back into contact with her two compatriots. As things lulled at the front, more riders rode themselves back on the penultimate lap. As Brand accelerated at the head though, the big three and Sara Casasola began to pull clear again as they took the bell. Heading into the finale all four were still in the mix too. Alvarado held the front but Van Empel was right on the wheel. In a thrilling sprint for the line, Van Empel snatched it at the death.