"I want to silence the critics in this way" - Fem van Empel sends message to doubters with Koppenbergcross domination

Fem van Empel was dominant in victory Koppenbergcross 2024, opening the women's X2O Badkamers Trofee campaign in style. After a quieter than expected opening to her winter, Van Empel also sent a message to those who had been beginning to raise doubts.

“This is my favourite cross of the entire season. That I can now win for the third time in a row is really great," reflected the new queen of the Koppenberg in her post-race interview, having dominated the field from the start, taking victory ahead of Lucinda Brand and Sara Casasola. "It also feels great. I worked hard for it and am very happy with it.”

Although Van Empel only failed to take victory in just two crosses last season, already this campaign, the world champion has been defeated on three occasions, leading to criticism from some. Rather than biting back verbally, the Team Visma | Lease a Bike star has let her legs do the talking. "Maybe I want to silence the critics in this way," she concludes. "I don't say anything. I respond with the pedals."