"It is difficult to recharge every time. To always start as a top favorite" - After extreme success, Fem van Empel to take time off following European Championships win

Fem van Empel has so far completely obbliterated the field in cyclocross and today she's done it again. She won the European Championships in style with no-one managing to come anywhere close to her level.

“I made too many mistakes in the first lap. It was so hard to get into my rhythm. The plan was to attack on the first climb and luckily that worked out well," van Empel said in a post-race interview. "Then I was able to increase my lead. Physically I still feel very good, but mentally it is difficult to recharge every time. To always start as a top favorite. So now I'm taking some rest days.”

The story of the race was one too similar to what has been the case this season. The Jumbo-Visma rider quickly took the lead of the race in the opening lap and then charged away from the rest of the field with an unstoppable pace.

Her victory over Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, as several others, had over a minute at the line. Her and Italian Sara Casasola completed the podium. Before continuing her CX season and searching more goals, the Dutch rider will first take some rest.