Results Exact Cross Heerderstrand Women's | Fem van Empel storms to dominant victory

World champion Fem van Empel claimed another commanding victory on Dutch soil, powering clear in the final lap to win the Exact Cross Heerde ahead of Aniek van Alphen and Leonie Bentveld. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider continues her strong early-season form with another clinical display in the sand and mud, showing both patience and precision before striking decisively in the closing stages to win.

Fem van Empel made a sharp start in Heerde but an early bike change dropped her back as Aniek van Alphen hit the deck. Leonie Bentveld quickly took charge of the pace, with Britain’s Anna Kay Roche on her wheel.

Before the first sand section, Inge van der Heijden powered to the front, the only rider able to stay on the bike for most of the stretch, carving out a small gap. Yet her advantage vanished soon after when she slid out under pressure from Bentveld, also delaying Hélène Clauzel. Bentveld took full advantage, crossing the line after lap one nine seconds clear of Clauzel, with Van der Heijden, Van Empel and Van Alphen at fifteen seconds.

In the next sand passage Bentveld was forced to dismount, allowing Van Empel to run past Clauzel and move into second. The pair began to work together and gradually closed the gap. Van Empel then hopped the planks and dived up the inside of Clauzel in the next corner to keep her momentum.

By the second passage of the finish line Bentveld’s advantage had been cut to six seconds over Van Empel, Clauzel and Van Alphen, with Van der Heijden chasing further back. A swift bike change for Bentveld erased the gap entirely, forming a front trio before Clauzel also latched on. Van Empel immediately took control again, driving the pace through the sand and forcing her rivals to react.

As the laps ticked by, the race began to fracture. The heavy sand turned into a running section where Clauzel struggled to stay with the pace. Van Empel pitted once more, giving Bentveld and Van Alphen a brief opportunity to edge ahead, but the world champion soon clawed her way back and moved up to second.

On a short uphill drag Van Alphen impressed, powering past Bentveld to take the lead, while Van Empel still hovered just off the front group. When Van Empel regained contact, she quickly made her move — leaping off the bike to run past Van Alphen, who stayed mounted and lost momentum. It was a typically sharp manoeuvre from the world champion, who hit the front for the first time.

Van Alphen refused to yield and boldly retook the lead moments later, setting up an enthralling duel. Bentveld briefly found a second wind, rejoining the leaders just before the sand section, but the effort proved costly. As Van Empel accelerated again, Bentveld was first to crack, and moments later Van Alphen also began to fade. The rainbow jersey surged clear into the final lap, pulling away decisively while Bentveld settled into third.