"That was perfect, I think" - Fem van Empel delighted with dominant win at World Cup Besancon
Cyclocross
Fem van Empel continued her incredible form with a commanding win at the cyclocross World Cup Besançon. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider defeated Lucinda Brand, who finished in second place, while Kata Blanka Vas completed the podium in third.
Van Empel, the reigning world champion, reflected on her performance, "It was a fun cross. The supporters were great."
The challenging and slippery conditions played into Van Empel’s hands as she executed a flawless race plan.
"It was very slippery on this lap, so it was an advantage that I could ride my own race. That was perfect, I think. I had a very good start. Then I rode my own pace from start to finish. That turned out to be enough. It went according to plan. I made few mistakes. I think that was also important."
This victory marks Van Empel's second consecutive World Cup win, following her triumph in Gavere last Thursday. At just 22 years old, she is showing no signs of slowing down.
"I'm in good shape," said Van Empel. "Can it be better? It can always be better, but whether that is the case now, I don't know. In any case, we will continue to work hard for it."
With back-to-back victories and a remarkable level of consistency, Van Empel has solidified her position as the best rider in the women’s field, and she will surely be the favourite to add another rainbow jersey to her collection in 2025.
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