“For me it is reacting with the pedals and not saying it, so
here it is,” van Empel explained, reinforcing her preference to let her racing
speak for her. When a
Sporza interviewer praised her lead over Brand,
she responded simply with, “Thank you,” showing her focus and confidence.
The champion had previously responded to critics who pointed
out that she had only won one cross out of four, indicating that, for some,
second place simply wasn’t enough. Reflecting on this pressure, she shared her
perspective on handling outside expectations. “I am not so concerned about what
the rest think, because no one knows what I am doing. Only the people around me
know,” she explained. “It is always a shame to hear that you are not performing
as you should, but I am not concerned about that.”
With her dominant Koppenbergcross performance,
van Empel
sent a clear message: she remains at the top of her game and focused on her
goals, undeterred by external opinions. Her win in Oudenaarde highlights her
resilience and her determination to keep proving herself where it matters most,
on the course.