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ZOLDER, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 27: Fem Van Empel of The Netherlands and Team Jumbo-Visma competes during the 19th Superprestige Heusden-Zolder 2023, Women's Elite on December 27, 2023 in Zolder, Belgium.(Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images) Photo: Getty Images
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World champion Fem van Empel proved best in the first cyclocross race of the new year, putting in a sensational final lap in the X²O Badkamers Trofee GP Sven Nys in Baal, Belgium.
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider beat Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) by 25 seconds, the two riders closely matched for three of the four laps before Van Empel really hit the gas and moved clear.
Third went to the gifted 18-year-old Canadian Ava Holmgren (Stimulus Orbea Cycling Team), who rode superbly to round out the podium, 3:15 back.
She had been in a three way battle with Sanne Cant (Crelan-Corendon) and US champion Clara Honsinger (Team S&M) for much of the day. Honsinger had moved clear and up into third at the halfway point, but faded afterwards to finish a still-impressive fifth, 14 second behind Sanne Cant (Crelan-Corendon) in fourth.
Van Empel had hurt her right knee in recent weeks and then cut her left when she fell during the race. She had a stream of blood extending down to her sock, and was relieved to win.
“It is always nice to start the new year with a victory, especially with the new sponsor,” she said.
Brand is a very skilled rider and relished what was a very technically demanding course with lots of mud. She pulled clear of Van Empel at several points, but ultimately had to make do with the runner-up slot.
“I did everything I could to win, especially on the downhills. But that’s how it is,” she said.
The duo were streets ahead of the rest of the field from the very start, although the absence of Puck Pieterse and World Cup leader Ceylin Alvarado (Baloise Trek Lions) did remove their toughest competition.
Their to-and-fro battle raged throughout the opening lap before Brand gapped Van Empel on lap two and stretched things out further on the big dipper section. However the latter handled the long running part better and closed up to her rival there and on a tarmacked section afterwards.
They went through the halfway point at the end of lap two together, 1:55 ahead of an impressive Honsinger. The American was on a great ride and was leading Holmgren and Belgian champion Cant by several seconds there. Holmgren then upped the pace on lap three to move clear, while out front Brand and Van Empel traded metaphorical blows until the bell.
Brand was throwing everything she had at the world champion and was two seconds ahead there, leaving a thrilling last lap in store.
She was on the limit and began to make a few errors, sliding out on a muddy section and then getting tangled up in a race barrier. Van Empel had been keeping something in reserve and made her big move soon afterwards, establishing an advantage of several seconds in the running section and continuing to power ahead thereafter.
She ended up with a 25 seconds winning margin, while Holmgren was left beaming and in delight at an unexpected third place.
“I don’t even know what just happened,” she said. “I couldn’t really believe it, honestly. A top three in Europe, no matter the race, no matter who shows up, is pretty crazy for a north American. So I am stoked about that.”
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
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