Fem van Empel has done it again. Just one day after her win in Kortrijk, she showed her class to claim the opening round of the World Cup series, crossing the finish line solo in Antwerp. It was her third consecutive World Cup victory in the Belgian port city.
Early in the race, Van Empel blew the competition apart. A rival managed to stay on her wheel briefly, but the challenge did not last long. Ultimately, Van Empel had plenty of time to celebrate her fifth cyclocross victory of the season.
“The conditions weren’t easy,” Van Empel admitted after her win. “The wind made it really tough. I had to stay focused throughout the entire race, and I think I managed that well. It was all about giving everything until the finish line. In these conditions, it’s not ideal to ride solo because you’re constantly battling the wind, but I can’t complain. I think I delivered an excellent performance today. Now, the focus shifts to next weekend!”
