Fem van Empel has won the Koppenbergcross for an impressive third year in a row. In the first race of the X2O Badkamers Trofee and just three weeks after her first win of the cross season in Beringen, the 22-year-old rider from Team Visma | Lease a Bike once again crossed the finish line cheering in victory.
With the Koppenbergcross on Friday and the European cyclocross championships on Sunday in Pontevedra, Spain, Van Empel had already announced at the start of the cyclocross season that this weekend was circled red in her calendar. Van Empel showed that eagerness in Oudenaarde immediately at the start. After the first passage of the Koppenberg, the Dutch rider made a move and only Lucinda Brand was able to follow the world champion.
A firm acceleration by Van Empel in the second lap was too powerful for Brand and so the rider from Team Visma | Lease a Bike rode solo to her second win of the cyclocross season. “You know that after the acceleration it is far from over and then it is important to pace yourself well. I had to find my rhythm for a while and then kept a tight pace towards the finish. I am extremely happy with this,” Van Empel said afterwards.
“This is my favourite cross on the calendar. It feels great that I can make it happen here for the third year in a row. I worked very hard for it. This victory makes me very proud and gives me confidence for Sunday!” she added. This Sunday, the next big goal for Van Empel is scheduled in Spain: the European cyclocross championships.
The 2022 and 2023 European champion wants to defend her title in Pontevedra this year. Van Empel concluded, “That will certainly not be easy. I have already seen that it is a fast course and it will be difficult to drop riders there. But I’m looking forward to it!”
