Fem van Empel ended the cyclocross season in style by winning the X2O Trophy in Brussels. The Jumbo-Visma rider not only won the race, but also the overall classification.
The Dutch world champion took the initiative from the first lap and never looked back. On the grounds of the University of Brussels, Van Empel once again proved her qualities. She kept the pressure on her rivals and rode away for good at the halfway point.
“I’m riding on excellent material and the atmosphere in the team is excellent,” said Van Empel. “When everything is right and the framework is good, I appear at the start relaxed and I will be at my best. You automatically see that reflected in the results.”
A reflective Van Empel added, “I never expected to have such a great season in cyclocross. The feeling of winning is still great, and I am happy it worked out again. I started the season with a win and now I’m finishing it with a win. It could hardly be any better. There was a lot of pressure on me because I was the favourite at the start of quite a few races. I think I handled it well. I can only be happy with the way things turned out. It’s a bit early to set specific goals for my road season. I will ride the Volta Limburg Classic, the Brabantse Pijl and the Flèche Wallonne, and then I will start mountain biking again. It’s going to be an enjoyable journey of discovery.”
Van Empel has an impressive list of accolades to her name. She won the Waterloo, Fayetteville, Tabor, Maasmechelen, Antwerp, Dublin and Benidorm world cups. She also came first in the heats of Baal, Lille, Brussels, Poldercross, Koppenbergcross, Beringen and the Flandriencross of Hamme. She topped the final standings of the World Cup and the X2O Trophy.
At the World Championships, Van Empel was the best in Europe, won the Mixed Relay world title for the Netherlands and raced to the world title in Hoogerheide. There are undoubtedly many more accolades to come on the road ahead for Van Empel.
