Impressive Van Empel wins Koppenbergcross for third year in a row
Fem van Empel has won the Koppenbergcross for the third year in a row. Three weeks after her first victory 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 the first race of the X2O Badkamers Trofee.
With the Koppenbergcross on Friday and the European cyclocross championships on Sunday in Pontevedra, Spain, Van Empel 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 already caused a selection in the race. Only Lucinda Brand was able to follow the world champion.
"This is my favourite cross on the calendar"
A strong acceleration by Van Empel in the second lap was also too powerful for Brand and so the rider from Team Visma | Lease a Bike rode impressively 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”, the rider said. This Sunday, the next big goal for Van Empel is already scheduled in Spain: the European cyclocross championships.
The 2022 and 2023 European champion wants to defend her title in Pontevedra this year. Van Empel: “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.”
