Dutch wunderkind Fem van Empel won the Elite Women’s European Cyclo-Cross Championships on Saturday in Namur, Belgian.
Van Empel took the lead right from the start with Dutch teammate Marianne Vos briefly following her until Blanka Kata Vas of Hungary caught up on the steep muddy descent by riding it all the way down. Van Empel then led Vas and the two opened up a lead of almost ten seconds on their rivals.
The race seemed to be Van Empel’s until bad luck struck on lap two and she was forced to turnaround and go back into the pit – on foot – to get a new bike. By the time she got going again, she was forty seconds down on her rivals.
Keeping her cool, Van Empel methodically worked her way back up until she was at the front again with her teammates at two laps to go. Vas was now outnumbered by three Dutch riders – Van Empel, Alvarado, and Betsema – but refused to give up the lead position.
Van Empel overtook Vas and pushed the pace with teammate Alvarado in tow and soon they were able to pull away from Vas. Van Empel kept the pace high and soon after Alvarado was outdistanced. By the finish, Van Empel had 22 seconds on Alvarado and 36 seconds on Vas.
