© BELGIAN
Fem van Empel has won the Women’s Cyclo-cross World Cup in Flamanville, France. The Dutchman was eventually the fastest in the sprint in Normandy after an exciting chat with her compatriot Puck Pieterse. The Hungarian Vlas came in third moments later. Brand, Betsema, Vos and Cant were not there. Lucinda Brand was already certain of the final victory in advance.
Maarten Delvaux
Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 2:31 PM
The penultimate race of the regularity criterion was marred by many absences: world champion Lucinda Brand was absent, just like Denise Betsema, Marianne Vos, Annemarie Worst, Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado and Sanne Cant was also absent. A few youngsters didn’t let that get to their heart and took their chance right after the start.
Puck Pieterse, Fem Van Empel and Kata Blanka Vas were immediately present at the front, although the Hungarian had to close a gap. In the end we got a leading group of five, Italian Silvia Persico and Inge Van der Heijden also picked up. Pieterse did not like that, who took a lead at the bars.
She led after the second round with a small bonus of four seconds over Fem Van Empel, Vas followed in 20 seconds. Van Empel, however, did not give in and closed the front again at the end of the third lap. Both ladies made an exciting battle on the fast course, but no one got away and the battle for victory would be settled in a sprint. Pieterse started first, seemed to make it, but Van Empel would still rush past her.
Lucinda Brand’s final victory was already certain before the start after Denise Betsema’s forfeit. The world champion can no longer be overtaken. The last round awaits in Hoogerheide next week.
