Exact Cross women
16:15 Beringen
Fem van Empel (Jumbo-Visma) completely crushed the opposition in the first cross of the season. In the Exact Cross in Beringen, the 21-year-old world champion took the lead after just 1 lap and never looked back. Ceylin Alvarado (Alpecin Deceuninck) and Shirin van Anrooij (Baloise Trek-Lions) were allowed on the podium.
With a view to the 2026 Belgian Championships in Beringen, the course designer returned to the drawing board to limit the altitude meters during the course. Yet the riders were immediately presented with a tough cross.
At the start it was the big names who took control: Van Empel, Worst, Van Anrooij and Alvarado. There was no mention of Brand and Betsema yet. Both women are still in jail.
Under the impetus of a strong Van Empel, the field of participants was quickly torn apart. The 21-year-old rider opened the throttle completely after just 1 lap and frantically took the lead.
Alvarado tried in vain to hang on for a while, after which the one-woman show became more impressive round by round. At the finish, Van Empel ultimately had more than a minute’s lead over Alvarado and Van Anrooij.
The Dutch top talent will immediately show that she is completely ready for the new cyclo-cross season. The opposition remains anxiously awaiting to see what heights she can achieve this year.
Fem van Empel: “I was really nervous today”
Fem van Empel (winner): “I was really nervous today. It is not easy to be at the start as the top favorite and that caused some doubts. I immediately tried to take initiative. Unknowingly I got a gap and then I was “I actually took the lead quite early in the race, which was not really the intention. I have planned to enjoy every race in this rainbow jersey.”
Ceylin Alvarado (2nd): “It was really tough. We had to do the climbs for seven laps. The combination of the tough course and the heat was really difficult. I thought it went quite well. This is confirmation of my hard work. work. I can be satisfied for this first match. There was nothing to do about Van Empel today. I reacted a little too late when she had a gap.”
Shirin van Anrooij (3rd): “I’m satisfied. The freshness is a bit off and I felt that. I have to be satisfied with the legs I had. Ceylin and Fem were too strong today. I could stay at one pace for a long time drive, but don’t speed up anymore. The real freshness won’t come back for the next cross in America. I’m just trying to make the best of it.”
Result Exact Cross Beringen (women)
4:55 PM match over
end time Fem van Empel takes first cross of the season!
Fem van Empel provides a real one-woman show in Beringen and immediately takes the first cross of the season. Ceylin Alvarado and Shirin van Anrooij complete the podium.
16 hours 54. LAST LAP. We are preparing for the final round here in Beringen. Fem van Empel is already enjoying the applause that can be heard along the course. .
LAST ROUND
We are preparing for the final round here in Beringen. Fem van Empel is already enjoying the applause that can be heard along the course.
4:50 PM. The spectators present will not get to see an exciting cross today, the difference in level is too great for that today. The warm weather also ensures that the surface is very dry, so a limited amount of technical equipment is required. .
The spectators present will not get to see an exciting cross today, the difference in level is too great for that today.
The warm weather also ensures that the surface is very dry, so a limited amount of technical equipment is required.
4pm 47.5/7. Two laps to go. This is the ideal moment to provide an overview of the current state of affairs. 1. Fem van Empel 2. Ceylin Alvarado at 34″ 3. Shirin van Anrooij at 1’15” The podium already seems to be set here in Beringen. .
5/7
Two laps to go. This is the ideal moment to provide an overview of the current state of affairs.
1. Fem van Empel
2. Ceylin Alvarado op 34″
3. Shirin van Anrooij at 1’15”
The stage seems to have already been set here in Beringen.
4:47 PM. We are still early in the season, but the form Van Empel is already demonstrating today is terrifying. The other riders already know what to expect this winter. .
It’s still early in the season, but the form Van Empel is already demonstrating today is terrifying. The other riders already know what to expect this winter.
Van Empel seems to be on his way to victory in Beringen. 16 hours 44.
Van Empel seems to be on his way to victory in Beringen
4:43 PM. In 6th and 7th place we see compatriots Franck and Norbert-Riberolle. Can our Belgian riders move up a few places? .
In 6th and 7th place we see compatriots Franck and Norbert-Riberolle. Can our Belgian riders move up a few places?
16h40. 4/7. After four laps, Alvarado follows at 27 seconds behind the leader. Shirin van Anrooij is facing a deficit of more than a minute. Here we see a true demonstration of the young Van Empel. .
4/7
After four laps, Alvarado follows at 27 seconds behind the leader. Shirin van Anrooij is facing a deficit of more than a minute. Here we see a true demonstration of the young Van Empel.
4:39 PM. One-woman show. Behind Van Empel there is a finite void. Alvarado sees the world champion getting smaller and smaller. Although the first pursuer also has a street lead over Shirin van Anrooij. .
One-woman-show
Behind Van Empel there is a finite void. Alvarado sees the world champion getting smaller and smaller. Although the first pursuer also has a street lead over Shirin van Anrooij.
4:33 PM Round 3/7. The seconds tick away mercilessly for Alvarado. The 25-year-old rider has been having her pants rubbed for 15 seconds. Nothing and no one seems to threaten a first victory for Van Empel. .
Ronde 3/7
The seconds tick away mercilessly for Alvarado. The 25-year-old rider has been having her pants rubbed for 15 seconds. Nothing and no one seems to threaten a first victory for Van Empel.
16 hours 33. Alvarado fails to close the gap and again has to concede a few extra lengths to the leader. Van Empel appears to be currently flying in Beringen. .
Alvarado fails to close the gap and again has to concede a few extra lengths to the leader. Van Empel appears to be currently flying in Beringen.
4:30 PM. Van Empel runs off, Worst has bad luck.
Van Empel runs away, Worst has bad luck
Alvarado chases Van Empel. Ceylin Alvarado smells the danger and tries to keep Van Empel in sight. After two laps, the world champion currently has a 5-second bonus on her closest pursuer. Van Anrooij follows at 16 seconds. . 4pm 27.
time difference Alvarado chases Van Empel
Ceylin Alvarado smells the danger and tries to keep Van Empel in sight. After two laps, the world champion currently has a 5-second bonus on her closest pursuer. Van Anrooij follows at 16 seconds.
Chain problems for Worst. Just as Van Empel moves on, Annemarie Worst has problems with her chain. The Dutch rider cannot immediately solve the problem and loses valuable time. . 4pm 26.
mechanical breakdown Chain problems for Worst
Just as Van Empel moves on, Annemarie Worst has problems with her chain. The Dutch rider cannot immediately solve the problem and loses valuable time.
16 hours 24. Van Empel rushes away! Things are going a little too slowly at the front for Fem van Empel. The world champion steps up a gear and goes out on his own. Who can follow? .
Van Empel rushes away!
Things are going a little too slowly at the front for Fem van Empel. The world champion steps up a gear and goes out on his own. Who can follow?
The 4 tenors together. The field of participants is immediately completely separated. After 1 lap we have 4 leaders – Fem van Empel – Shirin van Anroij – Ceylin Alvarado – Annemarie Worst They have already created a lead of over 10 seconds. . 4:20 p.m.
time difference The 4 tenors together
The field of participants is immediately completely separated. After 1 round we get 4 leaders
– Fem van Empel
– Shirin van Anroij
– Ceylin Alvarado
– Annemarie Worst
They have already amassed a lead of over 10 seconds.
4:20 PM. Four top riders immediately leave: Van Empel, Alvarado, Worst and Van Anrooij.
Four top riders immediately leave: Van Empel, Alvarado, Worst and Van Anrooij
Bike change for Van Empel. Van Empel seems to be struggling with a mechanical problem and immediately opts for a bicycle change. All in all, the world champion is once again quickly moving towards the top of the race. . 4 pm 17.
mechanical breakdown Bicycle change for Van Empel
Van Empel seems to be struggling with a mechanical problem and immediately opts for a bicycle change. All in all, the world champion is once again quickly moving towards the top of the race.
4:15 PM START. The first cross of the season has started! World champion Fem van Empel tries to move towards the top of the race. A good start for the young talent. .
START
The first cross of the season has started! World champion Fem van Empel tries to move towards the top of the race. A good start for the young talent.
4:00 PM. The riders are getting ready for the first starting shot of this season. Who will get off the starting blocks best here in Beringen? .
The riders are preparing for the first starting shot of this season. Who will get off the starting blocks best here in Beringen?
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