Fem van Empel (Visma | Lease a Bike) has won the women’s cyclo-cross race on the Koppenberg after a traditionally tough race . After a hard-fought battle on the Bult van Melden, she kept Lucinda Brand from Baloise Trek Lions well at bay.
November 1st is All Saints’ Day, a holiday in Belgium when the Koppenbergcross is traditionally held. The European Championship doesn’t change this , so a large part of the cyclo-cross world will be traveling on Saturday (or even Friday evening) to Spain and/or Portugal, as the battle for the European title takes place on Sunday in Pontevedra, Galicia. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, one of the big names, stayed away from the Koppenberg.
Van Empel and Brand were the top favorites beforehand. Van Empel wasn’t recognized during the official course inspection, but there was a reason for that. “I was on the course quite early,” she mentioned just before the start. “It’s drier than in other years, but it’s still getting increasingly slippery on the course.” Brand agreed: “It’s not extremely muddy, but it’s very slippery. For me, this Koppenberg is a bigger goal than the European Championship because this course suits me better. But if I do well here, I’ll also be very good in two days.” Van Empel and Brand immediately create early gap
At 1:45 p.m., the women’s race began, with the riders immediately charging up the Koppenberg. Just before reaching the finish line for the first time, Brand took the lead, allowing her to […]
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