Just two days after her masterful victory in the Koppenbergcross, Van Empel came to Galicia with high ambitions. The two-time world champion was determined to defend her title and positioned herself at the front from the very start on Sunday afternoon. Accompanied by Alvarado, Van Empel pulled away from the rest, with only Lucinda Brand and Sara Casasola managing to catch up.

In the final phase of the race, Van Empel settled into third position, with Brand and Alvarado battling for the lead ahead of her. Van Empel waited patiently for her opportunity, overtaking Brand in one of the last corners. On the final stretch, she had to dig deep to reel in Alvarado’s rear wheel but, with a powerful final effort, she managed to narrowly beat her compatriot.

"I’m really happy with this. This was maybe the best battle of the season", Van Empel said afterward. "I knew I couldn’t make the difference on the straight sections. Right near the end, I was in a duel with Lucinda, and that just barely went my way. After that, I tried to stay as close as possible to Ceylin’s wheel and went all out for the finish."

"I was getting a little closer each time, but at a certain point, the gap stopped closing. I knew I had one last push left to come alongside. I managed to pass, and I saw that Ceylin had no response", said Van Empel, securing her third European title. "This victory means a lot to me. I kept fighting and kept my faith throughout the race. It’s wonderful to check this one off again."