Van Empel takes first road win at Tour de l'Avenir Femmes
Fem van Empel has won the third stage of the Tour de l'Avenir Femmes in brilliant style. She was the strongest in the sprint in a thinned-out group. It is Van Empel’s first road victory in her young cycling career.
"This is fantastic”, beamed the twenty-year-old Team Jumbo-Visma rider after her victory in the nations competition. "It's a beautiful win. We are here in France with a strong Dutch team. It is wonderful when you can ultimately execute and complete the plan.”
"My first road victory, it feels exceptional"
After a quiet start, Van Empel was in a luxurious position with her Dutch teammates. "After a reasonably long neutralisation, the peloton picked up the pace as we approached the Côte du Thoissia. We were with three riders from the Dutch squad in the depleted front group. We managed to take advantage of this situation.”
"My first road victory, it feels exceptional. We will enjoy it with the team tonight”, Van Empel said. She will start again in the polka-dot jersey tomorrow. The Tour de l'Avenir Femmes has two more mountain stages. "I'm curious how far we can go with the team.”
Pictures: Anouk Flesch
