Van Empel wins in Waterloo
Fem van Empel has won the World Cup race in Waterloo. She now leads the World Cup standings.
After a false start, Van Empel set a fast pace. By the second lap, the Dutch World Champion had opened up a gap. She immediately put pressure on her closest rivals, Puck Pieterse and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, and pulled away for good halfway through the race.
In the only remaining US race, Van Empel once again proved her qualities. With a 36-second lead over Pieterse, she crossed the line first after a bit more than 48 minutes. Alvarado completed the Dutch podium.
"I rode at my own pace throughout and that was enough to create a gap"
"I rode at my own pace throughout”, a delighted Van Empel said. "That was enough to create a gap. I'm happy with the way the race went, and I didn't pay too much attention to what was happening behind me. Tomorrow, I'll fly back to the Netherlands, and then I'll start preparing for next weekend's race in Overijse.”
The Cross of Waterloo, held at the Trek Bicycles grounds, is known as a tough but fast cross. Van Empel also won the Waterloo cyclocross last year. In 2021, Marianne Vos crossed the line first.
