Cycling: At the Cycle Cross World Championships in Hoogerheide, the Dutch women achieved a historic triple home win. Fem van Empel is only 20 years old and becomes world champion in cyclocross for the first time.
Fem van Empel wins the world title
It was a gala performance by the Dutch women at their home World Cup in Hoogerheide. As was almost to be expected - or to be feared for the competition - the Oranje made the podium completely among themselves. In the end, the only 20-year-old cheers Fem van Empel about her first world championship title in cyclocross. She expelled her compatriot of the same age Puck Pieterse in second place with a lead of 39 seconds. became third Lucinda Brand. Fem van Empel is thus crowned the second youngest world champion of all time. After her victory in the overall World Cup, she was considered the favorite before the race - and lived up to this role. However, midway through the race she benefited from a small slip by the eventual second puck Pieterse. Fourth and thus the best non-Dutch woman was the Italian Silvia Persian with a deficit of 1:45 minutes. Last year's winner Marianne Vos refused to start.
Nothing like celebrating on home soil!
Fem van Empel secures the 2023 UCI Cycle-Cross Women Elite World Champion title at #Hoogerheide2023.
Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/tZGnMqvJzH
— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) February 4, 2023