European Cyclo-cross Championships: Nys and Van Empel crowned

Fem Van Empel and Thibau Nys became European Cyclo-cross champions this Sunday in Pontevedra, Spain.

It was Thibau Nys who won the 2024 Elite European Championships in Pontevedra (Spain). The Belgian athlete took the lead in the final stages of the race and brought to life a thrilling face-off with the Spaniard Felipe Orts, in a hard-fought and spectacular race in front of the 9,000 spectators who thronged on the Galician city circuit. Before the start of the main race of the championships program, a minute of silence was observed in memory, solidarity and sympathy towards the victims and those affected by the floods in Valencia.

Immediately after the start, it was the Belgian riders who imposed their pace until mid-race where Orts created the selection which only Nys resisted after several attacks. On the last lap, the Spaniard could not keep up with the pace set by Nys and finished in second place. The podium is completed by another Belgian, Eli Iserbyt, who finishes 9 seconds behind.

The ranking of the Men's European Cyclo-cross Championships

1. Thibau Nys
2. Felipe Orts
3. That is, Iserbyt

Results powered by FirstCycling.com

Fem Van Empel retains her title

The podium was entirely Dutch among the elite women, with victory going to reigning world champion Fem van Empel. The 2023 European champion sprinted ahead of her compatriots Ceylin del Carmen Alvardo, already second in 2023 just behind Van Empel, and Lucinda Brand, with whom she had taken the advantage at mid-race.

The ranking of the Women's Cyclo-cross European Championships

1. Fem Van Empel
2. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
3. Lucinda Brand

Results powered by FirstCycling.com

A year after his success in Pont-Château, the Belgian Jente Michiels won again among the U23s after an exciting face-to-face with the Italian Filippo Agostinacchio, second, and the Dutch Haverdings, victim of a mechanical accident a few hundred meters from the finish, leaving the third step of the podium to Frenchman Aubin Sparfel. Among the U23 women, victory went to Frenchwoman Célia Gery who, after winning the world and European junior title last year, confirmed her leading position in the higher category. The Frenchwoman won after a very close sprint where she was ahead of the other favorites in the race: Marie Schreiber (Luxembourg) and Leonie Bentveld (Netherlands).

Italy dominates France in the mixed relay

Italian victory among the junior men with Mattia Agostinacchio who won alone after attacking just before the start of the last lap of the fast Pontevedra circuit. Behind Agostinacchio, the podium is completed by the Austrian Valentin Hofer, second at 8”, and Mats Vanden Eynden (Belgium), who crosses the finish line at 10”.

The day in Pontevedra opened with the junior women's race, won with authority by the Swiss Anja Grossman who, at the end of a particularly competitive race, beat the Czech Barbora Bukovska and the Italian Giorgia Pellizotti in the sprint. In Pontevedra, on Saturday, the European Team Relay title was also awarded and saw the success of Italy. Second position for France, reigning champion (Aubin Sparfel, Remi Lelandais, Theophile Vassal, Celia Gery, Lise Revol and Helene Clauzel), third place for the local team, Spain. The next edition of the European Cyclo-cross Championships will take place in Middelkerke (Belgium) from November 7 to 9, 2025.