Fem van Empel added the GP Sven Nys for women, the 5th round of the X2O Bathrooms Trophy, to her list of honors on New Year’s Day. She just finished ahead of Lucinda Brand in the sprint. Puck Pieterse crossed the line in third place.
No Ceylin Alvarado or Annemarie Worst at the start. The former world champion fit in for today, just like Worst who is struggling with a hand injury. Lucinda Brand, who is easily first in the rankings and has already ridden all heats, was able to do good business again.
That turned out not to be ‘cat in the cup’. In the first round, Puck Pieterse immediately put the tendon on it. Brand was the only one able to follow, partly because Fem van Empel crashed and took it easy before leaving again. After one lap the difference was enormous. Van Empel was 30 seconds behind leader Pieterse, Brand followed at eight seconds.
Going into round two, Pieterse had doubled her lead over Brand, but the leader was also ‘baptized’ and also ended up in the mud. The Dutch champion crept closer again: the lead was gone.
(Read more under post)
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Lucinda Brand decided. Just before the top of the Balenberg we got a new leader. All-rounder Pieterse had no answer and saw Van Empel creeping closer from the background. The world champion also wanted to go over it, but Pieterse got stuck in the wheel.
-At the start of the final lap, the Van Empel-Pieterse duo was 13 seconds behind Brand. The world champion continued at full speed and left Pieterse behind. She even reached two meters on the steep wall, allowing her to join the final straight line. Brand immediately started the sprint, but was one meter short at the finish. Van Empel wins mightily in Baal. Lucinda Brand is second, followed by Puck Pieterse. Brand consolidates its leading position in the rankings.
(Van Empel’s response under post)
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Almost collided with photographer
A lot of disbelief afterwards from winner Van Empel. The world champion did not expect any more wins after the fall in the opening round. “The tracks were quite deep. My wheel got stuck and then I fell. My handlebars were crooked and I had no confidence that things would turn out well.”
Brand and Van Empel have fought a duel before, but this was one to frame. Van Empel also thinks so. “One of the best so far: sprinting to the finish. I was at fifteen seconds the entire time, but my piece is the last part of the course uphill. Then I saw her (Brand, ed.) and I didn’t hesitate. I started sprinting from the wheel, had to get over it and I succeeded. I still had to pay attention because there was a photographer after the finish and that could have been a crash.” (laughs)
