Fem van Empel achieved her tenth cyclocross victory in as many starts on Saturday, but the challenge she faced in Herentals was her most demanding yet. Lucinda Brand gave her a run for her money, but ultimately, Van Empel's sprint as the world champion was unbeatable. Looking back, it makes sense that she wasn't at her peak physical condition.
Van Empel had recently suffered a significant fall during a training camp in Spain. "I've got a large open wound on my kneecap and a serious burn from my wrist up to my elbow. That's far from an ideal situation," she acknowledged in Herentals, where she still impressively managed to bike and run. "I practiced how to lift my bike with the least amount of pain, but the real trick is to not hit the frame when hopping back on."
"I've pretty much been in bed all week," Van Empel revealed. "It really shows how quickly your body can struggle with the intensity of a race after such downtime. I'm relieved to be on the mend and looking forward to improving from here. The fans wanted a more thrilling race, and they sure got one," she quipped, keeping her spirits up.
After the race, IDLProCycling.com asked about the impact of her recent fall on her performance in Herentals. "The main thing was that I felt the effect of not having cycled much throughout the week. That was the biggest issue. The pain was definitely there, but the adrenaline helped lessen it. You know Lucinda never gives up and that it's only over when you cross the finish line.”
"Lucinda was exceptionally strong. For me, it was a jolt to the system, coming off the back of last week, but that doesn’t diminish her achievement," Van Empel added. "She's tireless and never backs down. I initiated the sprint early. A long sprint isn’t usually my thing, but I gave it a shot and it turned out well. It was quite thrilling to have a duel that lasted the entire race."4
After a fall during training and a week battling illness, Van Empel won't be competing in Namur on Sunday. "Under normal circumstances, Van Empel would be at the starting line. However, considering her recent fall and cold earlier this week, and the exertion in Herentals, the decision has been made for Van Empel to sit out tomorrow’s race and focus on the remainder of her cyclocross season," Jumbo-Visma stated in a press release.
"It's going to take a bit of time to get back to 100%," the Brabant native observed post-race. "The power needed on the longer straight sections was more challenging. After a week off, your body sort of enters a sleep mode."