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Natural World Cup hat trick for Fem van Empel in Tabor

Holmgren sisters in the top 8 of the Junior women's race

October 23, 2022
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Fem van Empel is in the ascendency of cyclocross, having won three straight 2022-2023 World Cup rounds with Sunday’s victory in Tabor, Czech Republic, the first round in Europe. Sidney McGill was the top Canadian.

Earlier in the day Canada’s Ava Holmgren just missed the podium in the Junior women’s race, with sister Isabella 8th; Ian Ackert came fifth in the Junior men’s race; and Alexander Woodford placed 35th in the U23 men’s race. Ava is fourth in the Junior women’s category, 28 points adrift of leader Lauren Molengraaf, while Ackert is the fifth junior man, 19 points behind Frenchman Leo Bisiaux.

You can watch the 2022-2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup at FloBikes.

After winning the first two rounds, van Empel led reigning World Cup holder Lucinda Brand by 25 points. Unfortunately, Brand wasn’t in the race, having crashed on Saturday while doing recon of the Tabor course and fracturing a finger in her right hand.

The Canadian contingent was Sidney McGill and Christiane Bilodeau.

Sunday’s course.

U23 world champion Puck Pieterse and Kata Blanka Vas were back, as were the Belgians, who missed the first two rounds in the United States.

Luxembourger Marie Schreiber nabbed the hole shot on Lap 1 and had a little gap by the first staircase, Inge van der Heijden leading the chase. Pieterse caught her at the hurdles. Schreiber and Pieterse completed the first 3.35-km lap at 9:00. McGill was 35th.

Pieterse catches Schreiber at the hurdles.

Van der Heijden grabbed the reins at the start of Lap 2, pulling a string of 10 riders. Shirin van Anrooij went to the front with Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado on her wheel. Van Empel brought the group over the line. McGill was 41st and Bilodeau was 48th.

By Lap 3 of 6, the gang had grown even further and things got congested in the tricky little ramps. Pieterse was at the pointy end of the race applying pressure. Annemarie Worst and van Empel were able to go with her when she made a surge. At the hurdles Pieterse again hopped while others had to carry.

Pieterse, van Empel and Worst fly free on Lap 3.

The Hungarian Blanka Vas was most interested in yanking the trio back. Betsema, Blanka Vas and Alvarado made the junction at the midway point of Lap 4. Worst pulled away until Pieterse jumped the hurdles and found her. McGill was 43rd.

The sextet went into the penultimate lap with van Anrooij and van der Heijden hoping to tag along. Betsema accelerated and Alvarado scrambled to keep in touch. The Hungarian attacked to fragment the group.

It would all kick off on the bell lap. Blanka Vas stayed in the engine room until Worst hit the gas, taking Pieterse and van Empel with her. Pieterse bunnyhopped the planks. Could the trio stay clear and sprint it out? Blanka Vas toiled to bring Betsema over. Van Empel attacked, forced the gap and never looked back.

The next round is next Sunday in Maasmechlen, Belgium.

2022-2023 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Round 3, Tabor
1) Fem van Empel (The Netherlands/Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) 53:32
2) Puck Pieterse (The Netherlands/Alpecin-Deceuninck) +0:03
3) Annemarie Worst (The Netherlands/777) +0:04
46) Sidney McGill (Canada) +7:38
48) Christiane Bilodeau (Canada) +8:12