Fem van Empel claims world championship natural hat trick

Fem van Empel outdueled Lucinda Brand in the cracking final race of Saturday’s action at the UCI World Championships in Liévin, France, taking her third straight title, the first elite woman to do so since Sanne Cant from 2017 to 2019. The podium was exactly the same as last year’s–another Dutch podium sweep. Sidney McGill was top Canadian in 16th.

A duo represented Canada: Sidney McGill and Christiane Bilodeau.

The Dutch contingent contained favourites Brand, Puck Pieterse, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and two-time victor van Empel.

Home rider Amandine Fouquenet grabbed the hole shot on Lap 1 but Pieterse wanted the front. McGill was just outside the top-10 very early. Van Empel and Puck separated themselves at the four minute mark. Brand and Blanka Vas were the closest chasers. The double world champion gapped Pieterse but an error reunited them. Brand trailed by eight seconds, Vas by 14 seconds at the line. McGill was 11th.

Brand kept up her relentless pursuit at the beginning of Lap 2, catching Pieterse on a short, steep run-up. Van Empel kept the lead. When the orange trio came together Brand attacked. Pieterse made a sweet move to claim the front, but van Empel insisted on having no one ahead of her. Van Empel had a clip-in problem and had to pit. McGill was 13th after two circuits.

On Lap 3 of 6, Brand and Pieterse endeavoured to keep van Empel in their rearview mirrors. When the trio came back together, it was Pieterse who began to lag. Puck had a 10-second deficit at the end of the lap. McGill was still 13th.

Pieterse turned herself inside out on Lap 4 to reach her compatriots, but just couldn’t make the connection. Van Empel pitted while Brand did not. Pieterse lost a big chunk of time. McGill sifted down to 17th.

At the start of the penultimate lap, it was Brand’s turn to pit while van Empel did not. The duo exchanged leads. Then Brand pried open a gap.

When Brand heard the bell, she was ahead by four seconds. Could she hold it? Even though van Empel caught up again, she was having pedal troubles. Van Empel used a steep bank to snatch the front but Brand retook it. They went shoulder to shoulder. A late stall from Brand just before the tarmac meant that van Empel kept her title.

2025 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, Elite Women
Gold) Fem van Empel (The Netherlands) 54:29
Silver) Lucinda Brand (The Netherlands) +0:18
Bronze) Puck Pieterse (The Netherlands) +1:09
16) Sidney McGill (Canada) +4:23
33) Christiane Bilodeau (Canada)