World champion Fem van Empel delivered an electrifying win in the women’s GP Sven Nys, chasing down Lucinda Brand on the final lap to claim victory in Baal. Puck Pieterse completed the podium with a strong third-place finish. The women’s GP Sven Nys saw a packed field of favourites, with Fem van Empel, Lucinda Brand, and Puck Pieterse taking charge early on. American Katie Clouse followed closely but eventually dropped back as the pace intensified. Disaster struck early for Van Empel when a crash in the opening lap left her chasing from over 30 seconds behind.
“I came full into the mud and had to take my time to straighten my handlebars,” Van Empel said. “At that point, I didn’t think I could catch them.”
With Van Empel off the pace, Pieterse seized control, pulling clear of Brand. The Dutch champion struggled to match Pieterse’s climbing speed but held a steady second position until Pieterse herself crashed midway through the race. This opened the door for Brand to surge into the lead while Van Empel methodically worked her way back, first closing in on Pieterse and then targeting Brand.
Photo Credit: GettyHeading into the final lap, Brand held a 13-second lead over her two chasers, but Van Empel was unstoppable in the mud and heavy climbs. A decisive charge on the Balenberg saw her halve the gap before catching Brand just metres from the finishing straight. The sprint that followed was tense, with Van Empel overtaking Brand by half a bike length.
“This was one of the most beautiful duels I’ve ever ridden,” Van Empel remarked. “I had to keep fighting until the very last metre. I’m so happy to start the year with this victory.”
Brand reflected on her near miss, acknowledging Van Empel’s strength on the climbs. “She was just faster uphill,” Brand said. “It’s disappointing to lose so narrowly, but it was still a good race.”
Pieterse, who finished third, found positives despite falling out of contention. “This was my first race in weeks where I felt like myself again,” she said. “It was a tough final lap, but I’m happy to be back on the podium.”
The top ten also included strong performances from Sanne Cant in fourth, Anna Kay in sixth, and Katie Clouse rounding out the top ten.
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Photo Credit: GettyIserbyt makes hay in Van der Poel’s absence
With Mathieu van der Poel sidelined due to injury, the men’s race promised a wide-open battle. Belgian Eli Iserbyt seized the opportunity to take his first win since November, overcoming an early deficit to beat Pim Ronhaar and Emiel Verstrynge.
The race began with a chaotic start as European champion Thibau Nys slipped out of his pedal, losing ground. While Ronhaar and Verstrynge established an early lead, Iserbyt found himself further back, steadily working through the field.
By the fourth lap, Iserbyt bridged the gap to the leaders, leaving Nys trailing after he was forced to change a damaged shoe. With two laps to go, Iserbyt began to pull away, his relentless pace proving too much for Ronhaar and Verstrynge.
In the final lap, Iserbyt extended his advantage, crossing the line solo to secure his first win in six weeks. “This was a race where everything finally came together,” Iserbyt said. “I’ve had some struggles recently, so to start the year with a win feels great.”
Ronhaar, who finished second, battled through back pain to hold his place on the podium. “I tried to stay with Eli, but he had more left in the tank,” Ronhaar admitted. “Still, I’m happy with this result after a tough few weeks.”
Verstrynge rounded out the podium, unable to match Iserbyt’s late acceleration. Nys finished in fifth after a challenging day marked by equipment issues and a crash. “It wasn’t my best race, but I’ll move on and focus on the next one,” Nys said.
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