Fem van Empel claimed victory at the Koppenbergcross, marking her third consecutive win in the iconic Belgian race. As the opening round of the X2O Trofee, the race drew top cyclocross talent to Oudenaarde, where Van Empel quickly set the pace from the start. She took control early, with Lucinda Brand and Sara Casasola attempting to match her speed. The trio broke away on the opening lap, joined initially by Blanka Vas and Annemarie Worst, who both showed promise but couldn’t keep pace with the leaders.
Brand led the charge initially, showcasing her intentions to finally add the Koppenbergcross to her palmarès. However, as the riders approached the cobbled climb on the second lap, Van Empel executed a decisive acceleration that proved too powerful for her chasers. Brand held on for as long as she could but began to slip back as Van Empel powered up the climb, establishing a lead that would only grow.
By the midway point, Van Empel’s dominance was unmistakable, with Brand trailing by 31 seconds and Casasola further back at 1:35. Vas and Worst battled for fourth place, with Vas ultimately securing the position just seconds ahead of Worst. After crossing the line with a significant lead, Van Empel spoke to WielerFlits, sharing her joy over another Koppenberg victory. “This is my favourite race of the entire season,” she said. “It’s great to win here for the third time in a row.”
Brand, visibly frustrated with her own performance, revealed that she struggled with rhythm on the challenging terrain. “I stand here with a double feeling,” she admitted. “I didn’t feel like I could physically give everything. Finding a rhythm was challenging with all the bumps—Fem was better at handling that. I also struggled a bit with tyre choices,” she explained. Despite her best efforts, Brand couldn’t match Van Empel’s pace and had to settle for second.
Casasola, who secured third, expressed satisfaction despite the gruelling conditions. “I’m very happy with my podium,” she said, acknowledging the toll the race took on her legs. “This was an extremely tough race; my legs really felt it. I tried to stick to my own pace and am pleased with this start to my season—it’s more than I expected.”
2024 Women’s Koppenbergcross result
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Photo Credit: David Pintens/BELGA MAG/AFPVan der Haar’s victory and Iserbyt’s unexpected encounter in the men’s race
In the men’s race, Lars van der Haar took control with a powerful solo victory, distancing his rivals on the Koppenberg’s notorious cobbles. The race, which consisted of seven laps, began with a close battle among the top riders, with Eli Iserbyt, Toon Aerts, and European champion Michael Vanthourenhout all positioning themselves near the front. Despite Iserbyt’s strong start and early lead on the first climb, Van der Haar capitalised on his experience to launch a well-timed attack that would ultimately secure his second Koppenbergcross victory.
Van der Haar made his decisive move on the fifth lap, using his technical skill to navigate the course’s tricky terrain and extend his lead. By the bell lap, he was well clear of the rest of the field, finishing 34 seconds ahead of Iserbyt, with Aerts coming in third a further 20 seconds behind. However, Iserbyt’s race wasn’t without drama; he found himself in an unexpected situation when a spectator threw beer directly in his face during the third lap, temporarily disrupting his focus.
The incident occurred as Iserbyt navigated a descent, with the beer splashing over him as he rode past a section crowded with fans. Visibly shaken, Iserbyt managed to regain his composure and continue, later sharing his frustration with reporters. “I was not feeling well for a moment. It was right in my face. It was unexpected, I could not find my focus for a moment,” he recounted, adding, “It is good that the police were able to take the man away immediately.”
Race organisers quickly intervened, with VTM later reporting that the spectator was escorted from the event by police and could face charges. Christoph Impens, a spokesperson for organisers Golazo, condemned the behaviour, remarking, “This will not remain the best day of that spectator’s life.”
Despite the interruption, Iserbyt regained his rhythm and pressed on, finishing second behind Van der Haar. Reflecting on the incident and the season’s early dramas—having already faced a suspension for an incident with Ryan Kamp—he told VTM, “These are things that should not happen… It should not happen; it does not belong in cyclocross.”
2024 Men’s Koppenbergcross result
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Main photo credit: Cor Vos
