In the Women’s Elite race at the European Cyclocross Championships in Pontevedra, Fem van Empel emerged victorious after an intense battle, clinching her third consecutive title. The Dutch cyclist fought off strong challenges from compatriots Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Lucinda Brand on the fast-paced, tactical course along Spain’s Galician coast.
From the starting line, Van Empel, Alvarado, and Brand positioned themselves strategically near the front. The fast yet technically demanding course provided little room for significant early gaps, leading to a tense race in which riders often shuffled positions. Alvarado was the first to make a decisive move, setting a brisk tempo that fractured the field in the opening laps, though the gaps remained narrow.
As the race progressed, Alvarado and Van Empel, with their explosive accelerations, emerged as the primary contenders, maintaining a slight advantage over the rest of the field. At the midpoint, Brand fought her way back to the front, joining her compatriots and adding a fresh surge of energy to the lead group. Meanwhile, behind them, Belgium’s Alicia Franck and Laura Verdonschot formed a secondary chase group, doing their best to stay within reach but never fully closing the gap.
The defining moment arrived in the final lap, as Alvarado entered the technical section ahead of Van Empel, taking the lead into the narrow corners and tight bends. Van Empel, however, remained close on Alvarado’s wheel, patiently waiting for her opportunity. In the last 100 metres, as Alvarado launched her sprint down the final straight, Van Empel surged past her with one last burst, seizing the win by a fraction of a second. Brand followed closely, securing third place on the all-Dutch podium.
Reflecting on the hard-fought race, Van Empel shared, “This was maybe the best battle of the season. I knew I couldn’t make the difference on the straight sections. Right near the end, I was in a duel with Lucinda, and that just barely went my way. After that, I tried to stay as close as possible to Ceylin’s wheel and went all out for the finish.”
Alvarado admitted her surprise at seeing Van Empel pass her in the sprint, revealing that she initially thought Brand was behind her. “I was pretty sure I could win the sprint if it was Lucinda, but it was Fem,” she said. “A sprint against Fem is really tough—she has a fast finish. I gave it my all, but it wasn’t enough in the end.”
2024 Women’s European Cyclocross Championships result
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Photo Credit: Cor VosThibau Nys Prevails in Showdown with Orts
In the Men’s Elite race, 21-year-old Thibau Nys claimed his first European Championship title after a tense head-to-head battle with Spanish rider Felipe Orts in the closing stages. The race unfolded in a similarly tactical manner, with a fast pace set from the start on the relatively straightforward Pontevedra course, where any chance to break away required precise timing and unyielding strength.
A minute’s silence preceded the start, held in memory of recent flood victims in Valencia. Once the race began, the Belgian team quickly established control, with Nys, Eli Iserbyt, and defending champion Michael Vanthourenhout in the leading group. Orts, however, showed resilience, marking every Belgian attack as he positioned himself among the front-runners, eagerly supported by the cheering Spanish crowd.
Midway through the race, Orts launched a well-timed attack, creating a selection that only Nys managed to follow. The two riders formed a temporary alliance, taking turns at the front to maintain their advantage over Iserbyt and Lars van der Haar, who trailed just seconds behind.
The decisive moment came in the final lap when Nys, having studied Orts’s moves, made his push. As he described later, “Having Felipe with us was perfect. We both rode flat out, which was good for me.” Nys managed to surge ahead on the course’s fast sections, leaving Orts unable to match his pace in the final sprint.
“I had to adapt to every scenario,” Nys reflected on his performance. “It was so fast, and creating a gap was really tough. I didn’t expect to have so much control, but when I took the lead, I knew exactly what I needed to do.”
As Nys crossed the line in tears, the Galician crowd erupted in applause for their local hero, Orts, who took second place. Iserbyt completed the podium, nine seconds behind.
2024 Men’s European Cyclocross Championships result
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Main photo credit: Cor Vos
