WB Gavere (women)
Cyclocross World Cup (women)
13:40 Gavere
After 11 victories in 11 crosses, Fem van Empel’s code has been cracked. In the tough World Cup cross of Gavere, the world champion’s performance was too inconsistent to take the lead. Dutch champion Puck Pieterse did not miss the opportunity and soloed to a convincing victory. Ceylin Alvarado, 3rd today, remains in the lead in the World Cup.
Would Fem van Empel’s winning streak come to an end this season? A fall on her bad knee in the slippery strips of Gavere during the reconnaissance was not a good omen for the world champion.
Puck Pieterse understood that today was a golden opportunity and pulled off a scorching performance in round 1.
Only Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado was able to keep up, thanks to 2 sliders from Pieterse.
At one moment a volatile Van Empel looked as strong as ever, but questionable acting on the descending stretches slowed down the victorious queen.
Pieterse didn’t care about any of that. The Dutch champion remained clear and drove further and further away from Alvarado and Van Empel.
The latter was able to pass Alvarado to place 2 in the final round, but nothing could be done against Pieterse. A well-deserved first victory of the season after a very strong cross in the tough Gavere.
Puck Pieterse: “I was told that everything would be fine by the Christmas period”
“I’m very happy that I won again,” said Puck Pieterse, who had been waiting for a victory since Besançon (January 29) last season.
“I felt good last week, but then I made a mistake. Now I was in the lead from the start.”
“I didn’t panic after a few slips either. If I’m good, I usually fall once or twice in the first round,” she laughed baring her teeth.
“Someone had to do it, right,” she winked about the end of Fem van Empel’s winning streak. “Everyone wanted it. Too bad for Fem, nice for me.”
“I was told that my form would be fine by the Christmas period. It’s great that it is, otherwise you doubt yourself.”
Ceylin Alvarado: “It was near the end”
“Puck was very strong,” admitted No. 3 Ceylin Alvarado. “I tried to go along, but had to pass. I think I went a bit overboard there.”
“Fem also came back strong and due to fatigue I made mistakes. Towards the end it was over. I fought for what I was worth, but Fem was also stronger than me.”
Related:
Phase by phase
Van Empel came in 2nd and congratulated the winner with a smile. Alvarado finishes 3rd and remains leader in the World Cup rankings.
Pieterse is the best in the mud of Gavere, Van Empel is second at half a minute
Pieterse wins!
It has happened: Fem van Empel’s winning streak has been broken. The Dutch champion Puck Pieterse was the strongest woman in the race today and was in the lead almost from start to finish: a well-deserved victory!
The extremely strong Puck Pieterse still has more than half a minute left on Van Empel. The well-deserved first victory of the season beckons!
A blowing Van Empel drops his foot again from the click pedal, but the gap with Alvarado is now big enough. 2nd place is for the world champion.
Pieterse rode flawlessly today, except for those 2 slip-ups.
Paul Herygers
Alvarado struggles with her bike for a moment, Van Empel gains some meters
Van Empel at Alvarado
The heavy muddy uphill sections clearly suit Van Empel better than Alvarado today. A new hitch from the latter ensures that the world champion can immediately take a few lengths.
Last round
Alvarado follows Pieterse at 25 seconds at the start of the last lap, Van Empel at exactly half a minute. Fire takes 4th place without any accidents.
Pieterse has to slalom past several duplicated riders and that does not always go smoothly. Still, she can start the final round with a nice bonus, and barring bad luck, victory seems to have been won.
Van Empel’s resurrection is somewhat slowed down by a questionable descent. “You can’t win like that,” our commentators also see.
Alvarado comes into the sights of Van Empel, who now seems to have got her rhythm. Although that can also be said of Pieterse, who goes to the edge in the descent.
Strong Pieterse
Van Empel cuts a few seconds off Pieterse’s lead, but he still remains comfortable with 26 units. The gap on Alvarado is also growing noticeably.
Situation after 3 rounds
Pieterse
+12″ Alvarado
+30″ Van Empel
The top 3 seems to have been fixed now that Van Empel seems to have finally said goodbye to Brand at the end of the round.
Bäckstedt, in fifth place, uses the air cushion on the descent to keep himself going. Schreiber has a worse fall and tries to quickly continue dancing with the bike.
Van Empel seems to lose the race in the descent
Van Empel, with her damaged knee, is passed by Brand again in the descent. “She got scared,” Ruben and Paul think.
We really do get to see some fighting.
Ruben Van Gucht
Cyclocross World Cup
