Fem van Empel makes a successful cyclocross comeback in Meulebeke; Schreiber capitalises on Brand's misfortune

Fem van Empel celebrated her return to cyclocross on Saturday. The Dutch rider performed well at the Berencross in Meulebeke, where Marie Schreiber (SD Worx-Protime) took the win. Lucinda Brand and Ceylin del Carmen Alvardo experienced setbacks during the race.

So at the start, everyone was especially looking forward to Van Empel’s return, wearing a red jersey for Specialized-TMRW. “I’m happier than ever,” she said during her pre-race interview with Sporza. There, she also provided more details about her break, which lasted nearly a year.

"I had lost the joy of cycling because my body was no longer in balance. At the time, I opened up to the people closest to me. I said at the time that my body was no longer capable of competing at the top level the way I wanted to,” said Van Empel, who didn’t want to set any expectations for her return just yet.

"I'm just really happy to be here at the start and back on my bike. It feels just like old times, but I can count the number of times I've ridden my cyclocross bike on one hand. I’ll also be starting a bit further back than usual. So I’ll be taking a different line at the start. Things might not look quite right today. But that’s okay—I’ll make up the time."

Van Empel started relatively far back, just as it began pouring rain in Meulebeke. World champion Brand took the lead there, while Dutch champion Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado had a somewhat rough start due to bad luck.

Van Empel was already in the top ten by the end of the first lap, while Brand took the lead alongside Denise Betsema. After a rider change by the woman in the rainbow jersey, Betsema even rode solo in the lead for a brief moment, ahead of a group that included Brand as well as the strong riders Aniek van Alphen and Annemarie Worst.

A crash by Brand set her back even further, which presented a unique opportunity for the other women halfway through the race. Betsema was unable to capitalize on it, as she, too, took a fall. Meanwhile, Van Alphen powered on, with Marie Schreiber hot on her heels. The rider from Luxembourg took the lead as they entered the fourth lap.

Van Alpen followed, while behind her a small group consisting of Van Empel, world champion Brand, Dutch champion Alvarado, and European champion Inge van der Heijden bunched up. Brand broke away from that group and took third place. Van Empel followed behind her, which can certainly be called a very impressive result.

1. Marie Schreiber
2. Aniek van Alphen
3. Lucinda Brand