168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Fem van Empel (168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Visma-Lease A Bike) emerged victorious at the X2O Trofee Baal after a gripping duel with Lucinda Brand (Trek Bal💟oise Lions), while 18-year-old Ava Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) underscored ꧒her potential with a remarkable podium finish.
“For sure, it’s always nice to s꧋tart the new year with a victory, especially with the new sponsor,” Van Empel said.
Van Empel’s victory was her 13th from 15 races this season, and it also marked a statement of intent after she had finished off the podium at the World C𓃲up in Hulst on Saturday. The world champion had to battle grimly for t🌺he victory, however, in a race that pitted her power against Brand’s technical skills on the demanding course at the Sven Nys Cycling Center.
With Puck Pieterse and Ce🎉ylin del Carmen Alvarado among the absentees, this race was always likely to be contested by Van Empel and Brand, and so it proved.
Van Empel was quickest off the mark a﷽t the start𒅌, stretching out the field with an acceleration on the opening stretch of tarmac, and she was soon joined at the front by Brand, while Sanne Cant and Clara Honsinger led the splintered chasing group.
By the end of lap one, Brand and Van Empel a⭕lready had a lead of 1:16 over the rest, while Holmgren had battled her way back into contac﷽t with Cant and Honsinger.
Their lead established, Van Empel and Brand’s duel began in earnest on lap two. Brand, who regularly trains on the Sven Nys course, took full advantage of her array of skills, opening a small gap over Van Empel on the tough series of dips early in the l𝓰ap.
Van Empel, however, held her nerve and bridged back up to Br💯and on tꦐhe climb that followed, and the pair reached the midpoint with a lead of 1:55 over Holmgren, Cant and Honsinger.
There was a sense of déjà vu on lap three, when Brand again opened a lead on the section of dips, even if Vanℱ Empel limited her losses a little better this time around. The world champion was later a faller on a running section, but she recovered quickly to stay in touch with Brand, while they continued to stretch their lead over the chasers.
Brand attacked Van Empel again on the jumps near the end of the lap, and this time she did enough to carve out a slen♛der advantage of two seconds as she took the bell, but the world champion managed to get back ahead when her rival slipped shortly before🅷 they tackled the dips.
Brand came to the front again here, but she was unable to shake off Van Empel and the world champion&rsq📖uo;s power began to tell on the latter part of the course. She took a small lead into a long running section, and she came out the other side with a decisive advantage.
Van Empel all but sealed victory on the section of tarmac that followꦅed, and she would cross the line with a lead of 25 seconds ov♌er Brand.
“My technique has been letting me down lately,” Van Empel confesseဣd afterwards, despite her triumph. “There is work to be done🍌.”
Behind, Holmgren took flight on the penultimate lap, for𓆏ging clear of Cant and𒀰 Honsinger, and she showcased her technical ability on the final lap to ensure she claimed the third step of the podium at just 18 years of age.
The Canadian came home 3:15 down on Van Empel but some 44 seconds cle⛄ar of Cant, while Honsinger t🅰ook fifth at 4:13.
“I don’t even know what just happened. I couldn’t really believe it: a top three in Europe no matter the race, no matter who shows up is pretty crazy for a North American, so I’m stoked about tha༒t,” Holmgren said.
“I’m so happy to do it here in Baal, it’s just amazing. I love technical courses but also courses that ar🦹e fast. But a cross race is a cross race, and I like that.”
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