In an exhilarating showdown at the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin, France, Fem van Empel triumphed over fierce rival Lucinda Brand to secure her third consecutive title. The race, a six-lap contest, saw Brand surge ahead while Van Empel faced a challenging bike change. However, Van Empel showcased exceptional resilience, leveraging her strength in the final lap to narrow the gap. A critical mistake by Brand on the last corner allowed Van Empel to seize a narrow victory, illustrating the intense rivalry and high stakes in this elite event.
"I didn't realise that I had won the race because I really had to go deep for it. It was a tough battle, and mentally, it was hard because of last weekend ... This is quite emotional."
"Brand powered away while Van Empel was taking a bike change on the penultimate lap, which put Van Empel under severe pressure ahead of the closing lap of the race."
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