Van Empel returns to the field after a knee injury with a win in the Gavere World Cup

Fem van Empel has returned to the field with a resounding victory. The world champion won the World Cup from Gavere after being out of action for more than a week due to a knee injury.

She sustained that injury during the reconnaissance of the cycling classic Paris-Roubaix, with a view to the next road season.

“My knee pain is not completely gone yet, but it felt good to start here. We will continue to treat the injury and see how it continues to recover,” the winner said afterwards.

Due to the injury, she missed two World Cups in the busy Christmas period: those of Hulst and Zonhoven, which means she has to bridge a large gap on leader Lucinda Brand in the rankings. She finished second in Gavere and now has a lead of 56 points over the world champion.

Van Empel already showed her good legs in the first round. In the tough, muddy climbing cross she immediately put the rest under pressure. Only Puck Pieterse could follow her. Brand had to make up places immediately due to a poor start and never joined Van Empel again.

However, Pieterse also had a hard time. On the long running strips she constantly had to leave a gap to Van Empel and halfway through the second of five laps the spring broke. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider continued solo.

Brand continued her advance and overtook Pieterse, securing second place. Pieterse completed the Dutch podium with her third place.