Fem van Empel has once again underlined their supremacy in cross-country. In Maasmechelen, Belgium, she won a World Cup competition for the fourth time in a row.

The 20-year-old Dutchman is still undefeated in the fight for the World Cup this year.

Van Empel then stated that it was her toughest race of the season, it was well into the final lap before she claimed victory. She had to deal with her compatriots Puck Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij, who finally finished second and third.

Denise Betsema, Marianne Vos, Inge van der Heijden and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado also finished in the top ten. Annemarie Worst, one of Van Empel’s competitors in recent weeks, finished in a disappointing seventeenth place.

Van Empel also leads the World Cup standings, well ahead of Betsema and Alvarado.

Surprise with the men

Eli Iserbyt didn’t win the men’s for the first time this season. Belgian Laurens Sweeck took the win in Maasmechelen, crossing the finish line solo.

Lars van der Haar, the European champion from the Netherlands, finished second, thirteen seconds behind. Iserbyt was third.

After that there was heavy criticism of the course in Maasmechelen. Both Van der Haar and Iserbyt described the race in Maasmechelen as “unworthy of the World Cup”. opposite sporza Iserbyt complained about the many stones that led to falls and punctures. “I can assume that we won’t be racing here next year,” said the World Cup leader.

When asked if he was more irritated because he didn’t win, Iserbyt said that his knees especially hurt because they were open after a fall.