AllSports  

6 hrs

Fem van Empel wins her third Cyclo-cross title, while Tom Pidcock excels in the AlUla Tour.

Fem van Empel has triumphed once again, securing her third consecutive elite women`s Cyclo-cross World Championship title in a thrilling contest against Lucinda Brand in Liévin, France. After a challenging bike change on the penultimate lap, van Empel showcased her remarkable running speed and climbing strength to close the gap on Brand. In a dramatic final lap, a mistake by Brand during the tarmac finish allowed van Empel to seize the lead and ultimately the victory. Puck Pieterse completed an all-Dutch podium by finishing in third place.

The Cyclo-cross World Championships also highlighted the absence of British representation in both the elite women`s and under-23 men`s categories, as no riders met the selection criteria established by British Cycling.

On the road racing scene, Tom Pidcock of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team made headlines by winning stage 2 of the AlUla Tour. Pidcock navigated through challenging terrain that led to a neutralisation until just 5km to go, where his teammate Matteo Moschetti clinched the final sprint, marking a successful five days of racing for the team.

Looking ahead, the Maryland Cycling Classic is set to return in 2025, featuring a new date and the addition of a women`s race after its cancellation in 2024. This top-ranked US race promises to bring significant changes and improvements to the cycling calendar.

In team news, Caleb Ewan has signed a one-year contract with Ineos Grenadiers after departing Jayco AlUla, expressing enthusiasm about joining the British squad. The UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships saw Fem van Empel leading the elite women`s category, while other events like the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and Challenge Mallorca also produced notable results, with riders like Tobias Lund Andresen and Jan Christen achieving victories in their respective competitions.

For more details on the Cyclo-cross World Championships and other cycling events, visit the latest updates on Cycling Weekly.

#CycloCross,#FemVanEmpel,#TomPidcock,#MarylandClassic,#IneosGrenadiers