Mathieu van der Poel and Fem van Empel shone brightly at the Besançon Cyclocross World Cup 2024, showcasing their exceptional talents on the course.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed by van der Poel himself after the Azencross Loenhout race, he would be flying to the Besançon event by private jet. Unfortunately, weather conditions had other plans, delaying his flight. The World Champion’s arrival became quite the topic of conversation, especially as he sought to make the roughly 600-kilometer trip to the French race, where many of cycling's elite were set to compete. Despite his notable salary and substantial starting fees allowing for such luxuries, nature intervened. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, van der Poel's aircraft could not land at the Besançon Aerodrome due to dense fog. He eventually touched down at the nearby Dole-Jura Airport at 10:05 AM, four hours before his race was scheduled to start. Though this delay was concerning, it would not hinder his participation, albeit possibly limiting his opportunity to scout the course prior to the competition.
On the women's side of the race, Fem van Empel continued her impressive run of form, sealing victory at the Besançon Cyclocross World Cup with commanding style. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider finished the race first, followed closely by Lucinda Brand, who took second place, and Kata Blanka Vas, who rounded out the podium. Reflecting on her win, van Empel remarked, "It was a fun cross. The supporters were great." Navigational challenges on the slippery course played to her advantage, allowing her to execute her race plan effectively. "It was very slippery on this lap, so it was an advantage I could ride my own race. That was perfect, I think. I had a very good start. Then I rode my own pace from start to finish. That turned out to be enough. It went according to plan. I made few mistakes. I think that's also important," van Empel explained poignantly.
This victory marked van Empel's second consecutive World Cup win, following her previous triumph at Gavere just days earlier. At only 22 years old, she has shown remarkable consistency and form. "I'm in good shape," she affirmed, hinting at her continued ambition. "Can it be beter? It can always bebetter, but whether that's the case now, I don’t know. We will continue to work hard for it." Given her dual successes, competitors will certainly view her as the favorite to vie for another coveted rainbow jersey come 2025.
Marianne Vos also made waves during the Besançon event, returning to cyclocross competition with commendable resolve, finishing fifth—an impressive feat considering it was her first race since January 2023. The Dutch cycling icon expressed satisfaction with her performance amid the chaotically slippery course. "It was a tough race, but I was happy I could move up in the peloton," Vos noted. "When I was around fourth or fifth, it became really tough. I didn’t have any energy left at the end. I fought until the finish. I’m happy with today’s race." Despite the fatigue weighing down on her, Vos relished the competitive atmosphere, saying, "It was very, very tiring. And when you are tired, your coordination becomes a bit less. So the last lap was perhaps not the best lap. But it was a nice duel with Zoe Bäckstedt. That was fun."
The challenging nature of the course was evident to all riders, as Vos elaborated—"The whole lap was actually tough. There weren’t many parts to recover. When it goes up, you have to push or run. And when you go down, you have to be very sharp and focused, because every corner is slippery." Her performance demonstrated to fans and competitors alike, she still possesses the skill and tenacity to compete vigorously against younger cyclists, raising anticipation for her subsequent appearances.
Besançon also attracted top junior cyclists, with notable performances from Irish racers Ryan Daly, Conor Murphy, and Greta Lawless. The junior category was marked by competitive spirit; Lawless had previously achieved the best result ever by an Irish junior rider at World Cup level just weeks prior, and she continued her upward trend placing 17th, showcasing her growth as she navigated the formidable conditions. Meanwhile, the junior men's race was claimed by France’s Soren Bruyere Joumard, successfully crossing the line solo, having previously won the Dublin World Cup event. Murphy settled for 16th, demonstrating solid form.
Overall, the Besançon Cyclocross World Cup 2024 provided thrilling competition and showcased the bright future of cyclocross, with stars like van der Poel and van Empel leading the charge. Fans eagerly anticipate the remaining races of the season, hoping to see more spectacular displays of skill as the top riders continue to battle for supremacy.