Fem van Empel Wins Night of Woerden After Thrilling Duel with Aniek Van Alphen

The epicenter of the Nacht van Woerden was once again the Exercitieveld in the city center of Woerden, located in the Green Heart region with over 38,000 inhabitants. The now somewhat classic three-kilometer circuit often guarantees a relatively fast yet challenging cyclocross, thanks to numerous corners, a specially constructed pontoon bridge, and a not insignificant amount of elevation.

Van Empel immediately set the pace
Where Van Empel was cautious in her season debut in Ruddervoorde, she left nothing on the table in Woerden. With a lightning-fast opening lap, the world champion caused an initial selection. Only one rider managed to stick with her: Aniek van Alphen. The Seven Racing rider initially followed smoothly, but a small mistake seemed to have cost her dearly.

After her slip, Van Alphen suddenly faced a gap of about five seconds but managed to close this deficit fairly quickly. Not only that: Inge van der Heijden also caught up following a somewhat weaker start. This set the stage for a fascinating three-way battle between Van Empel, Van Alphen, and Van der Heijden. However, a new plot twist was not far behind.

Van Alphen puts pressure on compatriots
It was not Van Alphen who faltered; instead, it was Van Empel who made a mistake. This put the favorite suddenly on the back foot, and after a bike change, the situation looked even more challenging. Van Alphen was now unleashed and saw her chance to open a (possibly decisive) gap. Van der Heijden was unable to bridge the gap with her fellow Dutchwoman, so it was up to Van Empel to respond.

The Visma | Lease a Bike rider sensed the danger, launched an intermediate acceleration, and brought Van Alphen back into her sights. The latter pushed her limits trying to extend her lead but paid the price: Van Alphen crashed and had to accept the company of her two compatriots once more but continued to apply pressure. Due to Van Alphen's high tempo, Van der Heijden dropped back, but Van Empel was determined not to yield.

Exciting duel
This set the stage for a thrilling final lap, in which Van Alphen did everything she could to shake off the supposedly faster Van Empel. However, it was the world champion who took the lead, but Van Alphen was not ready to concede and made a last-ditch effort to turn the race in her favor. Yet it was Van Empel who decided the contest with a decisive overtaking move.

Van Empel opened a small gap, which proved enough to claim the Kiremko Nacht van Woerden. The 23-year-old rider crossed the finish line first and secured victory in only her second race since her comeback. After a strong performance, Van Alphen had to settle for second place, while Van der Heijden finished third at an appropriate distance.