World champion Fem van Empel dominates Exact Cross Beringen with solo victory
Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado second, Lucinda Brand third
World Champion Fem van Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike) secured a dominant solo victory in the in the opening round of the Exact Cross series Beringen-Be-Mine Cross on Saturday.
She opened a solo lead on the second of five laps and finished 42 seconds ahead of former world champions Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and 1:16 ahead of another former world champion Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions).
Italian champion Sara Casasola (Hess) led the field onto the course ahead of Van Empel, Alvarado and Brand, who was wearing the Dutch champion's jersey, with a long line of some 35 riders competing in the opening round of the Exact Cross series.
Alvarado took the lead as the race hit the off-camber mud section of the opening lap with a strong reaction from Van Empel chasing several seconds back with Casasola on her wheel.
The fast start saw a gap to the next group of chasing riders led by Brand, Alicia Franck (DE Ceuster-Bouwpunt), Inge Van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon) and Aniek Van Alphen (Cyclocross Reds) before the start of the second lap.
Van Empel and Casasola passed Alvarado as she slid out on the off-camber mud section, crashed and dropped her chain on the second lap.
After a quick bike change, Alvarado got back into the race in fourth position on the course, forced to chase solo leader Van Empel, and Casasola and Brand. Alvarado was quickly joined by the next chase group Franck, Van der Heijden and Van Alphen.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Van Empel led the race through the start of the third lap with 10 seconds on Casasola as Brand and Alvarado chased at an additional three seconds back.
The three chasers reconnected but an untimely crash saw Casasola go down and she was caught by the next group that included Franck, Van der Heijden and Van Alphen.
On the last lap, Van Empel pushed her lead out to over 40 seconds ahead of Alvarado, while Brand was in third place another 45 seconds back. Van Alphen crossed the line in fourth on the day.
Results
Results powered by FirstCycling

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Inge van der Heijden leads Dutch sweep ahead of Lucinda Brand and Aniek van Alphen at elite women’s race
Van der Heijden led from start to finish on sandy Middelkerke course -
European Cyclocross Championships: Mattia Agostinacchio attacks solo to take under-23 men's title
Italian upgrades from 2024 junior title ahead of Haverdings and De Bruyckere -
'The team is trying to push me more towards the Classics' - Jasper Philipsen to focus less on bunch sprints in preparation for 2026 season
Belgian will once again form one half of Classics tag-team with Mathieu van der Poel in 2026 before pivoting back to sprints and Tour de France -
European Cyclocross Championships: Barbora Bukovská wins junior women's title
Czech rider sees of challenge from Nynke Jochems as Nicole Azzetti completes podium



