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 has been the Editor of Cyclingnews since December 2025, overseeing editorial operations and output across the brand and delivering quality, engaging content.
She manages global budgets, racing & events, production scheduling, and contributor commissions, collaborating across content sections and teams in the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia to ensure audience and subscription growth across the brand.
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.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
'You have to take every opportunity you get' - After four days of suffering Tim Merlier is ready for first sprint of 2026 Tour de France
While some rivals have been hunting points the Soudal-QuickStep rider has been biding his time -
'Not as easy as it looks' – Mads Pedersen perfectly executes Tour de France stage win plan made months in advance by 'workaholic' head DS
Lidl-Trek rider proves doubters wrong in Foix after hearing 'a lot of places that I was done and I should just stop the season' -
Torstein Træen's Tour de France yellow jersey gives Uno-X Mobility something to celebrate
'This shows that if we do a good job, we can stand here and lead the Tour de France' says team manager Thor Hushovd -
How to watch Tour de France Stage 5: All the broadcasters and live streams for a potential sprint day
Find out how you can watch stage 5 of the Tour de France



