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December 16, 2023
X²O Badkamers Trophy 2024 WE 🇧🇪 – Trofee Herentals Herentals, Belgium
The X²O Badkamers Trofee is one of four major, season-long cyclocross series. With its first edition dating back to 1987 it’s the second-oldest of Europe’s series.
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December 16, 2023
X²O Badkamers Trophy 2024 WE 🇧🇪 – Trofee Herentals Herentals, Belgium
The X²O Badkamers Trofee is one of four major, season-long cyclocross series. With its first edition dating back to 1987 it’s the second-oldest of Europe’s series. The X²O Badkamers Trofee is unique in the world of cyclocross, as unlike other series that award points after every race, the X²O Badkamers Trofee is effectively a season-long stage race, with the overall winner being the fastest over all of the eight races across the season. That’s not always been the case though, prior to switching over to this new system in the 2012/13 season the series ran on points, just like the other series. If a rider misses or does not finish at a round, it’s still technically possible for them to win as ‘non-finishers’. Lapped riders and non-starters are given the winner’s time, plus 5 minutes. Miss too many rounds, however, and these 5 minute-long deficits soon add up and create an insurmountable gap. For that reason, this is a series that riders often compete in throughout the season, rather than picking and choosing individual rounds. Riders at the X²O Badkamers Trofee are encouraged to have a fast start, not only because it will give them an advantage in the race, but the ‘Quick Start’ classification means that the first rider across the start/finish line after the first lap gets a 15-second bonus for their final overall time, with 10 seconds and 5 seconds going to second and third across the line, respectively. These time bonuses could prove to be vital in the outcome of the overall standings, especially if this year’s series is closely contested.
A battle of two women wearing rainbow stripes concluded with world champion Fem Van Empel (Jumbo-Visma) prevailing over former world champion Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) at the third round of the X2O Trofee in Herentals.
The pair battled one another at the head of the race during the final two laps of five through the Belgian mud, with Brand making a comeback from the chasing group to catch the 21-year-old.
Van Empel, who wore a bandage on her knee following a training crash, and Brand stuck together until midway through the final lap, only putting more and more time into those dropped behind, including Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds) and Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal).
Van Empel stole a march on her fellow Dutchwoman during the major mid-lap climb, pushing on by a few seconds. But Brand got back on well in time for the start-finish straight to set up a sprint finish.
A late wobble on an off-camber downhill corner set Brand back a few metres once more, forcing her to expend more energy to get back on Van Empel’s wheel.
The pair raced towards the line together with Van Empel leading out, but Brand couldn’t quite come alongside her rival for the win. The world champion raised her arms in triumph for the 10th time in 10 races this season, a fraction ahead of Brand.
Worst rounded out the podium at 42 seconds back, the Dutchwoman having earlier been part of the chase group along with Brand. Another chaser, Betsema, took fourth place at 1:11, while Briton Anna Kay (Cyclocross Reds) was fifth at 1:49.
Brand had earlier stuck to Van Empel’s wheel during an acceleration on the first lap of the race, while Worst and Betsema were joined by Manon Bakker (Crelan-Corendon) in the chase.
On the second lap, the groups came together at the head of the race following an attempted break by Brand. However, Van Empel was soon out front on her own once more, going clear on the mid-lap climb.
Brand, Worst, and Betsema lay eight seconds down at the end of the lap, and it looked as though the world champion would be away solo for the finish line. Brand had other ideas, though, pushing on alone in the chase and closing to within two seconds of Van Empel the next time through the finish.
She’d make it back on lap four, setting up the big finale that would eventually result in yet another Van Empel victory – albeit a narrow one.
Results :
 prevailing over former world champion Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) at the third round of the X2O Trofee in Herentals.
The pair battled one another at the head of the race during the final two laps of five through the Belgian mud, with Brand making a comeback from the chasing group to catch the 21-year-old.
Van Empel, who wore a bandage on her knee following a training crash, and Brand stuck together until midway through the final lap, only putting more and more time into those dropped behind, including Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds) and Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal).
Van Empel stole a march on her fellow Dutchwoman during the major mid-lap climb, pushing on by a few seconds. But Brand got back on well in time for the start-finish straight to set up a sprint finish.
A late wobble on an off-camber downhill corner set Brand back a few metres once more, forcing her to expend more energy to get back on Van Empel's wheel.
The pair raced towards the line together with Van Empel leading out, but Brand couldn't quite come alongside her rival for the win. The world champion raised her arms in triumph for the 10th time in 10 races this season, a fraction ahead of Brand.
Worst rounded out the podium at 42 seconds back, the Dutchwoman having earlier been part of the chase group along with Brand. Another chaser, Betsema, took fourth place at 1:11, while Briton Anna Kay (Cyclocross Reds) was fifth at 1:49.
Brand had earlier stuck to Van Empel's wheel during an acceleration on the first lap of the race, while Worst and Betsema were joined by Manon Bakker (Crelan-Corendon) in the chase.
On the second lap, the groups came together at the head of the race following an attempted break by Brand. However, Van Empel was soon out front on her own once more, going clear on the mid-lap climb.
Brand, Worst, and Betsema lay eight seconds down at the end of the lap, and it looked as though the world champion would be away solo for the finish line. Brand had other ideas, though, pushing on alone in the chase and closing to within two seconds of Van Empel the next time through the finish.
She'd make it back on lap four, setting up the big finale that would eventually result in yet another Van Empel victory – albeit a narrow one.
<strong>Results : </strong>
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