The future is orange: Dutch dominate U23 women's cyclo-cross World Championship

Nearly two hours after the women's U23 race concluded at the 2022 UCI World Cyclo-cross Championships, tears of frustration still come easily for bronze medalist Fem van Empel.

The 19-year-old former football player huddles with her mother in a corner, awaiting the start of the press conference and trying to steady her shaky voice.

"Top sport can be so hard," her mother sympathizes.

Just a few hours prior, a wintery sun shone warmly on the Fayetteville course as Van Empel, the defending champion, lined up alongside fellow compatriots Puck Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij as the top three favourites for the U23 title.

Barring any surprises, the podium was set. The battle was going to be for the order in which these three Dutch women would cross the finish.

Van Anrooij was favoured for her diesel engine, Pieterse for her speedy climbing legs and superior technical skills, Van Empel for her all-around speed and experience in the rainbow bands.

"We had the pressure to be on the podium with all three of us after the season we've had," Van Anrooij said. "But [the three of us] just all wanted to have an honest race and a good battle."

The team tactic was simple enough. "Don't get into one another's way unnecessarily. And ride your own race," Pieterse elaborated. 

"We knew beforehand that the three of us would be the strongest, but if a different rider would come in between us, we would have had to play a tactical game."

It was French rider Amandine Fouquenet who led the field of 23 riders off the pavement and into the woods. Pieterse and Van Anrooij followed in her wheel, but trouble arrived early for Van Empel.

Her Di2 equipped bike had gone into crash mode, her team staff explained later. This means that Van Empel had to