Rainbow jersey Fem van Empel took her sixth win of the ‘cross season on Saturday in a race full of crashes, one that severely affected Maghalie Rochette. After nearly a month-long break, the 2024-2025 X2O Badkamers Trofee returned on Saturday with the fourth of eight rounds where the world champion outperformed her fellow Dutch competitors to claim the day’s honours. At the series’ halfway mark, Lucinda Brand, Saturday’s runner-up, leads the standings with a 4:40 advantage. Canada’s top finisher was Katja Verkerk in 33rd.
Down but not out
After the race, Rochette took to Instagram to explain she had injured her fingers and would have to skip the upcoming races. The Sainte-Adèle, Que. rider posted that she was very disappointed in having to do so. “Not the trip I hoped for or prepared for, but it is the trip we got! Cancelled race in Sardinia and messed-up fingers in Herentals, so no more races for me this trip. 3 weeks was a long time for one race,” she posted. She and partner David Gagnon flew to Italy last week for the world cup, but it was cancelled due to high winds–a costly trip for all the athletes who went but couldn’t race.
Maghalie Rochette on upcoming season: ‘The CX fever is still burning hot!’
The original plan was to head home after the UCI CX World Cup on Sunday in Namur, Belgium, to reset and prepare for the rest of the season. That plan has changed.
Unsure if finger is broken
“I am not sure if the finger is broken yet but it doesn’t feel safe to race Namur with a hand not working 100 per cent, so we’re going home today. We’ll be back eventually, but for now, I don’t know when,” she said. “To say I’m sad and disappointed is an understatement. This trip completely took the wind out of my sails. At least the weekend in Dublin was cool and I’m really holding on to that for now.”
Rochette began her season well, with strong rides stateside and a second place behind Isabelle Holmgren at the ‘cross nationals. She was just beginning to find her Euro legs at the first World Cup in Dublin, where she finished 15th. Her big goal of the year is still the world championships which take place the final weekend of January, in Liévin, France. So there is plenty of time to recuperate and recover, so hopefully the damage to her fingers isn’t so bad.
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