Alvarado's strong start sparks interest among cyclo-cross fans in potential showdowns with Van Empel

That is the view of Bart Wellens, the cyclo-cross expert for Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad. Van Empel won almost everywhere she competed last year, but according to the Belgian, this year could see a change. He referenced Alvarado’s stellar season in the winter of 2019-2020. "She’s back in that flow from the year when she became world champion. That was also a year when everything clicked."

Read more below the photo.

"The entire season, it’s been noticeable that Alvarado is in top form. From the very first race, she was in the groove. She’s the one who needs to be considered every single time. In Hamme, she managed to win from a nearly lost position. I think Brand and Casasola were stronger, but thanks to Alvarado’s perseverance, technique and race intelligence, she still managed to win," Wellens reasons.

This now seems like a continuation of 2020, so it appears. "You often see with women that after a top year, they dip slightly. Everyone expects you to keep performing, but with women, it’s always just a bit more challenging. Alvarado was also very young in her first top season; she still had her whole career ahead of her. Now, she’s more mature."

And so, a showdown with the queen of cyclo-cross, Van Empel, is highly anticipated. "It’s hard to compare her level to Fem van Empel’s because she hasn’t raced much yet. Her first races were a bit below par, but she herself said she was following a plan." Nevertheless, Wellens can already point out where advantages may lie for both riders. "I still believe that on a technical level, Van Empel will always have to concede to Alvarado and some other riders. Van Empel compensates for a lot with her fitness and strength," concludes the analyst.