The Dutch star clocked 54min 42sec for the title and became the first woman to win two different categories at the event, after winning the women's under-23 race at the 2021 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships.

The 20-year-old also became the second youngest rider to bag the elite gold after compatriot Marianne Vos, who took the top spot in 2006.

"It’s very special for me," Van Empel said.

"Puck had a crash and at that moment I went full gas.

"It’s difficult to find the right words, I’m emotional."

Compatriot Puck Pieterse took the silver medal 39sec later while Lucinda Brand won the bronze medal, crossing the line 1min 11sec after Van Empel.

In the women's junior race, Canada twin sisters Isabella Holmgren and Ava Holmgren took the gold and silver, respectively.

Isabella clocked 42:13 for the gold medal before her sister crossed the line in second 20sec later.

The win for Holmgren sisters was the first cyclo-cross medal for Canada since the first World Championships in 1950.

France's Célia Gery took the bronze medal 47sec after Isabella.

Belgium finished strongly in the men's under-23 race, with rides from the European nation getting the first and third spot.

Thibau Nys cruise to gold in 50:42 before Tobor Del Grosso of The Netherlands bagged silver 4sec later.

Nys' compatriot Witse Meeussen completed the podium spots, finishing 4sec after Del Grosso.

The event is set to conclude tomorrow with the junior men, women's under-23 and men's elite race.