'I'm going to do what I love most' - Fem van Empel returns with cyclocross focus
The cyclocross world champion has been on a break from racing, having not raced since the Trofeo Alfredo Binda back in March, but has announced her return to the action with a focus on her favourite discipline.
World Cyclocross champion Fem van Empel (Visma | Lease a Bike) will return to competition after taking several months away from racing to focus on her mental well-being, announcing she’s focusing on cyclocross over road racing.
“I’m going to do what I love most,” said Van Empel in a statement released by Visma | Lease a Bike, who will make her competitive comeback this weekend at the Grand Prix de Fourmies, a French road race, which will serve as preparation before diving into the upcoming cyclocross season.
Back in March, Van Empel announced she was going to take a break from racing, citing mental health challenges after years of competing at the highest level. During her time away, Van Empel came to the decision to fully focus on cyclocross, stating, “The most important thing is that I’m incredibly excited. I’m just going to dive in and do what I love most.”
“My motivation and enjoyment on the road were less strong than for cyclocross. Once I made the choice, it immediately felt right. I fully stand behind my decision," Van Empel explained.
Van Empel credited Visma | Lease a Bike for the role they played during her time away from racing, providing crucial support and giving the Dutch star the freedom to make her own decisions regarding her future.
"The support from the team felt very genuine," she said. "They gave me peace of mind and the freedom to set my own course with the message: do what brings you the most joy. I really value that, and I'm happy to pick things up again now."
The world champion described how cyclocross brings her more satisfaction than road racing, enjoying the unpredictable nature of the discipline.
"What I enjoy the most is the constant variety. No race is ever the same: everything is constantly changing. That makes it both challenging and beautiful. You have to be very flexible, switch quickly, and keep making decisions throughout the race. In cyclocross, I have more control over how the race unfolds, and that really suits me."
The time away from competition proved valuable for Van Empel's self-discovery. She admitted that she had lost her identity outside of cycling, explaining: "I didn't really know who I was outside of racing anymore."
With professional support from a mental coach and the team's medical staff, Van Empel revealed she rediscovered joy in cycling through mountain biking and long road rides, while also developing interests beyond the sport.
"I've learned to value myself more as a person, independent of results," she reflected. "In the end, I've mostly found myself again, and that makes me very happy."
For Van Empel, it’s clear that cyclocross has always been a major part of her passion for cycling, with the 23-year-old already establishing herself as one of the greatest to race the discipline as a three-time world and European champion in the Elite category.
At times, Van Empel has arrived in the cross field with an air of invincibility around her, particularly in the 23-24 campaign, where the Dutchwoman struck gold from 19 out of 21 outings.
Victory at the World Championships back in February in Liévin after a thrilling battle with Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) and Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) marked the 48th Elite victory of Van Empel’s career, a remarkable statistic considering her age.
When Van Empel became the Elite Women’s World champion for the first time in Hoogerheide in 2023, she became the second youngest rider to do so, following in the footsteps of the legendary Marianne Vos in 2006.
If Van Empel can defend her rainbow jersey in Hulst, Netherlands, in 2026, she will join Vos in winning four consecutive rainbow jerseys in the Elite Women category. Vos went on to win six consecutive editions, and Van Empel can't be ruled out of replicating a similar feat in the coming years.
