Fem van Empel’s reappearance in the cyclocross peloton is no closer to being confirmed, with Visma Lease a Bike offering no update on when the world champion will resume racing. The 22-year-old has not competed since abandoning the Koppenbergcross on 1st November and will miss the opening World Cup round of the season this weekend.
A quiet spell after a difficult withdrawal
Van Empel has stayed away from competition since her bruising exit on the climb up the Bult van Melden. In the days that followed, the team disclosed that she was not fit to ride the European Championships in Middelkerke on 5 November, and that she would instead head to Spain for a training block. Since then, there has been no further communication about her condition or plans.
Team staff told WielerFlits that there is “no news for now”, a stance that contrasts slightly with last season, when Van Empel was also on a November training camp but still raced on the weekend of 23rd and 24th November. This time, there will be no early return.
Photo Credit: GettyOmitted from the national squad
National coach Gerben de Knegt has not selected Van Empel for the first World Cup round in Tábor. The coming weeks will not make things any easier for a comeback either, with the next two World Cups taking place abroad in Flamanville and Terralba.
The lack of clarity reflects a wider pattern in her year. Van Empel halted her road season abruptly earlier in 2025, stepping back entirely before later committing to focus exclusively on cyclocross, with selected road events serving only as support.
A season that began brightly
When she did return to racing this autumn, Van Empel quickly showed the familiar spark. She placed sixth at the Superprestige round in Ruddervoorde, then won under the lights in Woerden and followed that victory with another in Heerde. The frustration of the Koppenbergcross abandonment cut across that progress, and the decision to pause again appears to reflect her stated goal of “making healthy choices” for the long term.
For now, the silence continues, and her first return start day remains unknown. What is clear is that Van Empel and the team are taking no risks as the heart of the season approaches.
