Fem van Empel has decided to put her professional cycling career on hold for an indefinite period, stepping away from Team Visma | Lease a Bike as of 1 January. The decision follows months of reflection, discussions with the team and her management, and a difficult year marked by mental and physical struggles.
A conscious step back after searching for balance
The past year has been defined by Van Empel’s efforts to find balance within elite sport. In March, the multiple cyclocross world champion already chose to step back from competition to focus on her mental well-being and ongoing physical complaints. After that break, she opted not to continue on the road in 2025, instead refocusing on cyclocross with the aim of returning to racing at the start of the winter season.
Initially, that return appeared promising. Training went well and early races offered encouragement, but Van Empel soon realised that something was still missing.
“During the Koppenbergcross, my body and mind gave a very clear signal,” she explained. “I am someone who doesn’t give up easily, but unconsciously, a decision had already formed then. This feels like the right step for me now.”
She was forced to abandon that race, a rare sight for a rider who has defined the last three cyclocross seasons with dominance and consistency.
Motivation and enjoyment no longer there
In recent weeks, Van Empel and Team Visma | Lease a Bike explored every possible way to help her continue within the sport in a way that felt sustainable. Ultimately, the 23-year-old concluded that, for now, taking a different direction was the healthiest option.
“At the moment, both the motivation and the enjoyment I have had in cycling for years are missing,” Van Empel said. “I wanted to be honest and fair about this with the team. For now, this is the best choice. It feels like the right time for a new chapter.”
Her pause from cycling comes despite an extraordinary palmarès at a young age. Van Empel is a three-time world champion in cyclocross, winning elite titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025, as well as three consecutive European titles. Since joining Team Visma | Lease a Bike in 2023, she also combined cyclocross with road, mountain bike and gravel racing, showing flashes of her versatility across disciplines.
Road ambitions and mounting pressure
Alongside her cyclocross success, Van Empel had gradually expanded her road programme. In 2024, she finished 17th at the Tour of Flanders, eighth at La Flèche Wallonne, and sixth in the young riders’ classification at the Tour de France Femmes. In early 2025, she lined up at races such as Strade Bianche and Trofeo Alfredo Binda, spending long kilometres in the breakaway before stepping away mid-season, mentally exhausted.
The cumulative demands of combining cyclocross, road and mountain bike racing at the highest level appear to have taken their toll. Her decision underlines the growing conversation around workload, mental health and sustainability in modern women’s cycling, particularly for riders who achieve global success at a very young age.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike react
Team CEO Richard Plugge emphasised the team’s full support for Van Empel’s choice.
“Of course, it’s unfortunate that Fem is leaving us, but we fully respect her decision,” Plugge said. “She has meant a great deal to our team and to cyclocross in general. With her talent, Fem has achieved impressive results and wrote sports history with our team, winning multiple European and world titles.”
Van Empel departs the team with no obligations going forward, leaving the door open for a potential return to competition in the future, should her motivation and enjoyment return.
An open-ended future
For now, Van Empel is clear that stepping away is not about closing doors, but about protecting herself.
“I am very grateful for all the support I have received from the team, my family, and the fans,” she said. “I look forward to what the future brings.”
Whether that future includes a return to elite cycling remains uncertain. What is clear is that one of the defining riders of her generation has chosen to prioritise her well-being, even at the peak of her powers.
