Fem van Empel has confirmed that she is stepping away from the road to dedicate herself fully to cyclocross, the discipline where she has already become a world champion. Speaking about her decision, the Dutch rider explained that her motivation on the road never matched the excitement she feels for cross. “I’m going to do what I love most,” she said, adding that she no longer intends to follow the path of riders like Puck Pieterse and Lucinda Brand, who have combined strong road campaigns with their off-road success.
Stepping back to move forward
Van Empel deliberately paused her racing programme over recent months, taking time to recover from physical issues and reflect on her career direction. During that period she worked with a mental coach, medical staff and Team Visma | Lease a Bike management to rebuild her sense of self. “For a long time I only felt like a rider,” she admitted. “I didn’t really know who I was outside of racing anymore.”
She used the break to explore other aspects of cycling and life. Long road rides and mountain bike sessions helped her reconnect with the sport, while time away from racing reminded her of her own identity beyond results. “I’ve learned to value myself more as a person, independent of results,” she said.
Rediscovering joy in cyclocross
The outcome of this period of reflection was clear: cyclocross remains the discipline where she feels happiest and most fulfilled. “What I enjoy the most is the constant variety. No race is ever the same. You have to be flexible, switch quickly and keep making decisions,” she explained. “In cyclocross, I have more control over how the race unfolds, and that really suits me.”
Van Empel stressed that the support from Visma | Lease a Bike was crucial in allowing her to make the choice. “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.”
The road as preparation, not a priority
Although she will continue to appear in occasional road races, these will now be used primarily to build condition for cyclocross rather than as a career focus. She returns to competition at the Grand Prix de Fourmies, a chance to regain rhythm before her cyclocross campaign begins in earnest.
Her ambitions are clear: to race with freedom and enjoyment while building towards the winter championships. “The most important thing is that I’m incredibly excited,” she said. “I’m just going to dive in and do what I love most.”
