Fem van Empel has decided to put her professional cycling career on pause for an indefinite period. After a period of intensive discussions and careful consideration, it was mutually agreed with both Team Visma | Lease a Bike and Van Empel’s management that, as of January 1, she will have no further obligations to the team.
The past year has been focused on finding balance for Van Empel. In March, she consciously chose to step back from the sport to focus on her mental well-being and manage physical complaints. After this period of rest, she decided not to continue focusing on road cycling and instead work towards a return to cyclocross at the start of the season.
Although her training and initial races went well, Van Empel noticed that the feeling she was seeking did not emerge. During the Koppenbergcross, she had to abandon the race because it wasn’t going well at that moment. “During the Koppenbergcross, my body and mind gave a very clear signal. 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.”
CEO Richard Plugge commented: “Of course, it’s unfortunate that Fem is leaving us, but we fully respect her decision. She has meant a great deal to our team and to cyclocross in general. With her talent, Fem has achieved impressive results and made sporting history with our team, winning multiple European and world titles. It has been special to witness her development up close and to work together. We wish her every success in the future.”
In recent weeks, Van Empel and Team Visma | Lease a Bike did everything possible to find a way for her to continue feeling good within the sport. Ultimately, the world champion concluded that it is better for now to take her career in a different direction. This means that after several beautiful and successful years, Van Empel says farewell to Team Visma | Lease a Bike with her head held high: “This is a well-considered decision that I feel good about. At the moment, both the motivation and the enjoyment I have had in cycling for years are missing. 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. I am very grateful for all the support I have received from the team, my family, and the fans, and I look forward to what the future brings.”
