Racing had lost its grip on Fem van Empel's identity, but she's gearing up for another race at La Choralis Fourmies, her cyclocross concentration serving as the catalyst for the return of the three-time world champion.
After a brief stint in road racing, Dutch cyclist Fem van Empel is set to return to her beloved cyclocross discipline. The three-time world champion has announced her participation in La Choralis Fourmies, marking her comeback to the winter sport.
Van Empel, who has expressed a desire for more control over how races unfold in cyclocross, seems excited about her return. She plans to 'dive in' and do what she loves most in her cyclocross racing. The off-season of road racing, she says, does not offer the much-needed time to ease off but instead results in a packed calendar in the winter sport.
The UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup calendar for the 2022-2023 season begins on November 23 at Tabor and ends on January 25. The elite women's World Championships for cyclocross will be held in Hulst on January 31. However, Van Empel has not specified her focus on a particular race in the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup or the World Championships.
Van Empel's focus will be on the cyclocross discipline where she holds the title of three-time world champion. She has not mentioned any changes in her contract with Visma-Lease a Bike, and she remains contracted with the team through 2027.
The return to racing is a means for Van Empel to regain her race rhythm. She enjoys the constant variety and challenges in the cyclocross discipline, a stark contrast to the monotony she felt on the road. Van Empel confessed that there was a point where she didn't know who she was outside of racing. But she has found a new sense of self-worth outside of racing results.
Van Empel's decision to focus on cyclocross comes as no surprise given her success in the sport. She has not elaborated on how the team has given her peace of mind and freedom, but it is clear that she finds solace and satisfaction in the cyclocross discipline.
Other women in the road peloton who race across disciplines at the highest level include Lucinda Brand, Puck Peterse, and Marianne Vos. Van Empel, however, seems to have found her niche in cyclocross, and with her sights set on winning a fourth title in a row at the elite women's World Championships, it seems she is ready to conquer the sport once again.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
