What is going on with Fem van Empel? No one can and/or wants to provide an explanation? At Visma-Lease a Bike they also don’t say a word about how and where the world champion currently stands. Although we have already heard a small response.
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Mystery surrounding Fem van Empel takes on a new dimension
Mentale issues
Fem van Empel suddenly disappeared from the peloton last season. The rider indicated that mental factors were the basis for that decision. The constant urge to keep winning, external expectations and her own high standards took their toll, causing her to temporarily distance herself from the sport.
A few months later, in October, Van Empel was again at the start of a cross. She then announced that she was feeling better and would focus her program entirely on cyclo-cross. However, that restart came to an abrupt end: at the Koppenbergcross she gave up after just one lap. Since then, no information has emerged about her condition.
Physically and mentally searching
That is already changing to some extent. For the first time, someone has provided a glimpse of Van Empel’s condition. This was said by Dutch national coach Gerben de Knegt, who was once again unable to select his compatriot for the World Cup cross-country races in Antwerp and Koksijde next weekend.
“I know what is going on. She is not in her best period physically and mentally. Let’s just leave it at that,” De Knegt said at Het Nieuwsblad. It is not much more than that, the national coach will probably not be allowed to comment further by Visma or Van Empel themselves.
The fact is that we should not expect her to compete in cross country right away. The busy Christmas period is coming, after which the run-up to the World Cup will soon follow after the New Year. Whether Van Empel will be able to defend her title there is highly doubtful at the moment.
