Van Empel keeps improving, says Visma | Lease a Bike: "We work really hard on that"

Fem van Empel is returning to cyclo-cross this weekend after what turned out to be a well-planned break in Sardinia. This winter, the Dutch rider has been competing with a certain flair and confidence, seemingly continuing the momentum from last year’s World Championships in Tábor. But how does she do it? IDLProCycling.com asked this question to team leader Jan Boven and national coach Gerben de Knegt.

Let's have a look back at Van Empel’s cyclo-cross season so far. After debuting with a victory in Beringen, she missed out on wins in Ruddervoorde, Woerden, and Overijse. This reshuffled the deck ahead of the Koppenbergcross and the European Championships, but during that crucial weekend, Van Empel made a powerful comeback by winning twice. Afterward, she took a short break, only to return with victories in Kortrijk and Antwerp, followed by a second-place finish in Dublin, where she was beaten by Lucinda Brand.

After Ireland, she headed back to Spain. “I actually enjoyed it like this,” she said with a laugh in Dublin. “But it’s a conscious choice to take another training period now, to recharge a bit.” And what about not winning the last race before her break? “I’ve podiumed in every race, so I don’t think that’s bad,” she countered in response to a question from an English-speaking journalist.

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Boven and De Knegt see confidence in Van Empel

Still, the way she won in Antwerp revealed her dominance. Technically, Van Empel leaves little to chance. “Absolutely, and we’re working really hard on that,” confirms Visma | Lease a Bike coach Boven. “Fem is one of those athletes who has to make the difference with minimal margins, so sometimes you tell her: try this, take that line, and then apply it during the race.”

“Confidence is key because without it, you won’t ride the right lines anyway,” Boven continues. “Ultimately, it’s a mix of coaching, teamwork, thoroughly scouting the course, analyzing your strengths, and so on.” De Knegt also observes that Van Empel continues to improve. “She regularly comes to those cyclo-cross training sessions in Alphen, and you can see she’s still progressing. She’s also planned her peak a bit later this season, and so far, it seems to be working well, so maybe she’s building momentum this way.”

During those sessions in Alphen, the national coach saw a refreshed Van Empel. “You can see she’s strong and confident. That’s where it all starts. Fem is still very young, of course, but she’s increasingly aware of where she wants to go. She chooses a plan and sticks to it.”

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