Triple world cyclocross champion Fem van Empel puts cycling career “on hold” and leaves Visma-Lease a Bike, admitting “the enjoyment and motivation are missing”

Three-time world cyclocross champion Fem van Empel has decided to step away from professional cycling “for an indefinite period” and leave Visma-Lease a Bike, the Dutch team confirmed on Friday morning.

23-year-old Van Empel, the winner of the last three cyclocross world championships, said in a statement that she made the decision to pause her career after coming to the conclusion that “both the motivation and the enjoyment I have had in cycling for years are missing”.

The multidisciplinary Dutch star has been widely tipped as one of the sport’s most exciting prospects since turning pro on the road for Visma-Lease a Bike at the start of 2023, finishing 11th overall at her debut Giro d’Italia that year.

She’s gone on to secure top tens at the European road race championships, the Volta a Catalunya, and Flèche Wallonne, and was a constant attacking presence at the 2024 Tour de France Femmes.

Since joining the elite cyclocross ranks, Van Empel has become the sport’s dominant force, winning a staggering 48 of the 69 races she’s started since September 2022, including three rainbow jerseys in succession.

However, in March, after finishing 31st at Strade Bianche and failing to complete the Trofeo Alfredo Binda following an attacking ride, Van Empel decided to take a break from racing, saying she needed to step away “for my mental health and wellbeing”.

The 23-year-old returned to the peloton six months later, taking part in two races in September and finishing third at the Dutch gravel championships. In an interview with De Telegraaf following her comeback, Van Empel admitted that she has “lost myself as a person” in recent years and continues to struggle with perfectionism.

“I never really enjoyed that third world cyclocross title I won in Liévin earlier this year. People didn’t know that I hadn’t enjoyed the sport for a long time,” she said.

“That was largely my own fault. My own perfectionism caused me to lose myself as a person, so that I only focused on what I was good at. I achieved a lot with that. I was more of an athlete than a person.

“And now I know: I am more than just Fem the cyclist. That period lasted about a year and a half to two years.”

According to Visma-Lease a Bike, following Van Empel’s break from the sport, the decision was made not to continue focusing on the road, but instead enable her to build her fitness and form ahead of the winter cyclocross campaign.

Van Empel then started the 2025/26 cyclocross season in fine form, winning two of her first three races, before failing to finish the iconic Koppenbergcross – the moment she now admits sparked today’s decision to put her career on pause indefinitely.

“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,” she said in a statement.

On Friday morning, Visma-Lease a Bike revealed that, “after a period of intensive discussions and careful consideration”, it was mutually agreed that Van Empel would also leave the team at the start of January.

“This is a well-considered decision that I feel good about,” Van Empel said. “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.”

“Of course, it’s unfortunate that Fem is leaving us, but we fully respect her decision,” Visma CEO Richard Plugge added.

“She has meant a great deal to our team and to cyclocross in general. With her talent, Fem has achieved impressive results and wrote sports 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.”