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 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.”