Three-time cyclocross world champion Fem van Empel (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) will pause her professional cycling career for an indefinite period from 1 January 2026, bringing a sudden halt to one of the sport’s most dominant runs of recent years.
The Dutch rider and her team confirmed the decision on 19 December, with van Empel explaining that the joy that fuelled her rapid rise has disappeared.
"This is a well-considered decision that I feel good about," she said in the team’s announcement. "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."
From the start of the new year she will no longer have contractual obligations to Team Visma | Lease a Bike, ending a partnership that delivered a string of rainbow and European jerseys.
From serial winner to sudden stop
Van Empel’s 2025 season was shaped by interruptions and warning signs. In March she first stepped away from racing, citing "mental challenges" and physical complaints after winning a third consecutive elite cyclocross world title.
She returned in September planning to focus solely on cyclocross, saying she would "do what my heart desires" and shelving her developing road ambitions. But illness hit in the autumn, and on 1 November at Koppenbergcross she climbed off after little more than two minutes, later calling it a decisive moment.
"During the Koppenbergcross, my body and mind gave a very clear signal," she reflected. "I am someone who does not give up easily, but unconsciously, a decision had already formed then. This feels like the right step for me now."
Team Visma | Lease a Bike CEO Richard Plugge paid tribute to her impact. "Of course, it is 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 ... It has been special to witness her development up close and to work together."
Van Empel, who has amassed three elite world titles, multiple European championships and overall wins in the World Cup and X²O series, framed the move as an open-ended pause rather than a formal retirement. "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," she said.
Cover image credit: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
