Fem van Empel is at present dominating the ladies’s cyclocross scene, securing an eighth season victory on the UEC Cyclo-cross European Championships in Namur.
The 20-year-old mentioned she had her eye subsequent on the cyclocross world title earlier than switching her consideration to the Spring Classics with Jumbo-Visma in 2023, the place she’s going to study from new street teammate Marianne Vos.
“I’ve a small break [after cyclocross], then perhaps some mountain biking and street racing,” van Empel mentioned.
The 20-year-old Dutch rider will be a part of Jumbo-Visma’s Girls’s WorldTeam in January on a two-year contract, the group introduced in September. She is trying to check her energy and talent in races like Strade Bianche and Tour of Flanders.
The teenager is proving to be a substantial expertise, successful her first elite title after she elected to experience within the elite ladies’s class on the Cyco-cross European Championships as an alternative of the under-23 class.
Catastrophe hit the Dutch favorite on the second lap when she punctured whereas passing the pit, leading to her working backwards down the course to vary bikes, dropping 28 seconds to the leaders.
Regardless of the early drawback, Van Empel saved calm, clawing her solution to the entrance after which attacking on the penultimate lap for the victory.
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado was helpless towards the assault of her fellow Dutch rider and was distanced in second, whereas Blanka Kata Vas (Hungary) completed third.
It was Van Empel’s eighth victory of the cyclocross season and the primary title within the elite class on the European Championships.
“I can not imagine it, in the intervening time, it is a bit bizarre,” mentioned van Empel speaking about her dominant kind this 12 months that has seen her win World Cups at Waterloo, Fayetteville, Tabor and Maasmechelen.
“I labored onerous for it, and onerous work pays off. I by no means anticipated that I’d catch up after my flat tyre, however each lap, I might catch up.
“I believed in myself, and that was sufficient to win. Midway within the pit, I knew my entrance wheel had a flat tyre, so I turned again, and fortunately, I bought a brand new bike, so I caught up.
“I used to be robust, and my legs had been good, in order that was sufficient.
“I am at all times calm, in order that was essential for the race. It might not be so good if I had some panic, so the one manner was to remain calm.”
Jumbo-Visma street journey begins in 2023
The Dutch girl leads the cyclocross World Cup standings and is now the European Champion. She plans to experience each weekend till the World Championships in February earlier than switching to the street season.
Nonetheless, she’s going to miss some races, solely driving sooner or later every weekend, whereas her rivals typically experience two.
Van Empel has aspirations of driving the ladies’s Spring Classics alongside her soon-to-be teammate and cyclocross World Champion Marianne Vos, and a few mountain bike races.
“I feel I race each weekend one race after which some coaching within the week, which is sufficient to get better nicely and put together me for the upcoming race,” she added.
“I’ve a small break, then perhaps some mountain biking and street racing.”
When requested which street races she wish to compete in, Van Empel replied, “Strade Bianche, Tour of Flanders, these sorts of races. I do not know if I am good at these races.
“I do not know, however first, I’ll give attention to cyclocross, after which we will discuss with my new group.”
