A week before the start of the Giro d'Italia Donne, where Fem van Empel was going to aim for final top-10, the 21-year-old multi-talent was hit by a car during a training ride near her home. Whether this will impact her start at the Italian Grand tour will become clear in coming days.
Fortunately, Van Empel did not suffer any serious injuries, but she is struggling with a lot of pain in her hip. Her health state will be closely monitored in the run-up to the race to decide whether she is ready for a week of all-out racing at the Giro.
"I had to quickly get a pack of cigarettes," Van Empel quotes the driver who hit her. "Thanks to the man who hit me head-on with his car and launched me. Fortunately no fractures, but a lot of pain in the hip."
If Van Empel makes it to the Giro, it would be her second participation in a Grand Tour. Last year she also rode the Giro and finished in eleventh place in the final classification. Later, this summer she is also scheduled to make her Tour de France Femmes debut.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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