"You cannot be a cyclist without 100% dedication": Marianne Vos supports Fem van Empel's "brave" break

There was a notable absentee at the Visma | Lease a Bike press day: Fem van Empel. A month ago, the 23-year-old cyclocross world champion made the shock decision to put her career on indefinite hold. While her absence leaves a void in the squad, her legendary teammate Marianne Vos believes it was the only correct choice to make.

Vos, who is 38 (15 years older than Van Empel), offered her perspective on the pressures of rising to stardom at a young age. She sees parallels between her own early career and the struggles Van Empel has faced.

"As a young rider, it was also difficult for me to be in the spotlight," Vos admitted. "I just liked riding my bike and wanted to perform well, but I had a pretty hard time with the attention that came with it," Vos said to Sporza.

The Dutch star noted that public appreciation is always nice, but the external noise can be overwhelming for some. "People have all kinds of opinions about you... But that was not always easy for me to deal with mentally," she explained. "99% of being a rider is fun. But I didn't expect that that one percent [of negative pressure] was also part of it."

Because of the demands of professional cycling, Vos believes Van Empel’s decision to step away is a big act of courage, instead of weakness. "It is good that she decided to step out, because you cannot be a cyclist without 100% dedication and motivation," Vos stated.

When asked if she had mentored Van Empel through these difficulties, Vos revealed that they had shared conversations, and she tried to help her as much as she could. "Fem sometimes asked me for advice. She was very eager to learn and is simply still very talented as a rider. But the last year I noticed that she sometimes had some difficult moments."

For now, Vos is giving her young teammate space and is not currently in contact with her. "It is good that she is taking her time now," she noted, adding that she has "no idea" if or when Van Empel will make a comeback. "That decision lies entirely with her."

While one career pauses, another refuses to end. Vos turns 39 this year and holds a "lifetime contract" with the team, same as Wout van Aert. Despite her age, she remains as motivated as ever.

"I will continue racing as long as I remain competitive and am an added value to the team," she declared, though she added realistically: "But of course I realize that my career will end at a certain moment."

For now, that moment seems far off. The evolution of the women's calendar keeps the fire burning and increases her motivation to continue pedalling. "Our sport has been renewed so much in recent years and quite a few beautiful races have been added to the calendar, such as the Tour de France."

Finally, she confirmed her schedule for the 2026 season, which has already started in Australia. "I also get to ride a fantastic spring with the Strade Bianche, Milan-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race," she concluded.