Fem van Empel: "My main goals at the moment are the World Cup and the World Championships"

Fem van Empel has had a superb breakthrough season. With several of her goals already accomplished, she looks to end the season on a high with victories at the World Cup and World Championships.

"Nah, it was a bit of everything. Out of precaution, but also because of that fall. I didn't have a good feeling and little control during the reconnaissance, after which I noticed at a certain point that I only lost a few seconds when I ran fast," van Empel told In de Leiderstrui following her third place in the dramatic Zonhoven race where she crashed harshly on the opening lap.

It was a good outcome after a difficult start that could see her World Cup lead at risk. Following her abandon and subsequent injuries following her crash at Val di Sole, her schedule has become less packed, and her lead in the competition became slimmer against Puck Pieterse.

Her lead is of 35 points now to her compatriot, with two rounds left in Benidorm and Besançon. "My main goals at the moment are the World Cup and the World Championships, where the European Championship was previously the goal," she admits.

Her victory in Namur was dominant, but as the season evolves the likes of Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij have given van Empel a hard time in the crosses. She's looking to finish a brilliant season by consolidating her achievements and seeking to keep the rainbow jersey within Jumbo-Visma.

"I have to see how I recover from my knee injury and a cold, but if everything is right I will be at the start with ambition. I'm not necessarily afraid of those inconveniences, but it shouldn't get any worse. I know I can't always control it, but it's just a shame if you have a setback when you're in good shape," she said.

“There are enough impressions, it is a huge team with a lot of ambition," she said of her new outfit, alongside idol and current World Champion Marianne Vos. "Jumbo-Visma radiates a lot. They support me super and I have a lot of confidence in them, it already feels very familiar. I think it only goes well if you have that feeling with your team, so I'm looking forward to what's to come."

"Actually only the material I ride on, that is of course a big change. The entourage has remained the same in the post and at start/finish, but some other people have been added around it. However, we already knew most of the people, so I can say that the transition went smoothly," the Dutch talent concluded.