"I give her 7 out of 10" - Belgian commentator dissatisfied with Fem van Empel's cyclocross performances
Cyclocross
Fem van Empel won 9 out of 16 cyclocrosses she has attended so far this winter, yet many experts notice that it looks as if the World champion leaves much to be desired in her performances. Van Empel booked victories in Gavere, Besançon and Baal, but then had to settle for third place in Koksijde and also in the recent World Cup round in Dendermonde.
"I'll be strict," Paul Herygers begins in his commentary at Sporza. "If you had given Van Empel's legs to Lucinda Brand, Brand would have gotten 11 out of 10. It's not normal how Van Empel can ride a bike, but also fall horribly."
In particular when struck by an ordeal, Van Empel seems to "click out" of the race for a bit. According to Herygers, this was visible during the GP Sven Nys Baal. "After a fall, Van Empel takes a long time to straighten her guidon (steering wheel, ed.). 'Can’t she ride to the material post with a crooked guidon?' I wonder."
Van Empel eventually went to iconically pass Lucinda Brand in the final meters for the victory in Baal, but her approach to the race still seems somewhat lacking the drive - the hunger for victory. But as Van Empel keeps reminding, she took a rather conservative approach into the 2024/25 season, putting the priority on World Championships. And also, the road season with Visma | Lease a Bike where she's gradually taking on more and more responsibility.
In any case, Herygers notes that Van Empel is still putting on excellent performances compared to the rest and only Lucinda Brand is able to reach her heights, on a good day. "But Van Empel is world champion and also scores every now and then. That’s why I give her 7 out of 10," he concludes.
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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