"I have to make choices, and unfortunately, the Nationals don’t fit in” - Fem van Empel confirms absence from Dutch Cyclocross Championships
Cyclocross
Fem van Empel was unable to make it back to back victories to start 2025 on Friday afternoon at Duinencross Koksijde. Despite the world champion's best efforts, Van Empel had to settle for 3rd place as Puck Pieterse took victory ahead of Lucinda Brand.
“I didn’t feel like there was more in it today,” Van Empel admitted afterwards in quotes collected by Team Visma | Lease a Bike's official website. “Yesterday, I already didn’t feel great, and even during the course recon, things didn’t quite click. For me, that’s often a sign that things won’t go smoothly. The others were clearly stronger today. Third place isn’t a disaster, of course. I just hope to recover quickly and get back to performing at my best.”
Van Empel also confirmed that she wouldn't be present at the upcoming Dutch National Championships, one of the few elite titles that she hasn't yet taken victory. “My next race is this Sunday in Dendermonde, another tough course,” Van Empel concluded. “With such a busy schedule and big goals this season, I have to make choices, and unfortunately, the Nationals don’t fit in.”
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| 01 | Pieterse Puck | - | 46:42 |
| 02 | Brand Lucinda | - | + 19 |
| 03 | van Empel Fem | - | + 39 |
| 04 | van der Heijden Inge | - | + 53 |
| 05 | Cant Sanne | - | + 01:43 |
| 06 | Bakker Manon | - | + 01:46 |
| 07 | Brouwers Julie | - | + 02:33 |
| 08 | Truyen Marthe | - | + 02:36 |
| 09 | Betsema Denise | - | + 03:06 |
| 10 | Verdonschot Laura | - | + 03:38 |
| 11 | Baroni Francesca | - | + 04:11 |
| 12 | Wolff Imogen | - | + 04:48 |
| 13 | Crabbe Kiona | - | + 05:06 |
| 14 | Gunsalus Lizzy | - | + 05:46 |
| 15 | Clauzel Perrine | - | + 06:54 |
| 16 | Gallezot Electa | - | + 08:16 |
| 17 | Kalis Bloeme | - | + 08:33 |
| 18 | Inglis Hope | - | + 09:20 |
| 19 | Hickey Cassidy | - | + 09:38 |
| 20 | Kallestrup Sara Aaboe | - | + 10:08 |
| 21 | Defour Lara | - | + 10:19 |
| 22 | Zwaenepoel Tessa | - | + 10:42 |
| 23 | De Smedt Febe | - | + 11:19 |
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- Pathetic trolls spending all their time attacking commentors instead of stating facts. Just like the Army of Armstrong Trolls did 20 years ago.Sweep07-01-2025
- Nothing you said is true. Nothing. Froome tested positive at twice the limit. His team doctor got banned. They trafficked in steroids Those are all FACTS! Deflecting away to other issues doesn't work with me.Sweep06-01-2025
- He is not anti-doping. He is pro-whining. He is more than happy to cheer for the dopers he likes and believe in the miracles he likes.
MarkFour06-01-2025 - Froome was tested according to the rules of his sport, the same as everyone else, and sanctioned for his confirmed violations. All sports run on PEDs. Cycling is probably the cleanest, and likely the fairest. A child can be excused for not having figured this out, but an old man still whining about gear in sport is someone who not only never succeeded at anything, but someone who made excuses at every turn for not even competing. At least David Walsh sold his integrity to the high bidder in the Team Sky coverup. You don't have any to sell. You pretend to be against PEDs, but you cheer for the guy who introduced EPO to the sport, and you seem to be pro-heroin. It's not like you have any rational objective. The results of an entire generation of cyclists were wiped from the books, and yet you still cry about it every day. Because that is who you are: a tiny internet troll who cries because he never achieved nor risked anything.MarkFour06-01-2025
- All been done before. I have read article after article. Not one actually lists anything new. Carbo Loading has been around since the 1980s. I remember it during MTB racing.Sweep06-01-2025
- Froome has found a genuine way to race slow .. no further gears restrictions needed for him. And speaking about safety - this overnight packfodder to GT winner should start with holding the tt bars while descending with both hands. What a clown!!
UltimateOpportunist06-01-2025 - Nice, yeah, if you’re around a 6-7% gradient when they attack you’re not going to see much, it’s not for nothing the steepest sections are so crowded. If on TV you see an overweight fan running along for more than 30m you know they’re nowhere near that speed there;-)Mistermaumau06-01-2025
- Merry Crossmas to you tooMistermaumau06-01-2025
- I respect his anti-doping stance but in trying to rehash everything he’s no longer looking at the changes. It’ not just one or two riders who suddenly improved, the whole peleton has gone through an upgrade. For sure there are still cheaters, may e even amongst the very best but a large part of the improvement is generic and explainable. Even racing itself has changed. There is progress in EVERY sport, constantly, why would cycling be the odd one out?Mistermaumau06-01-2025
- Don’t doubt your cynical side ;-) It’s hardly likely to be true either and he is hardly in a position to judge for others who is best this or that. If he’d just said, he was always good to ME that would have been more truthful and then everyone could draw their own conclusion, now he’s basically shot himself in the foot for nothing (as far as we know).Mistermaumau06-01-2025