“My real story” - Fem van Empel to open up on difficult year away and cyclocross comeback in new documentary
Cyclocross
Fem van Empel plans to share the story behind her difficult year away from racing in a new documentary, with her team offering to support the project. The three-time world champion returned to competition in October after almost a year out.
Before the European Championships, Van Empel said she would tell “my real story” at the end of the year to explain her experiences in more detail. A release date and platform for the documentary have yet to be announced.
“She’s going to make a documentary of sorts. We want to help her with that as a team, too,” sports director Lars Boom told the Brabants Dagblad. “It will offer an insight into what it has taken to return to the top level of cyclocross.”
Van Empel had stepped away after losing her enjoyment of the sport. She returned with fourth place at the Berencross in Meulebeke, racing for Specialized TMRW following her move to FDJ United-Suez. Afterwards, she spoke warmly about being reunited with the crowds and fellow riders she had missed.
“Her wanting to share that can only be a good thing,” Boom said of the documentary. “For young female cyclists who might go through similar experiences, too.”
Fem van Empel in the Rainbow Jersey
Boom looks beyond European disappointment
Fifth place in Heerde and eighth at the Koppenbergcross followed Van Empel’s encouraging return in Meulebeke, earning her selection for the Europeans on home soil. Zeddam was only her fourth race back.
Starting from the back row, she was caught out in the opening moments. “In the first left-hand corner, she makes a mistake. From there, she goes into the off-road section in last place,” Boom explained.
Van Empel finished 13th and declined to speak to the waiting media afterwards. She had cautioned before the championships that her programme would not bring her to Zeddam in peak form, but the result was still a disappointment.
“Look at where she’s come from. What she’s been through and the road she’s taking back,” Boom said. “We can be proud that she’s here racing and enjoying her cycling. Especially after the year she’s had.”
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Van Empel won three successive European elite titles between 2022 and 2024. On her return to the championships, Boom remained satisfied with the opening weeks of her comeback: “Even so, we should be pleased with how this period has gone.”
In December, Van Empel will join the road team for a training camp as preparations continue for her first full season with her new team.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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