"Those training sessions really made her better" - Fem van Empel's coach, Jan Boven credits intense training as reasons for World Champion's dominance
Cyclocross
Eight cyclocross races so far this winter for Fem van Empel and eight victories. The latest of which, in Kortrijk was a particularly pleasing result for her trainer, Jan Boven.
"She waited a bit in the beginning, which I think made her less sharp and made that mistake. Then the switch turned and things went well," analyses the Jumbo-Visma coach in conversation with In de Leiderstrui following the X20 Trofee race last Saturday.
A big reason for the continued dominance of the 21-year-old Dutchwoman is the intense training schedule put together for her by Boven himself. "I was confident that she would be good again. Those training sessions really made her better," he explains. "We just had a busy week with the women's team, with a team day and a lot of endurance training. That real freshness may disappear for a while after such a period, but I quickly saw good acceleration in the corners in the cross."
"Endurance training doesn't make you cycle faster, it makes you slower. But I know those workouts are good for something. If not for the short term, then it will be for the long term. I'll have to keep that in mind, especially heading into what I'm going to do next spring," adds van Empel as Boven conludes. "I don't think Fem can do much better, but she can still grow. A lot is a big word and Pieterse, Brand and Vas might also come a little closer. In that respect, you may not always see that improvement in the times or results. But Fem can still improve something."
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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Great battle in the women’s race with Fem van Empel taking the win in this Soudal Ladies Trophy at Caps Urban Cross Kortrijk. 🏆 #soudalladiestrophy #x2obadkamerstrofee #capsurbancrosskortrijk
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