"In summer I will mainly focus on road from now on" - Fem van Empel reveals her plans to switch away from MTB to aim for road success

Fem van Empel will attempt to claim her ninth victory in Sunday's World Cup round in Dublin. The Dutch from Jumbo-Visma is back after a short training period in Spain. At Het Laatste Nieuws she also told more about her ambitions in mountain biking and on the road.

"I enjoy riding the mountain bike and will certainly participate in some more competitions in the future, but at the highest level you cannot continue to combine all disciplines. You have to make choices. In the winter I focus on cyclocross and in the summer from now on mainly on the road," says Van Empel.

The road is therefore also an important part of Van Empel's season. "I think cyclo-cross is the most fun thing to do. I am still discovering myself on the road, but I think I will also be able to enjoy myself on the road in the future. Making a choice between those two disciplines is not yet an option. I am also all-round on the road. I want to become the best and so I have to be able to climb, time-trial and have speed on the flat. You also need that at the Tour, but before that happens, I still have a lot to learn."