Fem van Empel is returning to racing, with the three-time cyclocross world champion joining FDJ United-SUEZ with immediate effect.
The 24-year-old Dutch rider stepped away from competition at the end of 2025 after losing the motivation and enjoyment that had driven her remarkable rise through cyclocross. Her contract with Visma-Lease a Bike was subsequently ended by mutual agreement, leaving Van Empel free to consider her future.
Now that future is with FDJ United-SUEZ. Announcing the signing on 17 September, Van Empel said she was excited about “starting from scratch”, adding that above all she wanted to enjoy herself again.
The move is interesting from a cyclocross perspective as FDJ general manager Stephen Delcourt says the team is developing a genuinely multidisciplinary project, with Van Empel joining riders including mountain bikers Anja Grossmann and Kate Courtney.
And there is another significant development. Van Empel’s original club, WV Schijndel, says she will also be part of the Specialized TMRW cyclocross team, strongly pointing towards a return to the discipline in which she became one of the sport’s biggest stars.
Exactly when Van Empel will pin on a number again has yet to be announced. FDJ has not published her racing programme, and after her extended break there is unlikely to be any rush.
For cyclocross fans, though, the important news is simple: Fem van Empel is back – and the mud could be next.
