After Thailand, Fem van Empel enjoys 'discovery journey' through Japan
It has now been over two months since Fem van Empel paused her cycling career indefinitely, but boredom certainly doesn’t seem to be an issue. The Dutch rider is taking the opportunity to explore faraway places – in this case, Japan.
On Instagram, the 23-year-old (former) cyclist shared a video of her – as she describes it – discovery journey through the ‘Land of the Rising Sun.’ “Discovering new places, creating new memories,” she writes.
Van Empel decided at the end of last year to put her professional career on hold indefinitely. From January 1, 2026, she will no longer be part of Visma | Lease a Bike. She had previously chosen to leave road racing behind and focus exclusively on cyclocross – until she couldn’t continue at the Koppenbergcross.
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On her own LinkedIn profile, Van Empel shared a text in which she states that she currently lacks enjoyment and motivation on the bike. She calls it a conscious and well-considered decision she fully supports. “That’s why I’m now giving myself the space to discover who I am and what I want to do. It’s a leap into the unknown, but one that gives me confidence and freedom.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds and which new challenges and opportunities will come my way,” she wrote in her post. Van Empel is a three-time cyclocross world champion. In October 2025, she recorded her fiftieth professional win.
