Don’t look for Fem van Empel this weekend at the European Championships in Middelkerke. The world champion doesn’t feel fit enough yet and will skip the European Championship.
Last Saturday, Van Empel withdrew early from the Koppenbergcross. Her team later reported that the 23-year-old from Brabant had not fully recovered from illness. For that reason, she also did not start in the Rapencross on Sunday.
Van Empel has been European champion for the past three years, consecutively in Namur (2022), Pontchâteau (2023), and Pontevedra (2024). Van Empel’s withdrawal means that for the first time in three years, the European star jersey will be worn by another woman.
The world champion will travel to Spain next week to prepare for the rest of the season under the Spanish sun.
