MEULEBEKE — Fem van Empel marked her return to racing after almost a year away with fourth place at the C2 Berencross in Meulebeke on Saturday, fifty weeks after she last pinned on a number. The three-time cyclo-cross world champion, now riding for Specialized TMRW, finished one spot off the podium behind winner Marie Schreiber as the Luxembourg rider claimed her third victory in four early-season C2 starts.
The 23-year-old Dutch rider had stepped away from racing to focus on her mental health and well-being, leading to a permanent separation from her Visma-Lease a Bike team. Ahead of her comeback she posted to Instagram: “It’s been nearly a year since my last race, and getting back to this point has been a journey of its own. Taking a step back wasn't easy, but I am incredibly proud of the choices I’ve made. Looking forward to racing again! Let's have some fun. See you tomorrow." She later told VRT: “I took the time to recover. And I have been happier than ever since. I have traveled a lot. In doing so, I got to know myself in a different way. I wouldn't have missed this for the world," adding: “I had lost the joy of cycling. I was no longer able to pursue top-level sport in the way I would like."
Schreiber rode clear of the field in West Flanders to continue her strong early-season form, with a wave of Dutch riders filling the next eight places. Anik van Alphen (777TV CX) finished second and Lucinda Brand (Baloise Verzekeringen-Het Poetsbureau Lions) third, while Van Empel sprinted ahead of Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Premier Tech) for fourth. Van Empel admitted rust after limited preparation, saying: “The number of times I have been on a cyclo-cross bike this year can be counted on the fingers of one hand. It takes a bit of getting used to starting here again. It won't all look as stylish as it should today. But I am taking the time to work on that as well."
Van Empel had celebrated her 50th career cyclo-cross victory at Exact Cross Heerderstrand in late October last year before stopping during Koppenbergcross a week later. A free agent to start 2026, she confirmed a contract with FDJ United-Suez in September as her "new adventure", with the French Women's WorldTour squad registering a new cyclo-cross team for the 2026-2027 season, Specialized TMRW. She was the first of four riders to debut for the new set-up, with teammates Anja Grossmann, Amandine Muller and Célia Gery yet to start their cyclo-cross seasons.