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Fem van Empel is the Cyclo-Cross World Champion for a second yr in a row on Cervélo’s carbon R5 CX cyclocross bike. We caught up along with her bike for a better have a look at what the, now 2x Elite World Champ, was racing to a recent set of rainbow jerseys…
Oh, and people fan-held flags above, they had been created by her uncle & illustrator Wouter van Empel who was main a supporters membership across the muddy fields of the Tábor course.
Cervélo R5 CX of 2024 World Champion Fem van Empel
![2024 Cyclocross World Champion Pro Bike Check, Cervélo R5 CX of Fem van Empel, running in the mud](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cervelo-R5-CX-of-2024-Cyclocross-World-Champion-Fem-van-Empel-racing-on-her-own.jpg)
Dutch domination was the rule for the elite racers on the 2024 UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships in Tábor, Czechia this weekend. Nicknamed SuperFem, the 21-year-old Fem van Empel continues to rack up huge wins on her Cervélo R5 CX cyclocross race bike.
Developed in a partnership between Workforce Jumbo Visma & Cervélo, first as a race bike for Marianne Vos and Wout van Aert, van Empel has put the bike to good use, as properly – profitable virtually each race she entered on this bike.
![Cervélo R5 CX of 2024 Cyclocross World Champion Fem van Empel, Tabor Pro Bike Check, complete](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cervelo-R5-CX-of-2024-Cyclocross-World-Champion-Fem-van-Empel_Pro-Bike-Check.jpg)
The Cervélo R5 CX has been ridden to the previous 3 Elite Girls’s World Championship titles. First, by Vos with a Shimano construct.
Now twice by van Empel on SRAM.
What’s totally different on Fem’s bike? And what stayed the identical?
![Cervélo R5 CX of 2024 Cyclocross World Champion Fem van Empel, Tabor Pro Bike Check, name](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cervelo-R5-CX-of-2024-Cyclocross-World-Champion-Fem-van-Empel_Pro-Bike-Check_bike-no-3_doubel-seatpost-clamp.jpg)
What’s the identical is the shorter record. A traditional double clamp to verify the seatpost stays securely in place when leaping again onto the saddle. And a 2-piece FSA AXR cockpit with absolutely inside cable routing and a separate carbon handlebar.
![Cervélo R5 CX of 2024 Cyclocross World Champion Fem van Empel, Tabor Pro Bike Check, SRAM Red ASX](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cervelo-R5-CX-of-2024-Cyclocross-World-Champion-Fem-van-Empel_Pro-Bike-Check_SRAM-Red-AXS-drivetrain.jpg)
The most important distinction on Fem van Empel’s Cervélo cross bike is the SRAM Purple AXS groupset. Nearly all of elite professional cyclocross racers do appear to be on Shimano Di2, however there’s a stable contingent on SRAM AXS, too.
Curiously, quite a lot of high riders race not on the top-tier group, however on Drive, as properly.
And even 2x World Champ van Empel is not any totally different, with somewhat Purple & Drive mix-and-match.
![Cervélo R5 CX of 2024 Cyclocross World Champion Fem van Empel, Tabor Pro Bike Check, AXS powermeter](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cervelo-R5-CX-of-2024-Cyclocross-World-Champion-Fem-van-Empel_Pro-Bike-Check_AXS-power-meter-crankset.jpg)
A part of that stems from Purple’s highway focus and its chainring integration. Not obtainable in acceptable 1x chainring sizes for CX racing, van Empel opts for the non-series carbon crankarms and 4-bolt AXS energy meter spider on her Cervélo R5 CX. This lets he experience a comparatively small 42T SRAM X-Sync chainring for the muddy Tabor course.
Whereas her mechanic can simply swap out a much bigger ring for sooner, drier programs, just like the current Spanish World Cup monitor in Benidorm simply a few weeks in the past.
![Cervélo R5 CX of 2024 Cyclocross World Champion Fem van Empel, Tabor Pro Bike Check, Force levers](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cervelo-R5-CX-of-2024-Cyclocross-World-Champion-Fem-van-Empel_Pro-Bike-Check_front-end.jpg)
She additionally opts for Drive AXS shift/brake levers with non-series graphics. The distinction isn’t enormous, however groups have advised us that professionals with smaller arms choose the marginally shorter Drive hood form and the longer shift button. These levers are related to Purple brake calipers, and top-level CenterLine XR rotors.
Btw, one other athlete not racing on a Shimano groupset, however who nonetheless prefers XTR pedals.
Little professional CX particulars
![Cervélo R5 CX of 2024 Cyclocross World Champion Fem van Empel, Tabor Pro Bike Check, chain catcher](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cervelo-R5-CX-of-2024-Cyclocross-World-Champion-Fem-van-Empel_Pro-Bike-Check_sealed-bolts.jpg)
Van Empel’s mechanics add just a few small additions to tweak the bike for cross racing. In fact, since she runs a 1x, she doesn’t want the braze-on entrance derailleur hanger. However as an alternative of simply eradicating it, the bolt on an alloy chain retention gadget, with an adjustable plastic puck that sits simply excessive of the gold flattop chain as an insurance coverage coverage in opposition to dropped chains.
Whereas some CX professionals ask for frames with out water bottle bosses, most nonetheless choose the flexibility for decent climate racing or coaching. And van Empel’s mechanics maintain issues clear with little stick-on covers to maintain mud out of the bolt holes.
The most well-liked professional CX tubular, not made in Europe
![Cervélo R5 CX of 2024 Cyclocross World Champion Fem van Empel, Tabor Pro Bike Check, Dugast Rhino](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cervelo-R5-CX-of-2024-Cyclocross-World-Champion-Fem-van-Empel_Pro-Bike-Check_Dugast-Rhino-tubulars.jpg)
The Rhino tubular is perhaps the most well-liked & commonest mud tire on the skilled cyclocross circuit. Nonetheless, Fem van Empel was racing on probably the most high-performance of all of them. The handmade 100% cotton casing is probably the most supple Dugast makes for cross. Plus, she will get the manufacturing unit Neoprene sidewall therapy (the little star emblem on the sidewall). And Dugast’s newest Monsoon “superior” compound rubber that guarantees “decrease rolling resistance” AND “enhanced grip”. It’s a subsequent degree after their 11 Storm rubber, each launched after being bought by Vittoria just a few years again.
![Cervélo R5 CX of 2024 Cyclocross World Champion Fem van Empel, Tabor Pro Bike Check, Cervélo R5 CX of 2024 Cyclocross World Champion Fem van Empel, Tabor Pro Bike Check, Dugast Monsoon rubber](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cervelo-R5-CX-of-2024-Cyclocross-World-Champion-Fem-van-Empel_Pro-Bike-Check_Dugast-Rhino-Super-Monsoon-tubular-tires.jpg)
Additionally, Fem van Empel was racing on 32mm Rhinos, a shade thinner than the max allowable 33s we noticed on a lot of the males’s bikes. A pair years in the past chatting tires with the employees behind Workforce NL, they advised us primarily that the smaller and lighter riders (like van Empel) can race the smaller tires to save lots of each final gram with out sacrificing grip or consolation.
Of observe, this could be the final season to see all these Dugast tires handmade in Europe. Dugast shut down their Dutch production on the finish of 2023. And moved all of it to the Vittoria manufacturing unit in Thailand from this yr. So exterior of current inventory, Dugast will make all new CX tubulars in Asia, now.
Race-ready for a muddy World’s course
![2024 Cyclocross World Champion Pro Bike Check, Cervélo R5 CX of Fem van Empel racing in the muc](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cervelo-R5-CX-of-2024-Cyclocross-World-Champion-Fem-van-Empel_Pro-Bike-Check_first-plce-in-the-mud.jpg)
Wheel-wise, Fem van Empel races on Reserve 36|39 blended depth carbon tubulars. Additionally from the identical Pon Holding company household as her Cervélo bike. Constructed gentle sufficient to win Tour de France climbing levels, but additionally clearly strong-enough to race cross. Her wheels are 28mm broad – 36mm deep up entrance & 39mm deep within the again. And they’re laced as much as DT Swiss 240 EXP hubs for confirmed sturdiness and ease of servicing.
![2024 Cyclocross World Champion Pro Bike Check, Cervélo R5 CX of Fem van Empel,](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cervelo-R5-CX-of-2024-Cyclocross-World-Champion-Fem-van-Empel_Pro-Bike-Check_photo-by-Maty-Podrouzek_climbing-stairs.jpg)
Fem van Empel delivered one other emphatic win within the Czech mud aboard her Cervélo R5 CX in its inventory Jumbo Visma team-edition black & yellow paint job. With one other World Championship title she will be able to return to racing her white bike painted with rainbows for one more yr. The actual query is, will Cervélo assume up an all-new World Champ’s customized paint job to have a good time her win somewhat in a different way this coming yr?
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