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Fem van Empel will make her long-awaited 2024 highway season debut at Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday as a essential contender with Visma-Lease a Bike.
Van Empel has recovered from a massively profitable cyclocross marketing campaign, throughout which she received a second consecutive world title, and is now turning her consideration to the Spring Classics.
“My preparation has been excellent. I had an excellent coaching block, and I’m excited to see the place I’m now. It is going to be my first time at Gent-Wevelgem, so I’m a bit nervous, however most of all, I’m trying ahead to it,” Van Empel mentioned in a staff press launch on Thursday.
“I am hoping I will be in the proper place on the proper time. There are lots of prime riders at the beginning. I’m curious to see the place I’m in my first race of the 12 months, and I hope to be within the entrance till deep into the ultimate.”
Van Empel, 21, made her highway racing debut with then Jumbo-Visma final April, and whereas she missed nearly all of the Spring Classics, she did compete at Giro d’Italia, Tour de l’Avenir, Tour de Romandie and the European Championships.
This 12 months, she has been working with the staff’s sports activities director, Jan Boven, throughout cyclocross and on the highway, a collaboration that she mentioned goes effectively.
“Jan and I’ve a superb relationship. The cooperation in cyclocross goes rather well. I look ahead to working with Jan on the highway and studying much more from his experience,” she mentioned.
Van Empel joins a powerful staff at Gent-Wevelgem that additionally consists of Linda Riedmann, Sophie von Berswordt-Wallrabe, Margaux Vigie, Lieke Nooijen, and Carlijn Achtereekte.
“Final 12 months, Fem rode very strongly and confirmed that she has lots of expertise on the highway, so I assume that she will even present herself in Gent-Wevelgem,” Boven mentioned.
“She can have a free function and possibly go on a discovery tour, however she will even be our main woman. We’re curious how she is going to do in her first Belgian cobbled traditional in a powerful discipline.”
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