🎥 Fem van Empel's left knee requires stitches following fall in the New Year's cyclo-cross race in Baal

Fem van Empel won her first cyclo-cross race of 2024 in Baal on Monday, but did not emerge unscathed. The Dutch rider for Visma | Lease a Bike fell on her knee, which bled significantly afterwards, requiring stitches to ensure proper healing.

During her duel with Lucinda Brand, Van Empel got caught on a tape while running, leading to her fall. After the race, her knee was bleeding profusely, but she initially did not notice it. "I'm only seeing it now," she dryly noted in the flash interview.

Eventually, the damage turned out to be more severe than she thought, and medical personnel were needed to assist Van Empel. By that time, dirt and mud had already gotten into the wound, hence the need for stitches. Incidentally, it is the other knee than the one she fell on a few weeks ago in Spain, so her team Visma | Lease a Bike shared.

Van Empel noted that technique is not quite on point yet

During the cyclo-cross in Baal, Van Empel noted that she lacked confidence. "I've been noticing lately that my technique sometimes lets me down. It's not that I can't steer, but there's work to be done." Brand put pressure on her in the technical sections, and Van Empel struggled. "I think it's a mental thing. Normally, I can navigate the muddy downhill sections well."

For the coming weeks, Van Empel needs to tweak her program. She is considering a period of rest. "We'll see how it goes. But it's certainly nice to start the year off well, also for the new sponsor," Van Empel referred to the new name of her team: Visma | Lease a bike.