Struggling with an eating disorder, cyclist Clara Koppenburg opens up about her journey to regain health, happiness, and her true self
In the world of women's cycling, a pressing issue has come to light: the intricate link between eating habits and mental health. This complex issue revolves around the stress, body dissatisfaction, and pressure to maintain a certain body image, which can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia, excessive exercise addiction, anxiety, and depression.
These mental health struggles stem partly from societal pressures on thinness and performance-related demands in cycling, creating a cycle of restrictive eating, over-exercising, and emotional distress. Athletes like Clara Koppenburg, Demi Vollering, Alison Jackson, Pauline Ferrand-Prévost, and Cédrine Kerbaol are working tirelessly to address these issues.
Koppenburg, Vollering, and others are promoting open conversations around mental health and eating habits in the sport. They aim to break down the stigma related to discussing body image concerns and encourage seeking professional help when needed. Through advocacy, they foster awareness and support that aim to reduce harmful behaviors such as obsessive calorie counting or exercise addiction and to promote balanced, sustainable eating practices alongside mental health care.
At the Tour de France Femmes, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Cédrine Kerbaol spoke out about women's health, with Kerbaol launching the Fueling for Endurance, Energy, and Durability (F.e.e.d) campaign. Clara Koppenburg, who joined Cofidis this year and rode the Tour de France Femmes, used the platform to question if teams, fans, and the cycling industry are willing to give athletes the time to heal as well as expecting them to perform in races.
Koppenburg's personal journey of recovery has been marked by honesty and bravery. She has spoken openly about her past struggles with weight loss and the label of being a climber, and her realization that she had to change. Recovery, according to Koppenburg, is not weakness, but strength. She has emphasized the need for space, time, understanding, and belief in the recovery process.
In an Instagram post, Koppenburg shared a series of images showing her weight loss in previous seasons and stated that being back to her true self was her greatest victory. Her fellow cyclists, including Vollering, Jackson, and others, have praised her for speaking openly about eating habits, mental health, and her personal journey of recovery.
Koppenburg's contract with Cofidis is set to end this year, and she is getting stronger every week with the right support. She believes it's time we recognize recovery as such and questions everything during her recovery, even though she's doing what's right.
The holistic approach, combining emotional support and tailored treatment, is key to improving wellbeing for female athletes facing these intertwined challenges. This approach, championed by athletes like Koppenburg, Vollering, Jackson, Ferrand-Prévost, and Kerbaol, is paving the way for a healthier, more compassionate approach to nutrition and mental wellbeing within cycling communities.
- Clara Koppenburg, Demi Vollering, Alison Jackson, Pauline Ferrand-Prévost, and Cédrine Kerbaol have been advocating for mental health and eating habits in the world of women's cycling, aiming to break down stigmas and foster awareness.
- The Fueling for Endurance, Energy, and Durability (F.e.e.d) campaign, launched by Cédrine Kerbaol, focuses on women's health, addressing the complex link between eating habits, mental health, and the pressures in cycling.
- Athletes like Clara Koppenburg are promoting balanced, sustainable eating practices and mental health care, emphasizing recovery as a sign of strength rather than weakness, and calling for more time and support for athletes facing these intertwined challenges.
