"Marlen Reusser expresses pressure felt by everyone due to Ferrand-Prévot's weight loss in preparation for the Tour"
In the world of professional cycling, the conversation surrounding weight loss has taken centre stage, particularly in the aftermath of Pauline Ferrand-Prevéot's reported 4kg weight loss before winning the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. This shift in focus has been met with concerns from athletes and health professionals alike, highlighting the potential long-term health implications of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S).
Marlen Reusser, a Swiss cyclist and physician, has expressed apprehensions about the broader implications of Ferrand-Prevéot's weight loss, fearing it may send the wrong message to young riders without access to professional supervision. RED-S, a condition that occurs when energy intake is insufficient to meet the demands of training and bodily functions, can lead to a host of serious health issues. These include depression, higher susceptibility to illness and injury, anemia, digestive problems, menstrual cycle disruptions, weakened bones, impaired immunity, slower recovery, and reduced endurance. Mental health and athletic performance eventually decline with prolonged under-fuelling.
To combat these dangers, organisations such as The Cyclists' Alliance (TCA) are advocating for change. TCA president Grace Brown has called for mandatory yearly RED-S and bone mineral screenings for all professional female cyclists, aiming to couple rider health with elite performance sustainability. The TCA has also formed a working group with riders and experts focused on nutrition, low energy availability, and RED-S, with plans to launch education and awareness campaigns on rider health, including sessions for team staff to ensure broader understanding and support.
However, governing bodies like the UCI have yet to implement definitive regulatory controls. Despite calls by high-profile athletes like Marlen Reusser for measures such as minimum body fat limits, the focus remains on increased screening, education, and advocacy rather than strict regulation.
The pressure to maintain a low power-to-weight ratio is inescapable in cycling, and this has led some athletes to engage in extreme weight loss measures. However, athletes like Pauline Ferrand-Prevéot and Demi Vollering have emphasized that any weight reduction is carefully managed, temporary, and structured with nutritionist support. They acknowledge that such practices are not "100% healthy" but necessary for peak performance in endurance events.
This complex balance between optimizing power-to-weight ratio and maintaining long-term health is a challenge that female cyclists face. American Kristen Faulkner has highlighted that underfueling affects women differently than the male peloton, further complicating the issue.
In the face of these challenges, athletes like Demi Vollering are pushing back against the weight-centric narrative, emphasizing health as the priority. Reusser questions the extent to which weight loss in cycling can be considered optimization and when it becomes pathological. The conversation around health vs. performance is intensifying, highlighting the need for sustainable approaches within the sport.
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift concluded ten days ago, leaving the cycling community to reflect on the implications of the weight loss debate. As the sport continues to grapple with finding a balance between health and performance, the focus on RED-S and long-term health outcomes is set to remain a crucial aspect of the conversation.
- Marlene Reusser, a physician and cyclist, expresses concern about the potential message Ferrand-Prevéot's weight loss might send to young riders, suggesting it could promote unhealthy practices.
- The Cyclists' Alliance (TCA) advocates for mandatory yearly RED-S and bone mineral screenings for all professional female cyclists to address the health implications of energy deficiency in sport.
- Governing bodies like the UCI focus on increased screening, education, and advocacy rather than strict regulation to address the pressure to maintain a low power-to-weight ratio in cycling, while athletes like Demi Vollering prioritize health over weight-centric practices.
