This past weekend a new edition of a Female France Tour marked by the great level of many runners; especially that of the winner, the French Pauline Ferdinwhich occupied the first position of the podium ahead of Demi full ring (Netherlands) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland). The growing Competitiveness He has led cyclists to follow some practices that, as expresses the professionals themselves, They are not healthy.
At the end of each stage the extreme thinness of some corridors caught attention, hence both the first and second classified of the tour had to answer questions about their own weight after the race. Ferrand-Prévot He came to confess that this state was not forever: “I don't want to stay like that, I know it's not 100% healthy. It is a complicated issue because you have to find the limit, but it is my choice. ”
Criticism in networks for extreme thinness
In fact, the questions arrived after having to listen Many criticisms in social networks: “I received many complaints on Instagram; they said it was not a good example for young people. But I also believe that parents should educate their children and tell them that I am like this because of the Tour of France, not forever.”
Also Demi full ringin a few words post career that collects Domesticreferred to the matter of thinness in the platoon and left A declaration of intentions: “I am proud of my weight and I want to give a good example. I hope that in the future I can triumph with my weight and show the girls that it is not necessary to be super thin.”
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot with the MTB world champion jersey XC 2023.
One of the great flags in the matter of cyclists' health is the French Cédrine Kerbaolsixth in the general classification of the Tour of 2024, eighth in this year's edition and graduated in nutrition. In statements to the French newspaper Humanity He warned of the greatest competitiveness and what that supposed for weight and health: “In recent years, it has become very fashionable to tell each gram of our dish. We should not fall into a form of dehumanization and infantilization.”
Such is his concern that a profile of Instagram in which he speaks of nutrition y health In cycling: @feed_powr. She describes it as a “without tabous, without silence: eating disorder, periods without rule, energy deficits and more”.
During this same Tour He has also referred to these issues: “I had a conversation with the French federation and the cyclist union, which made me reflect and get in touch with health professionals. We want them to be better guided towards trusted people and, in the medium and long term, also involve male cyclists.”
Problems with the menstrual cycle
“We are at the point where girls think that being very thin is a good example. I only know that It is not normal to have the bones decalcified at age 20 and that it is not normal“, expressed in Humanity.
“Before athletes, we are also women, and our health matters now, but it also matters for the future,” he said.
Other cyclists who have spoken are their own teammates, the Kristen Faulner and Magdeleine Vallieres Olympic Championwhich celebrate that conception is changing within the teams. “They told me directly when I arrived at the team that was a priority for us to be healthy and that we will recover (menstruation),” he said Vallières a Cyclingnews After the sixth stage of the tour.
Demi Vollering crosses the finish line after the ninth stage of the tour
In that same sense it was expressed in its own podcast Emma Norsgaardcyclist of Lidl-Trek that previously ran for the team Movistar: “I do not lose weight if as healthy, but my body is rewarding me by returning the menstruation, and I feel very proud.” In addition, he added that I was trying to have menstruation three or four times a year.
And it is that the management of the rule has been normal in the platoon. The doctor of Education First, Beautiful Etxiverriarecently explained the environment NOS than contraceptive pills They would only be used “When the team leader comes to the rule during their main objective”.
The ultimate goal of all those who have raised the voice on this matter is to put on the table an issue that, until now, seemed taboo. And what is intended is to prevent cyclists from suffering from health problems such as the relative energy deficit in sport. This pathology has already left runners with Hormonal alteration, fatigue, reduction of immunity, osteoporosis and Mentrual Transctors.
