EF Schooling-Cannondale’s Veronica Ewers introduced in the present day that she won’t be racing for the rest of 2024.
The U.S. bicycle owner revealed that she has RED-S (relative power deficiency in sport), poor bone density and “just about non-existent” estrogen ranges after current bloodwork and a DEXA scan to handle a stress fracture in her heel.
In response to Brown College, bodily energetic individuals are in danger for RED-S, and it could possibly happen with or with out disordered consuming or intentional underfueling. The crux of RED-S is the under-consumption of energy coupled with frequent intense train, creating an power deficiency within the physique.
Brown College explains that for many who menstruate, when the physique perceives “too nice a spot between power expenditure and power consumption, estrogen ranges drop…[and] estrogen ranges are wanted to take care of calcium content material in bone.”
If low estrogen ranges aren’t addressed, says Brown College, osteoporosis can develop.
Ewers, who solely started driving bikes in 2018, skyrocketed to the professional degree by 2021, when she stood atop the U.S. Professional Nationals podium with a bronze medal. In 2022, Ewers completed ninth general on the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (a crash sidelined her in Stage 6 of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift).
Heading into 2024, Ewers and her assist system at EF Schooling-Cannondale knew her well being wanted to be a spotlight.
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“In the beginning of this yr, the workforce mentioned, ‘We’re going to attempt to get you to a wholesome place. Which may imply that efficiency takes successful, however we’ll make some variations firstly of this yr,’’ Ewers shared in an announcement. “My coaching modified as a result of my physique wanted to heal and get better in sure methods. This then impacted my efficiency, which had a domino impact on my psychological well being… This break was a suggestion from the workforce as a solution to have a full reset.”
The Idaho native says she will probably be taking time away from biking for “fairly a while” after which seeing what the long run holds.
Ewers mentioned in her assertion that she has a robust assist system to bolster her bodily and psychological well being heading into this subsequent chapter consisting of her workforce doctor, a dietician, a therapist, her coaches and her teammates.
Ewers acknowledged that this indefinite break will probably be exhausting and scary, and he or she questions if she will probably be stronger than she was earlier than when she returns.
Regardless, Ewers is aware of that this time away from aggressive biking is essential for her general well being, and he or she plans to make use of the hiatus to journey Europe together with her dad and mom earlier than returning to Idaho and spending time at her household dwelling.
“I feel [the time with my family] will give me quite a lot of peace,” Ewers mentioned. “I can simply spend a while with my household and buddies… and simply get that reset.”
