READY SET RESET

With further lockdown-easing imminent, Anna Marie Hughes explores how to prepare now for a strong return to racing when the long-awaited moment finally arrives

- Anna Marie

The Covid-19 lockdown that put a stop to cycling events this year was unprecedented, but forced breaks from competition happen all the time – they’re a fact of life for cyclists. Injury, pregnancy, work pressures – there are many outside forces, planned or unexpected, that can cause a racing hiatus. Many top riders have shown it is possible to come back stronger, so there's no need for you to worry about your return to the start line. Though the pandemic hit us all, each person’s situation is unique. Perhaps you had Covid-19, or maybe you’ve been furloughed from your job... When it comes to returning to your chosen event later this year, or even early in 2021, you need to reflect on your personal circumstances and what is best for you – with the most important being your health and well-being. By taking care of yourself now, you can come back stronger when the time comes. Pause, reset, play

Looking at how pro riders have coped with breaks from racing can teach us how to spend this time effectively, aiming to imitate their success. Jesse Vandenbulcke (Lotto-Soudal) is the current Belgian national road race champion and, at 24, is one of the youngest mums in the professional peloton. With an air of defiance, Vandenbulcke told me: “Nothing is too hard to beat – if you really want something, it is definitely possible.”

In 2017, Vandenbulcke took a yearlong gap as a professional cyclist and didn’t do even a single race. Only two seasons later, she stood on the top step of the podium in her National Championships. Vandenbulcke was dressed in the black, yellow, and red stripes of Belgium, with her inspiration – son Fabian – nestled in her arms.