PEDALLING THROUGH PERENTHOOD

Having a child can put the brakes on your cycling plans but how does it affect the pros and what can we learn from them? Hannah Reynolds finds out

- Hannah Reynolds

Parenthood brings significant challenges for cyclists, including physical changes and sleep deprivation, hampering recovery and performance. Daily childcare activities, such as lifting and carrying, add to physical strain, while mentally and emotionally, increased stress can impair focus and motivation. These adjustments often force parents to re-evaluate and sometimes deprioritise their cycling commitments, balancing family needs with their passion for the sport. For pro riders, whose cycling puts food on the table, becoming a parent can have significant consequences. So is it possible to balance being a parent with performing to your best as a cyclist? Inspiring stories of female pro riders' successes after having a baby have brought necessary attention to the challenges and possibilities of raising a family while being a professional athlete. In 2020 the UCI introduced a first-ever maternity leave clause to women's World Teams after advocacy work by The Cyclists Alliance. This meant that professional women cyclists would be allowed three months' maternity leave while being entitled to full salary, followed by an additional five months at half of their salary. This year's Olympic Games was the first to feature a childcare facility to allow competing parents to have their children with them throughout.