Struggling with health issues, finds herself unhappy, and feeling unlike herself – German cyclist Clara Koppenburg opens up about her personal journey to overcome an eating disorder.
In the world of women's cycling, a significant conversation is unfolding, one that tackles the challenges surrounding eating habits, mental health, and recovery. This discourse, which has gained momentum in recent times, underscores the prevalence of disordered eating and its impact on athletes' well-being and performance.
Prominent cyclists like Demi Vollering and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot have bravely spoken out about the pressure to lose weight to succeed in the Tour de France Femmes, sparking a broader dialogue. German climber Clara Koppenburg, a cyclist with a decade of experience racing for various teams, has publicly shared her struggle with eating disorders, emphasising that recovery is often perceived as a sign of weakness despite being crucial for health.
Koppenburg's journey has been far from linear. Her power-to-weight dropped during recovery, and she questioned everything, even though she was doing what was right. Recovery wasn't easy; it was messy. But her biggest result, she said, was her returning to be her true self.
Koppenburg's openness has been praised by fellow riders such as Vollering, Alison Jackson, and others for speaking openly about eating habits, mental health, and her personal journey of recovery. She included a series of images that showed how she had lost weight in previous seasons but said being back to her true self "was my greatest victory."
The discussion around eating disorders in women's cycling also intersects with mental health complexities, such as the link between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and eating disorders. OCD can exacerbate disordered eating through obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors around food, body image, and exercise. Conversely, malnutrition and social withdrawal caused by eating disorders can worsen OCD symptoms, making the recovery process more complex.
Addressing these intertwined challenges requires an integrated, trauma-informed care approach that treats eating disorders and mental health conditions together. Such approaches focus on breaking harmful behavioral cycles and promoting sustainable recovery supported by comprehensive teams of specialists, including psychiatrists, therapists, and dietitians. Programs aim to foster holistic wellness—balancing nutrition, mental health, social connection, and healthy lifestyle habits—rather than reinforcing restrictive dieting or unhealthy weight control measures.
In women's cycling, steps towards change include greater openness and support from athletes publicly sharing their experiences to reduce stigma around mental health and eating disorders. There are calls within the sport for better education on nutrition and mental health, promoting balanced eating habits that sustain both performance and well-being. Specialized mental health and eating disorder services that provide confidential assessments and personalized treatment plans, geared to athletes’ unique developmental and competitive realities, are also becoming more prevalent.
Recovery is increasingly being recognised as a strength and vital to long-term athletic success, not a sign of weakness or failure. Clara Koppenburg, inspired by Vollering's words, revealed her own personal story, and her contract with Cofidis ends this year. Whatever her future in the sport, Koppenburg is getting stronger every week.
References:
[1] Koppenburg, Clara. (2022). Instagram post. [2] National Eating Disorders Association. (n.d.). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Eating Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/anorexia-nervosa/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd-and-anorexia-nervosa [3] International Association of Athletes with Intellectual Disability (INAS). (2021). INAS Champions Mental Health and Wellbeing. Retrieved from https://www.inas-sport.org/news/inas-champions-mental-health-and-wellbeing [4] National Centre for Eating Disorders. (n.d.). Treatment and Recovery. Retrieved from https://nationalcentreforeatingdisorders.org/treatment-and-recovery/
- Clara Koppenburg, a cyclist who has openly discussed her struggle with eating disorders, has emphasized the importance of addressing both mental health and women's health in sports, highlighting the interlink between OCD and eating disorders and the need for integrated, trauma-informed care.
- In line with this, efforts in women's cycling are focusing on fostering a culture of openness and support, aiming to destigmatize mental health and eating disorders, providing better education on nutrition and mental health, and making specialized services more accessible to athletes.
