German professional Clara Koppenburg has used her social
media platform to deliver one of the most candid and powerful messages of this
women’s cycling season. The 30-year-old Cofidis Women rider, who recently
completed the Tour de France Femmes in 88th place overall, took to Instagram to
share her personal experience with disordered eating, RED-S (Relative Energy
Deficiency in Sport), and the realities of recovery.

“I’ve won the most important battle – but sometimes it still
feels like a defeat,” Koppenburg began, explaining that while the cycling world
has recently seen high-profile discussions on eating habits and mental health
from riders such as Demi Vollering and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, the problem is
far from new. “It’s a shadow that’s hung over our sport for years.”

Koppenburg recounted her own struggle: “I pushed my body to
the limit. And I was flying up the mountains. But I wasn’t healthy. I wasn’t
happy. I wasn’t me.” Choosing recovery, she said, was “the hardest – and
bravest – step I’ve ever taken. And I’d do it again. But what no one tells you
is: Doing the right thing can feel like a punishment.”

Her words paint a stark picture of the gap between public
praise and professional opportunity. “You look healthy!” she recalled being
told. “But did those kind words turn into contracts or support? No. I was told
things like: ‘You’re on the right track, it needs time – but we don’t have
time.’”

For Koppenburg, the most significant win has been reclaiming
her health. “I didn’t win races lately – but I won myself back. After 6 years,
my period returned. I reconnected with my body, my worth. And yet, it still
feels like I’m being penalized for healing.”

She described recovery as “messy,” a process of fluctuating
weight, hormonal changes, and reduced power-to-weight ratios that can leave
riders questioning their form. “It can feel like you’re riding backwards. You
question everything – even though you’re finally doing what’s right. In races,
the pressure is double: To perform – and to trust the process.”

Koppenburg’s call to action is clear: “What we need isn’t
just awareness of RED-S or EDs. We need space to heal. Time. Understanding.
Belief. And the real question is: Are we ready – as teams, fans and industry –
to give athletes that time?”

She closed her statement with a reminder that resonates far
beyond sport: “Atm I don’t have big results. But I have myself – and that’s my
greatest victory. I’m getting stronger every week. And with the right support,
I’ll be back – truly back. Because recovery isn’t weakness. It’s strength. And
it’s time we recognize it as such.”