“I wasn’t healthy, I wasn’t happy” – Another star speaks out on eating disorders and the need for change in women’s cycling

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.”