"People still laugh it off – It shouldn’t be a taboo": Lotte Kopecky calls for change on menstruation in cycling after Veronica Ewers’ viral retirement announcement

Lotte Kopecky has urged the sport to take menstruation seriously after what she describes as persistent embarrassment, silence and misunderstanding around the subject — even at the highest level of women’s cycling.

Fresh from being crowned Flandrienne of the Year, the former world champion sat down on the Cafe Koers podcast and made clear that the peloton’s growing conversation around menstrual health is overdue.

“A lot of riders have testified this season that it brings more discomfort than the outside world realises,” Kopecky said. “When you say that, people still often laugh it off. But many women have complaints during that period that can hinder performance.” She added that the stigma remains particularly strong within team structures: “Especially when the coach is male, there’s still some embarrassment around talking about it. But as a male coach you have to immerse yourself in it if you train women. It shouldn’t be a taboo. It’s part of the job.”

Kopecky also highlighted her own history with symptoms. “I used to suffer from it a lot too — my body retained a lot of fluid. If that comes back every month and it coincides with an important goal, you have a problem. You have to learn to understand your body. My advice is: don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Her comments land at a moment when menstrual health has never been more visible in elite cycling — particularly after Veronica Ewers’ widely shared announcement that she will step back from racing in 2026 after years of battling RED-S and losing her natural cycle for more than a decade.

Ewers’ revelation has acted as a flashpoint in a much wider cultural shift. Across the last two seasons, several of the sport’s biggest names have spoken publicly about how their cycle affects both performance and long-term health.

Demi Vollering has stressed repeatedly that the menstrual cycle is “a normal part of life” and something riders should not fear discussing. She has spoken about low-energy days, disrupted sleep and coordination struggles — but also about phases where she feels physically stronger and benefits from better recovery. Her message is that performance can improve once riders understand their individual rhythm.

The visibility has extended into the Tour de France Femmes itself. Kim Le Court famously revealed she was on her period the day she won a stage and pulled on the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes, stating simply: “My body is more tired than normal. That’s what we women deal with.” 

And the issue isn’t limited to current riders. Lizzie Deignan has openly expressed concern that many young cyclists are losing their periods because of under-fuelling and over-training, citing long-term risks such as low bone density and compromised endocrine health.

The steady chorus from stars like Kopecky, Vollering, Deignan and others is slowly shifting attitudes inside the sport. Once treated as a private inconvenience — or, in past eras, something to be avoided altogether using hormonal suppression — menstrual health is now increasingly seen as a key performance and wellbeing marker.

Ewers’ case has highlighted just how serious the long-term consequences can be, and why so many riders now want the sport to take the issue far more seriously.

Kopecky believes the next step is removing the shame from everyday conversations — especially within team environments where performance planning is decided. “It shouldn’t be a taboo. It belongs in the sport,” she said, emphasising that understanding symptoms is essential, not optional, for both athletes and the staff around them.

As the peloton continues to push back against silence, the subject is rapidly evolving from a whispered inconvenience to a legitimate performance and health priority. Kopecky’s latest call only strengthens the momentum — and judging by the wave of riders speaking up, women’s cycling has no intention of going backwards.