“When I go grocery shopping, by the time I get home I can only sleep" - Harsh realities of Victor Lafay's virus struggles as cycling career future in doubt
CyclingTuesday, 18 August 2026 at 15:30
Victor Lafay's cycling career is in doubt after it was confirmed that the Unibet Rose Rockets rider would not make his debut for his new team at all in 2026. Struggling with a virus picked up late last year, even daily tasks have become exhausting for the Frenchman.
Winner of a stage at the 2023 Tour de France, Lafay found himself motivated for a new challenge with the Rockets after contemplating leaving the sport over winter. However, he picked up a virus after racing the Tour of Guangxi last October and hasn't been able to race at all since.
With recovery facing constant setbacks, Lafay summarised the past ten months of his career and life in a candid admission about his struggles to regain fitness.
“Let me explain it from the start, because those reading this might not know my whole story,” he said on his team’s Substack .
“At first, I thought it was the jet lag or the journey. I trained very gently for the first few days. But a week later, I started to worry because I still felt tired. I asked the team doctor if I could have a blood test done. I suspected a bacterial infection in my stomach, because I have had that before in the past.”
Lafay and the team try to get to the bottom of issues
Antibiotics, consultations and tests were proving no use as doctors struggled to pinpoint what exactly had gone wrong for Lafay. As the weeks and months went by, it became clear that a recovery is a long way away.
“However, the antibiotics didn’t help and the blood tests didn’t give me a definitive answer. I had already missed my first race and we really wanted clarity quickly so that I wouldn’t miss any other races.
"I decided to have more blood tests done and also went to see a doctor, but I just couldn’t get any answers. We suspected a virus ourselves, but if you don’t know exactly what it is, you don’t see a solution very quickly."
There's still no answer for the Frenchman, who explained that sitting at home is no easy feet either - with the daily tasks of groceries and hosting friends for dinner a tiring experience.
“I traveled with the team’s medical specialists for more extensive tests. We tested everything, and all the results indicate that I am healthy… We still don’t have the answers we are looking for.
“When I go grocery shopping, by the time I get home I can only sleep. I get exhausted so quickly. That is the case even after the slightest exertion. And I’m not just talking about physical activities. Even after dinner with family or friends, I’m just completely worn out.”
Victor Lafay
Lafay finds daily tasks difficult
“I can no longer concentrate on the conversations being held, my eyes get heavy, and all I can think about is sleeping. I have spent a lot of time at home.
"You might be able to enjoy that, but when you are dead tired, you can't do anything. It just kind of sucks. It is not just the physical fatigue that is weighing heavily on me. It is also a mental challenge.”
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In a candid admission, Lafay knows that he will recover. However, he finds the mental challenge of not knowing when he can get back to riding a difficult proposition - noting that it's a matter of simply waiting for now.
“I was so enthusiastic at the beginning of the year and then everything went wrong… At first I thought it would only last a few weeks, then it became a month, two months, and it is now mid-August," he concluded.
"I still don’t feel well. I am nowhere near recovered and that is hard for me. I know that one day things will get better and that I will be able to cycle again, but for now we can only wait."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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