Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 12:37 PM
It used to be seen as a taboo, but now there is more and more talk in the women’s peloton about the importance of good hormone balance. For example, earlier this year Demi Vollering spoke out about menstruation and top sport. Lotte Kopecky is next, but the ex-world champion still sees (much) room for improvement.
Kopecky was recently – following her new Flandrien title – a guest in the cycling podcast Café Koers of The Newspaper. This included menstruation in cycling, which is still a sensitive topic in cycling.
The two-time world champion also sees this on the road. “Many riders have testified this season that it often causes more discomfort than the outside world thinks. If you say that, it is often laughed off. While many women have a lot of complaints during that period that can hinder performance.”
“Certainly if it is a male coach, there is some shame in talking about it,” said Kopecky. “On the other hand, that is also an aspect that you, as a male coach, have to delve into when training women. It should not actually be a taboo. It is part of it.”
Perfection breaks taboo
According to Demi Vollering, there is not enough talk about the menstrual cycle in top sport. And that can lead to problems. “Some athletes think it’s okay to stop having periods because that would be a sign that they are training hard enough, but it is NOT normal,” she wrote. Vollering says that understanding the rhythm of the menstrual cycle has become a strength for her.
A disrupted hormone balance can lead to Red-S Syndrome. This is a syndrome that occurs due to a long-term energy deficiency in athletes. This means that the body uses more energy than it consumes through food, which leads to disturbances (in the functioning of) the body, such as reduced menstruation, bone health problems and a weakened immune system.
It is also an important theme for Kopecky. “I used to suffer from this a lot, my body would retain a lot of fluid. If that happens every month and it coincides with an important goal, you have a problem. You have to get to know your body and how to best deal with it. That’s different for everyone. My advice is: don’t be afraid to ask for advice.”
TeamTeam SD Worx – Protime
SpecialtySprint
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