Veronica Ewers is still under contract with EF Education-Oatly, but the 31-year-old American will not compete in the upcoming cycling season. Not due to a serious injury, but because of a disrupted hormone balance. Ewers shared this candidly via her social media channels.
"This is not the news I wanted to share," she begins her Instagram post. "A few weeks ago, I received the results of my blood tests, which showed that my hormone levels were still virtually nonexistent. In 2024, I was given the opportunity to take half a season off to focus on my recovery and planned to return in 2025, hoping to continue my recovery during training and racing."
However, things turned out differently for Ewers. "Honestly, living a contradictory life—trying to perform while simultaneously letting my hormones recover—was, to say the least, quite frustrating. I tried to perform physically, which was impossible because my hormone balance was still off. At the same time, I tried to recover, but that is only possible if I stop trying to perform at a top level."
"I have gotten myself into trouble"
"It felt like I was hitting my head against a wall," describes Ewers—known as a strong climber—during this difficult period. "I then sat down with my dietitian to discuss the results and was really taken aback. I had two options: continue with what I was always doing or focus on a full recovery and only then go back to elite performance."
Ewers was fourth in the Giro just two years ago – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
"I decided to do the latter, which is why I will not be training or racing in 2026. I got myself into trouble by abusing my body for too long, even long before I entered the cycling world. Although I have improved my nutrition and eating habits, it was not enough. My body needs a complete reset before it can perform optimally again."
"I’m tired of being mediocre. And most importantly: I want to be able to walk, cycle, run, and so much more later on. I thank my team EF Education-Oatly for their cooperation, understanding, and support. My goal is ultimately to come back and show the world what I am capable of, with a fully functional body. But for now, I’m focusing on my recovery," Ewers concludes.
It used to be seen as a taboo, but now there is increasing discussion in the women's peloton about the importance of a healthy hormone balance. For example, EF Education-Oatly, Veronica Ewers' team, pays a lot of attention to this. Earlier this year, Demi Vollering also spoke out in an essay about menstruation and elite sports.
According to Vollering, there is too little talk about the menstrual cycle in elite sports, which can lead to problems. “Some athletes think it’s good not to be menstruating anymore because that would be a sign that they are training hard enough, but that is NOT normal,” she wrote. Vollering explains that understanding the rhythm of the menstrual cycle has become a strength for her.
