Getting the best out of your riders and your team is a crucial part of the role of the DS of a professional cycling team. When it comes to women’s cycling there are additional elements at play that need to be considered. In order to ensure the mental well being of female riders, as well as maximising performance and prolonging their engagement with elite level competition, it’s vital to look at what psychology can offer in understanding the needs of elite women cyclists.
There are several areas in which gender differences might create particular challenges for female riders that would benefit from specialist psychological support. I’ve described some of the key ones below.
© Bob MacGregor
Motivation and competition
Research in psychology suggests that males and females tend to engage in sport for subtly different reasons, with the result that the experience of competition creates more anxiety in women than men. Whereas males participate for reasons such as opportunities to be competitive, achieve success and for a sense of physical achievement, women tend to participate in sport to enhance psychological well-being, improve physical health and to foster emotionally supportive relationships. For women cyclists, competition is a by-product of being involved in the sport rather than an end in itself, which explains why many female cyclists struggle with performance anxiety and a reluctance to be “on display”. This potential gender difference in the psychological relationship with the competitive aspect of cycling is crucial for both increasing female participation in cycling and prolonging involvement in the sport at the highest level. It means that teams need to pay attention at an organisational level to focus on building and maintaining positive relationships that enhance riders’ well being, as well as ensuring competitive success. A happier rider is a better and more successful rider in training and in racing.
Body Image, fuelling and Physiology
There is lot of interest at present in disordered eating in sport generally, with female athletes being more likely to struggle with this issue, as is the case with the general population. In cycling this is intensified by the emphasis on watts/kg, particularly in E-racing where it is a crucial metric. Thankfully, many elite cyclists are speaking out about this issue. For women cyclists this is tied up with society’s emphasis on thinness as an ideal body shape, making it a much greater challenge for female cyclists to fuel appropriately. Under-fuelling by female riders can have major implications on long term physical health as well as fertility, so again it is crucial for teams to adopt a sensitive approach when discussing weight with riders and adopt positive procedures to ensure that appropriate fuelling becomes a priority within the team. It also means that a sensitive approach needs to be adopted when considering publicity and PR appearances/photoshoots in cycling kit, as the personal meaning of such events can represent significant challenges for some female riders due to the issues highlighted above.
A further consideration for elite female riders involves psychological changes associated with menstruation that may in turn impact on performance. Research evidence suggests that increased levels of worry, reduced concentration and greater emotional reactivity occur cyclically. These factors can negatively affect performance in racing and training, in turn further increasing levels of worry and stress.
Career and continuity issues
We see many examples in cycling media of male riders combining family life with a long career in the pro peloton. Although there are some high-profile examples to the contrary, without substantial practical and financial support, as well as emotional support, this dual existence is more difficult for the majority of female riders. This means sometimes difficult choices have to be made that have life-changing implications and represents a further psychological demand on the elite female rider. But it doesn’t have to be this way and team management can play a crucial role here, as demonstrated by the support provided by Trek Segafredo to Lizzie Deignan.
© Bob MacGregor
Physical risk
A wealth of research evidence in psychology shows that generally women are more risk averse than men in many fields, from financial decision making to participation in extreme sports. Although elite women cyclists have evidently been able to overcome any inhibition that might have prevented them getting involved in cycling in the first place, it means that the specific demands of racing, such as descending at speed, cornering and bunch riding, are likely to be psychologically more challenging for female riders. The nature and extent of the psychological support they need will be greater than for the average male cyclist, who is found at the opposite end of the risk aversion spectrum. This is not to suggest that female riders are in any way less capable in these activities; the implication is that to become highly competent represents a greater psychological challenge than for males and may require more support.
Implications for team organisation and culture
One very positive change already evident is the number of former female pro riders taking up positions of responsibility within teams. This is likely to create and enhance an atmosphere of openness where the above issues can be discussed. Access to specialist psychological support for female riders is also essential to prolong engagement with the sport as well as maximising performance.
For further information, or to discuss any of the above, please get in touch with me directly at peter@cyclotherapy.co.uk or on +44 7712 779608.
