Team Visma LAB

[Krzysztof_O]

“We secretly hoped she wouldn’t win” – Marlen Reusser joins growing concern over Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's dramatic weight loss tactics at 2025 Tour de France Femmes

Marlen Reusser doesn’t often mince her words. The Swiss time trial specialist and trained physician has long been a voice of reason and reflection in the professional peloton — but her recent comments...

cyclinguptodate.com

Losing 4 kilos since Roubaix is huge and I'm wondering how much of it was muscles and how much fat? (maybe 50/50?). How they managed it without losing form is interesting.

As for weight concerns, Kenyan or Ethiopian runners looked almost like from concentration camps for decades. Endurance athletes being super thin is really nothing new.

 

[Divergence]

“We secretly hoped she wouldn’t win” – Marlen Reusser joins growing concern over Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's dramatic weight loss tactics at 2025 Tour de France Femmes

Marlen Reusser doesn’t often mince her words. The Swiss time trial specialist and trained physician has long been a voice of reason and reflection in the professional peloton — but her recent comments...

cyclinguptodate.com

Losing 4 kilos since Roubaix is huge and I'm wondering how much of it was muscles and how much fat? (maybe 50/50?). How they managed it without losing form is interesting.

As for weight concerns, Kenyan or Ethiopian runners looked almost like from concentration camps for decades. Endurance athletes being super thin is really nothing new.

It is a myth that losing weight means losing muscle. Many so called nutritionists do not understand physiology and idk when and where but this myth was formed. And riders like believing it is true. It takes off the pressure to be super disciplined with your diet.
The reality is that if one goes on about losing wight in a proper manner (not by starving), weight can be lost, muscle mass preserved and the athlete would never experience REDS.

 

[pastronef]

"we secretly hoped she wouldn't win"
ffs
what's that
Reusser and Vollering are former XD-Works riders, a team that butchered races and rivals with a huge show of superiority.
and oh boy, they're suddenly concerned about Pauline
bad losers. just bad losers

 

[Krzysztof_O]

It is a myth that losing weight means losing muscle. Many so called nutritionists do not understand physiology and idk when and where but this myth was formed. And riders like believing it is true. It takes off the pressure to be super disciplined with your diet.
The reality is that if one goes on about losing wight in a proper manner (not by starving), weight can be lost, muscle mass preserved and the athlete would never experience REDS.

So was all 4 kg fat? It would mean she was operating at quite a high fat % during Roubaix. I would think she was a bit more powerful during a race like Roubaix (so some muscle lost as well).

 

[Valv.Piti]

Listening to these girls like Demi and Reusser is just super cringe. W/kg is king (or queen), they know that.

 

[yaco]

"we secretly hoped she wouldn't win"
ffs
what's that
Reusser and Vollering are former XD-Works riders, a team that butchered races and rivals with a huge show of superiority.
and oh boy, they're suddenly concerned about Pauline
bad losers. just bad losers

Grace Brown of the Cyclists Alliance today bemoaned the endless debate about the weights of the female peleton, among some other thoughtful suggestions to do with health. However, this endless debate is being fuelled by statements from the female peleton and they are not doing themselves any favors. I'd argue the mens peleton ( GC types ) is even skinnier and their is no debate about them,especially from fellow riders. It does seem like a case of sour grapes.

 

[Divergence]

So was all 4 kg fat? It would mean she was operating at quite a high fat % during Roubaix. I would think she was a bit more powerful during a race like Roubaix (so some muscle lost as well).

I would say that it is very possible that a very high portion of the 5kg was fat. Maybe some fluids. And maybe a little muscle mass loss both from where it matters and from where it does not but nothing too significant. I would guess she does not have a lower absolute power now compared to PR. Probably even higher.

 

[Rackham]

Grace Brown of the Cyclists Alliance today bemoaned the endless debate about the weights of the female peleton, among some other thoughtful suggestions to do with health. However, this endless debate is being fuelled by statements from the female peleton and they are not doing themselves any favors. I'd argue the mens peleton ( GC types ) is even skinnier and their is no debate about them,especially from fellow riders. It does seem like a case of sour grapes.

Grace Brown with the take of the ages, i.e. turning a medical conversation into a war of the sexes.

She has it backwards, as per usual for such 'outspoken' people, i.e. people care more about women than they do men. And no matter the protestations it'll always be troubling when women lose 4kg in a few months, miss their monthlies and hit the skeleton levels for various reasons, i.e. with the socially indisputable fact anorexia is statistically a female centric problem playing a big role in the reactions you're seeing.

We've just had a decade + of war on skinny models and thinness. Now suddenly with Ozempic taking off like it's skittles and big pharma pushing weight loss drugs, we've gone full circle and we're back to "how dare you hypocritical misogynists talk about weight!". More power to PFP for pulling something risky off the way she did but it's not an example for "young girls". And before someone says that was never the point - au contraire, that's entirely the point of televised sport, i.e. to influence French girls into emulating the 'wins' of such a champion in their daily lives no matter the nature of their pursuits.

And because this is the clinic I'll call a spade a spade here: massive weight loss combined with maintaining power levels has the smell of PED's written all over it. That's most likely an 'unspoken' truth in the women's peloton right now and I'd wager it's playing a role in some of the reactions you're seeing, such as the critical comments by Marlen Reusser.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

And because this is the clinic I'll call a spade a spade here: massive weight loss combined with maintaining power levels has the smell of PED's written all over it. That's most likely an 'unspoken' truth in the women's peloton right now and I'd wager it's playing a role in some of the reactions you're seeing, such as the critical comments by Marlen Reusser.

It was a thought that occurred to me, definitely, that the discourse being framed that way is a helpfully innocent way to be able to say "something doesn't feel right here" without having to know or say anything dangerous.

As I said yesterday, the women's péloton has never really had to deal with super-peakers for this type of race, only the ITT mayflies, for at least a generation, so for a lot of these riders, they're used to the riders who are the best over a type of terrain being at least among the best over that terrain all year long, while selective calendars and super-peaking have got a bad rep from the Lance generation that a lot of these riders grew up having drilled into them, so when the status quo is so comprehensively ripped up by somebody who hasn't got the long history of riding at least among the best on that kind of terrain, it would cause a bit of disquiet even if there were no other implications, because it fundamentally changes what the péloton thinks it has known for the last several years.

 

[Revelation]

Destroyer of (cycling) worlds. Clearly going over the top on both sides to win at all cost, thankfully Pogacar was there at least on the men's side to stop them.

 

[Revelation]

And again, sign a 32-year old way past his prime to win the Giro, said rider suddenly retires just before the next season for no specific reason.

The true cycling terrorists of this era.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Watching Phil Gaimon, and he is suggesting what I was wondering about Yates. This was too sudden. I think he may have been forced out by the UCI.

 

[awavey]

that feels a bit tinfoil hat thesedays tbh, for one there'd have to be a failed test in the system, which anyone who has seen it could leak at any moment, plus why would the UCI be doing any riders any favours , surely theyd want to show theyre willing to punish anyone, as it sends a more powerful message that it doesnt matter who you are we will get you, and that their systems to catch people work.

I feel its either a serious medical issue and we hope that its not, or he has just lost his motiviation for it and the demands procycling places on him vs his personal life, which I think is the most likely.

like I actually think he was almost certainly going into his final year this year anyway, and then when youve made that decision, whats actually keeping you in the mix this year as he's not going to win TdF, he's already won the giro/vuelta, wasnt going for the world championships, what is there left to do except be a good climber for the team, and alot of pro cyclists are saying the peloton feels alot sketchier to ride in safely, he's seen first hand with his team mates your life can change in an instant with a crash. plus you get the impression Visma do push their riders alot harder so that its not so enjoyable

and it might not be Yates himself, when you realise as a pro cyclist you spend 2/3rds of the year away from your family, and you are missing out being there for your family, its quite hard. I saw Lizzie D remarking about her retirement that she was just finding being away from her family, her kids whilst theyre growing up, put alot of pressure/emotional stress on her that being a pro cyclist wasnt filling the gap anymore and almost felt selfish, when again she felt she'd achieved all that she could in the sport results wise. and the mojo has gone, you want to spend more time with your family give back to them whilst you still can and recognise the sacrifices they made to support your career.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

that feels a bit tinfoil hat thesedays tbh, for one there'd have to be a failed test in the system, which anyone who has seen it could leak at any moment, plus why would the UCI be doing any riders any favours , surely theyd want to show theyre willing to punish anyone, as it sends a more powerful message that it doesnt matter who you are we will get you, and that their systems to catch people work.

I feel its either a serious medical issue and we hope that its not, or he has just lost his motiviation for it and the demands procycling places on him vs his personal life, which I think is the most likely.

like I actually think he was almost certainly going into his final year this year anyway, and then when youve made that decision, whats actually keeping you in the mix this year as he's not going to win TdF, he's already won the giro/vuelta, wasnt going for the world championships, what is there left to do except be a good climber for the team, and alot of pro cyclists are saying the peloton feels alot sketchier to ride in safely, he's seen first hand with his team mates your life can change in an instant with a crash. plus you get the impression Visma do push their riders alot harder so that its not so enjoyable

and it might not be Yates himself, when you realise as a pro cyclist you spend 2/3rds of the year away from your family, and you are missing out being there for your family, its quite hard. I saw Lizzie D remarking about her retirement that she was just finding being away from her family, her kids whilst theyre growing up, put alot of pressure/emotional stress on her that being a pro cyclist wasnt filling the gap anymore and almost felt selfish, when again she felt she'd achieved all that she could in the sport results wise. and the mojo has gone, you want to spend more time with your family give back to them whilst you still can and recognise the sacrifices they made to support your career.

He was making media appearances and team videos 2 days before he announced.

And uh...the UCI has some history of being, how should we say...corrupt.

 

[pastronef]

He was making media appearances and team videos 2 days before he announced.

And uh...the UCI has some history of being, how should we say...corrupt.

probably those videos/photos date back to 1 month ago, at the December training camp

 

[Vinther1991]

I don't want to accuse Simon Yates of breaking any rules, there can be other reasons for this looking weird.
But everybody have to admit this is probably the weirdest retirement from cycling in many, many years. I don't think the team has told us everything that has been going on.
S. Yates comes off of the, perhaps, greatest season he has ever had, winning the Giro, winning a Tour stage. I can understand if he feels that he has achieved what he can achieve with his talent (though he could try some one day races), but the timing is really odd. Had he said after his Giro win or after the Tour, that it would be his final season, ok. But in January! After off-season training camp! After the transfer window! Seemingly out of nowhere, and with no other reason than that it is what he wants (no injuries etc). That is strange as ***. Saying he would retire after helping his team at the Tour or the Giro or something makes sense, this does not.

An explanation could be a "secret" ban, there may be health issues he doesn't want to address, or he may be having a serious disagreement with the team, and preferring to just call it quits rather than looking for alternatives.

 

[Rackham]

Or conversely the secret to higher watts per kilo is chemical castration. At which point upon being offered this upgrade on the Visma skill tree, Yates noped out. No thanks matey!

I'm only half joking as well. For example when Evenepoel accused Vingegaard of having no balls a couple of years ago in the Tour, maybe that's the secret sauce.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Or conversely the secret to higher watts per kilo is chemical castration. At which point upon being offered this upgrade on the Visma skill tree, Yates noped out. No thanks matey!

I'm only half joking as well. For example when Evenepoel accused Vingegaard of having no balls a couple of years ago in the Tour, maybe that's the secret sauce.

Well having one ball removed did wonders for Arsmtrong, so getting rid of both could indeed be the next step in the arms race.

 

[noob]

Or conversely the secret to higher watts per kilo is chemical castration. At which point upon being offered this upgrade on the Visma skill tree, Yates noped out. No thanks matey!

I'm only half joking as well. For example when Evenepoel accused Vingegaard of having no balls a couple of years ago in the Tour, maybe that's the secret sauce.

If it takes out that drive I imagine it'd be beneficial for riding but not when one wants kids. But considered the most graphic cycling book I've read was about past Rabobank maybe Grisha today be like "we've had enough of problems arising from the groins, better just get rid of it" 🤣🤣

But I doubt it.

 

[Rackham]

If it takes out that drive I imagine it'd be beneficial for riding but not when one wants kids. But considered the most graphic cycling book I've read was about past Rabobank maybe Grisha today be like "we've had enough of problems arising from the groins, better just get rid of it" 🤣🤣

But I doubt it.

Visma's Christmas party where watching The Nutcracker has nothing to do with Tchaikovsky sure sounds fun.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Or conversely the secret to higher watts per kilo is chemical castration. At which point upon being offered this upgrade on the Visma skill tree, Yates noped out. No thanks matey!

I'm only half joking as well. For example when Evenepoel accused Vingegaard of having no balls a couple of years ago in the Tour, maybe that's the secret sauce.

And we also know that Remco's balls are too big to be a good climber. Maybe, besides starvation camps with Vingo, that was the reason he (and Oumi) didn't want to join Visma...

 

[Unchained]

Watching Phil Gaimon, and he is suggesting what I was wondering about Yates. This was too sudden. I think he may have been forced out by the UCI.

If you are talking about the same video that he goes scorched earth on George Hindcappie, Fairmount hotel chain, people who didn't agree or sponsor him...is that the video were he offers up an opinion about a guy who was on the WT for @10+ years, raced and won GT..I hope that sponsors in the future watch the video also..

Yates has 36 pro wins, Phil ....one..no grand tours.

It's sudden to who? Yates and his family could have had years worth of conversation and preparation for retirement. Yates proved again, don't tell anyone anything and just make your move, the media, social media rumor machine will eat you alive if you give them plenty of forewarning.
Gaimon spent little to no time in his video delving into his new character..
Worst Retirement Ever.. Retirement is what Phil has in common, but instead he trolled trying to play up a non controversy. Simon Yates has had a great career, been a great teammate. Dozens of riders have made public statements about new data driven grind of modern bike racing, majority say that long careers are looking more unlikely because of the pressure of no off season, constant surveillance about wattage, mileage, nutrition, strict structure.. Simon and his family might have just decided enough is enough. Does Phil Gaimon have Simon Yates phone number? Asking not speculating about sinister motives is the high road.
I wonder if Yates shares Phil's financial bitterness? I think in his video he says cycling gave him very little, often times " barely a liveable wage".

 

[Unchained]

I don't want to accuse Simon Yates of breaking any rules, there can be other reasons for this looking weird.
But everybody have to admit this is probably the weirdest retirement from cycling in many, many years. I don't think the team has told us everything that has been going on.
S. Yates comes off of the, perhaps, greatest season he has ever had, winning the Giro, winning a Tour stage. I can understand if he feels that he has achieved what he can achieve with his talent (though he could try some one day races), but the timing is really odd. Had he said after his Giro win or after the Tour, that it would be his final season, ok. But in January! After off-season training camp! After the transfer window! Seemingly out of nowhere, and with no other reason than that it is what he wants (no injuries etc). That is strange as ***. Saying he would retire after helping his team at the Tour or the Giro or something makes sense, this does not.

An explanation could be a "secret" ban, there may be health issues he doesn't want to address, or he may be having a serious disagreement with the team, and preferring to just call it quits rather than looking for alternatives.

What could you possibly accuse Simon Yates of? Guy has been racing at pro level for 13 years. Guy is absolutely great. A rider that when entered.... is a possible factor if his legs are good.
His head is always in the race. Only need to ask Isaac Del Toro what can go wrong when someone has vast experience and you have none.
Yates making another argument for no social media. Teams using media to expand markets and give fans access, Yates participation while dynamic life decisions are being made has people digging for dirt, trying to stir controversy where there is none, when you retire is not scandalous or breaking any rules.
Riders are keeping medical conditions ( possibly dangerous) close to the vest, if you have knee or back pain, if you have cognitive issues like dizziness or seeing spots it doesn't pay to make it public.
If Yates has a mental and physical accumulation of factors that make now the right time to step away.. I applaud him for doing it on his schedule instead of someone else's like Visma..
Teams don't care about you passed the last day of your contract. Do what is right for you and your family, Internet hate is just a given, you can't win.

 

[jono]

What could you possibly accuse Simon Yates of? Guy has been racing at pro level for 13 years. Guy is absolutely great. A rider that when entered.... is a possible factor if his legs are good.

Well, he does have a doping ban on his record.

 

[Unchained]

Well, he does have a doping ban on his record.

Please connect use of a bronchial dilator in @2015, 2016 with made up diabolical retirement plan, tough if not impossible to connect the dots.
Yates is a great, great bike racer and the level of internet ugly just grows and grows and grows. As podcasts and blogs grow like cancer, so do angles for every action of everyone, everything. There is nothing that will not birth a conspiracy theory, times a million. Everyone is searching for clicks, trying to title things to get attention.

Alternate less attractive headline

33 year old cyclist retiring after highly accomplished track and road racing career.