Group of Mom Cyclists Is Paving the Path for Women to Return to Sport After Embracing Motherhood

Biologically speaking, it’s ironic that their peak athletic performance also coincides with their peak child-bearing years. This has always left female athletes in a dilemma about prioritizing having a career or a family. While being able to progress from this state of affairs would solve things, evolution does not progress nearly as rapidly. However, Uno-X, which has three riders in various stages of their pregnancy and postpartum journey on its roster, is changing things for the better.

This unique support circle is also driven to collect data that could be instrumental for the athlete mothers of the future. That’s right, Elinor Barker, Joss Lowden, and Julie Norman Leth are figuring out how to make it easier for women to return to sports after their pregnancies.

Uni-X for Expecting Mothers

The three women are at varying stages of pregnancy and postpartum. Barker has a one-year-old child, while Lowden’s son is three months old. Leth’s baby is yet to be born. However, the three women decided that the births of their children should not have to coincide with their retirements. “I have the idea that going into motherhood, at the same time as going into retirement – trying to find out who I am not being a cyclist, at the same time as figuring out who I am as a mother – would be an unhealthy combination for me,” Barker says.

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Meanwhile, Lowden claims that she’s “literally in (her) prime,” with no intention of retiring anytime soon. However, the increasing age of pregnancy – from 28 in 2013 to 31 in 2023 – is indicative that women are using their agency to follow their careers. Still, even the UCI has acknowledged that female athletes are reaching their career peak during the period of optimal fertility.

However, returning to sports after pregnancy requires a fitness regimen during the pregnancy. However, there is a lot of misinformation and a lack of data. Additionally, many are hesitant to give such advice which could potentially harm a pregnant woman. Case in point, the Mothers of Uni-X called the UCI’s advice extremely conservative when the organization called for no more than one hour of exercise per day for pregnant women.

How It’s Changing Careers

Norman Leth considers herself to be in a very lucky position to be able to seek out advice from Uni-X. “I have a lot of good people around me. And we are also seeking new knowledge. The team is interested in getting smarter, we are interested in educating ourselves,” she said. She and Lowden have been collecting data to progress the understanding of the physiology of expectant mums.

Uno-X’s general manager, Jens Haugland told us that “there is no change in contract or payment terms” for its riders with regard to pregnancy and maternity leave. She added, “We have no requirements for when the rider must return; it is in the individual nature of pregnancy that we must adapt to each situation.” These pillars of support help further women’s causes in the long run and aim to help more women return to cycling and any sport after delivering a child.

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