Veronica Ewers has announced that she will not race or train in 2026, choosing instead to prioritise a full recovery after extended struggles with hormone suppression and the physical toll that accompanied it. The EF Education Oatly rider shared the news in an honest and emotional statement, confirming that her body needs a complete reset before she can think about returning to elite sport.
The 30-year-old American explained that recent blood tests showed her hormone levels remained “nearly non-existent”, despite taking half a season away from competition in 2024 and making significant changes to her fuelling and nutrition. Her attempt to resume a full racing programme in 2025 highlighted the impossibility of trying to perform at a top level while also trying to heal.
She described the contradiction clearly: she could not perform properly until her hormones recovered, yet could not recover while repeatedly pushing her body to perform. “It was like beating my head against a wall,” she wrote, reflecting on the frustration of training and racing with a system that was not ready to cope.
The turning point came after reviewing her latest test results with her dietician. Ewers was presented with two paths: carry on as she had been or focus entirely on restoring her body. She chose the latter.
“I’ve put myself into a hole by abusing my body for too long,” she said, noting that the underlying issues predated her cycling career. Although her nutrition had improved, it was still not enough to reverse the suppression. “My body needs a full reset before it can be at its best. I’m tired of being mediocre. And most importantly, I want to go hiking, cycling, running when I’m older.”
Ewers thanked EF Education Oatly for their support and openness, and made it clear that she intends to return to the peloton eventually. “My goal is to come back and show the world what I’m capable of in a functional body. For now I will focus on recovering.”
A rapid rise followed by a career put on pause
Ewers’ story in cycling has always been unusual. Raised in Idaho, she studied Spanish and anthropology at Willamette University in Oregon and played third division football before discovering cycling in Washington, D.C. in 2019. Her rise was almost immediate. After finishing third at the 2021 US National Road Championships, EF Education Tibco SVB invited her to the Joe Martin Stage Race, where she finished second overall. She signed her first professional contract that summer.
Her transition to European racing was equally striking. She placed fifth overall at the 2021 Tour de l’Ardèche, then enjoyed a breakthrough 2022 season with wins at the Clásica Femenina Navarra and a stage of the Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs, along with podiums at Durango Durango and the Emakumeen Nafarroako Klasikoa. She also finished fifth overall at the Tour de Romandie and ninth at the Tour de France.
In 2023 she continued her upward trajectory with fourth overall at the Giro d’Italia Donne, reinforcing her position among the best climbers in the WorldTour.
Recovery comes first
The decision to pause her career is a significant moment, especially for a rider who rose so quickly through the elite ranks and became one of the strongest GC contenders in the peloton. But Ewers’ message was clear: health must come before results.
Her focus now is long-term well-being, not the immediate race calendar. And while she will be absent from the peloton in 2026, her determination to return stronger suggests this is a pause, not an ending.
Ewers’ honesty about her struggles and her willingness to take a complete step back may yet prove to be the foundation of the comeback she wants to build.
