Becoming a mother at the end of his competitive career It was a recurring thought among many female athletes, especially in the past and in any sport. Over time, however, this dogma has been accepted and so There are more frequent examples of athletes who faced pregnancy at the height of their activity. Considering the complexity of its efforts, even cycling has not been spared.
How do you experience the pre and post-maternity period on a psycho-physical level?We wanted to ask this to Martha Bastianelli who in 2014 became the mother of Clarissa and then returned to racing much stronger than beforeBut first it's worth remembering other cases, in which we curiously find other world champions who have become mothers or will become mothers.
Moms in a group
The latest in chronological order is that of Chantal Blaak who will give birth in May and who has so far participated – and cycled! – in his team's training camps SD Worx. The deadline for this should expire in a few weeks. Tatiana Guderzo, who however had already announced some time ago that 2022 would be his last season. Whoever is about to start pinning the number on their back again is Lizzie Deignan. After the baby girl she had in September 2018, four months ago the English of the Trek-Segafredo she gave birth to her second child (at the top, an image taken from Instagram of the champion with little Shea), for whom her team had renewed her contract until 2024.
Another world champion (of the track) and companion of Deignan is Elinor Barker where Nico was born last March. The Welsh Uno-X athlete revealed that she had won Olympic silver in the team pursuit in Tokyo and was already pregnant. without knowing it. There's also the Lithuanian Shave Leleivyte of Aromitalia Vaiano who in January 2014, while preparing to return to the group, won a half marathon a few months after giving birth to Alberto who now often follows her to races.
Marta, let's go back a few years to your pregnancy. Was it planned?
Actually, no. With Roberto (Roberto De Patre, her husband, ed.) However, we had expressed the desire to become parentsThere was no real reason, but something I'd been feeling inside for a while. A set of contexts in which I felt goodAnd it happened spontaneously, without pressure, then we lived it calmly.
When you were thinking about becoming a mother, did you go to competitions with any qualms or fears of compromising that family plan?
No, never. I have always run calmly and without ever applying the brakesI've always thrown myself into sprints. In 2013, I was at Faren. In May, I won the first stage of the Tour Languedoc, racing my regular schedule. My year was clearly interrupted abruptly in September when I discovered I was pregnant..
During the nine months of pregnancy, were you already looking ahead to when and how you would return?
Zero (laughs, ed.). I have to tell you that cycling was the least of my problems.I followed it lightly, the bare minimum. I kept up to date thanks to the Fiamme Azzurre, since I was a member of theirs anyway. During that period, I gained the weight you normally gain when you're expecting a baby. I didn't pedal, unlike what they do nowPersonally, at the time I didn't have much desire to use the bike, not even for very short journeys. Also because unfortunately it's now becoming dangerous for everyone to ride a bike. In short, the bike could have waited..
How was the return?
I did it gradually. In September, four months after Clarissa was born, I ran in the Italian track championships, winning two bronze medals, in the keirin and the 500 metres.. Otherwise, it was really tough. I'd lost a lot of fitness. I had to start over again. But when they say that muscles have memory it's not nonsense at all.. It's definitely true, so much so that as soon as I got into the swing of things, everything became easier. In fact, I came back stronger, I won more and better.
Many stages and classics: Ghent, the European Championships, Flanders, the Italian Championships. Results in hand, you've achieved 38 of your 40 victories since pregnancy. What's the reason?
I can't tell you what might happen physically. It took me a while to get back to those levels, but it's not just my fault. There have always been two teams behind who helped me and still help me. One is the one you run into at that moment, with the athletic and management staff following you through everything, just like now. The other is family. A team of people at home who support and encourage you.. Because you need someone to look after your daughter while she's still little and you're out running around the world. It's still like this today and I can never thank enough those who have helped me so far.
Let's ask you again: Now that you're a mother, do you have any limitations when running?
Yes, of course. Now I'm thinking of my daughter and those at home. Let's be clear, I still run at my best, but there is no longer that nastiness and recklessness that I had before. However, I believe it is due to age, not necessarily to being a mother.
Is there a difference between a mom who rides a bike for work and a dad who does the same job?
What's the difference between husband and wife? It's well known that the wife does everything (he tells us laughing, ed.). Cyclist fathers have less pressure, as is normal, because the wife takes care of the house. Being a mother too, for me the work is tripleMy stress control is now a part of me, I don't calculate it on Training Peaks anymore (smiles again, ed.). Jokes aside, I'm lucky because Roberto was a rider (pro' for five seasons, ed.) and quickly understands all situationsOne day I was talking about it with Deignan, who was also in the same situation as me.
This should be your last season. Is Marta Bastianelli planning a second pregnancy?
Now I'm thinking about running this 2023 as best I can, then why not? Actually, I'd say so, it's one of the beautiful things in life.
