The pregnancy of athletes (Elinor Barker in an Instagram photo at the beginning), explored in depth with theexperience lived by Marta Bastianelli, gave us some insights. The 35-year-old sprinter from UAE Team ADQ explained its journey between motherhood and this time we wanted to turn the topic to Massimo Besnati, general practitioner serving professional cycling for more than thirty years.
For the doctor from Busto Arsizio – who now follows the national women's and men's junior and U23 track teams – The subjective aspect influences every pregnancy among competitive and non-competitive women, but nevertheless there are some good rules that should be observed so as not to compromise the gestation period and the subsequent return to one's sporting activities.
Doctor Besnati, has the concept of pregnancy changed in cycling?
A lot, fortunately. Starting from a more general point, women once associated motherhood almost with an illness when asked about their medical history. Instead it is a pleasant event which, returning to the specific case of cycling, does not compromise the careerOf course, you have to be very careful during the nine-month progression.
Lizzie Deignan After having her first daughter, she won, among many other important races, such as Liège and Roubaix, just like Bastianelli. Is there a "scientific" reason?
Here too, let's take a broader view. Female athletes improve over time, regardless of pregnancyIt's a rule that applies to everyone. A few years ago the Artsana (a company that distributes health and baby products, ed.) had conducted a study to see whether exercise during pregnancy was beneficial or harmful for women. The response was positive. In fact, the athletes tested during that period showed improvements in performance compared to before. And we go back to what I was saying before. Exercise doesn't have a negative impact on pregnancy as previously thought. Or rather, up to a certain point..
Bastianelli told us she had stopped cycling, while Deignan and Blaak cycled during the first months of pregnancy or worked out at the gym. Are there any risks?
It depends from woman to woman and from sport to sportFor example, running, jumping, or activities that could cause jolts should be avoided at the beginning of pregnancy. Certain movements are inadvisable due to their mechanical properties. Cycling isn't harmful, but over time, it can become dangerous for the developing fetus. The saddle position causes compression and consequently may increase uterine contractilityPersonally, I'd also be careful about squats done with an unloaded barbell. Again, it's all subjective, though I know that high-level athletes are coached by specific figures. I don't know if it already exists, but I think that in the future we will find more and more athletic trainers specialized in pregnancy..
How can those nine months be divided?
There are no differences from a non-competitive woman, but I would basically say in three phases. The first is that of the initial three months and it is the most delicate for the reasons I mentioned before. The second one we could define as maintenanceFrom the fourth month onwards, the fetus is safe and there would be no limitations, except for the size of the belly. The third phase is the pre-birth phaseEven in that case, one should avoid further exertion and wait out the final days calmly. On the sidelines of all this, it would be best not to let yourself go too much.Too many kilos, in addition to physical fatigue, would be difficult to lose for those who want to return to running immediately.
Omer Shapira (Israeli EF Education champion) recently said she didn't immediately take the news of her pregnancy well because she saw her body changing and didn't like herself anymore. How do you assess yourself from a psychological standpoint?
As in all pregnancies, there are mood and hormonal changes. So much so that Postpartum depression is a real pathology for which studies continueThe cyclist is no different from a normal woman. The environment around you matters a lotPsychological support is essential. Knowing already what efforts she will have to make when she returns, we can say that for the cyclist that can be a great motivation to maintain good morale.. Also because all female cyclists start with a good dose of grit and attributes when doing that sport. Then Bastianelli is right when he says that our body has memory. This also helps you get back in shape faster and feel better.
Would you therefore advise a cyclist to approach pregnancy while still fully active?
Certainly. I reiterate, however, that it's subjective, given that it's a delicate time for a woman, so you shouldn't rush things. It should be done when one feels like it. However I feel like saying that a cyclist, considering that she can have an average of 10/15 years of high-level career, she can afford one or even two pregnancies in the middle as happened to Deignan.
