‘Empower yourself with knowledge’

Rebecca Durrell is a 32-year-old rider with Continental Team CAMS– Tifosi. She is the current UK national road series and national criterium champion, and is right now expecting her first baby

(and may have given birth by the time we go to print!).

Durrell aims to return to racing later this year. Despite a wealth of science to support women returning to sport after pregnancy, it’s too often regarded as difficult or ill-advised. Luckily, Durrell’s coach Tim Cusick understands how to support athletes to train during and post-pregnancy.

“Knowledge should be empowering and give women in sport more options,” says Cusick. “There’s lots of research showing that women can train pretty robustly throughout their pregnancy.”

Knowledge is just one part of the equation, of course.

“Open and honest communication between athlete and coach is key to training safely,” Cusick advises. “The first job I have as a coach is to be a source of information so the athlete can make an informed decision. The second job is to have a coaching strategy – not a ‘plan’ – because you have to be flexible.”

Cusick follows eight rules when working with pregnant athletes:

■ extensive warm up and cool downs

■ management of body temperature

■ excellent fuelling at all times

■ attention to hydration

■ volume more than intensity

■ allow for natural weight gain

■ be mindful of injury risk

■ limit accumulated fatigue

Durrell underscores the importance of this final rule: “I train based on feel and what’s right for my body.” She is positive about her experience and looks forward to racing later this year. Reading Roar was a turning point for the high-achieving rider. “So much is misunderstood about female physiology,” she says. “We should be learning this at school.”