Women's professional cycling is on the rise with more live television coverage of races than ever before and bigger prize pots.
Dutch rider Aafke Soet has revealed a darker side to the sport after retiring, while racing for one of the world's biggest teams, after a five-year battle with anorexia which she claimed 'ruined her career'. The 25-year-old had a promising career ahead of her and was European time trial champion in the junior and under-23 age categories, but had a hidden battle.
Announcing her retirement on Instagram Soet wrote: "I have been too long ashamed of something that I had to deal with. Something that probably ruined my chances of having a successful career.
"I have suffered from anorexia. I have had an eating disorder for approximately five years, which went up and down, but the destructive thoughts were always there."
After retiring from cycling Soet wants to help her former colleagues and is becoming an ambassador of Dutch organisation Weetwatjedoet, which specialises in 'preventing eating problems' and helping 'healthy performance' in top level sport offering training for athletes, coaches and parents.
"I am looking forward to putting my energy, creativity and recovered positivity into joining their mission," Soet added.
"I hope, nobody has to experience, but sadly is very common in cycling and the society we live in today.
"When I was finally able to ease my mind, I could see things more clearly again... I was saddened by the fact that many colleagues suffered too. Suffer from having unhealthy and unhappy thoughts, desiring unhealthy body and performance ideals and having to deal with body dysmorphia."
Soet was part of one of women's cycling top supported teams, Jumbo-Visma, last year and wants people to be more of the hidden problems athletes face.
She added: "Look around and be aware! Dare to speak up, dare to ask questions and dare to ask for help! Above all, you never ever know what someone is silently going through.
"Most of the time, you don’t see when somebody is struggling mentally. The biggest gift you can give is your kindness, time and love."
