Clara Koppenburg’s cycling career started late but took off fast — from a local club in Germany to racing the world’s biggest climbs. But in 2018, chasing peak performance turned into something darker: an eating disorder and Red-S. As the kilos dropped, her results improved… until the cost became too high. She lost her period for nearly six years, broke her hip twice, and watched her bone density collapse.

In this open conversation, Clara explains how she got caught in the “lighter is faster” trap, the toll it took on her body and mind, and the long, messy road to recovery she’s still on — a process that’s made her happier and healthier, but also left her feeling “punished” in a numbers focused sport. She talks about the role teams played, why support for recovering riders matters, and how she’s learning to value life beyond the bike.

Now, as she continues her recovery and searches for a team for next season, Clara hopes her story will show other riders that choosing health is never the wrong decision.

This episode contains discussion of eating disorders, Red-S, and related health issues.