Pregnancy and elite athletic performance: how pro cyclist Sarah Sturm and coach Dennis van Winden redefine training for athletes.
Elite cyclist racer Sarah Sturm and her coach Dennis van Winden break new ground with a candid look at what it takes to maintain consistency, motivation, and health throughout pregnancy as a professional athlete. From adapting the athlete’s mindset to rethinking metrics and embracing Rate of Perceived Exertion, this episode delivers essential insights for female athletes (and coaches) facing the unknowns of pregnancy and postpartum return to racing.
Discover top pregnancy-safe training tips, real athlete-coach strategies, and how to navigate racing, metrics, mental health, and sponsorships, without missing a beat.
Key takeaways:
- Mindset Shift: Why putting health first and fun second trumps performance during pregnancy—and how to be guilt-free about it.
- Custom Coaching: How Dennis Van Winden uses open communication, flexible programming, and TrainingPeaks to support Sarah Sturm day by day, making data optional and RPE king.
- Redefining Goals: Navigating sponsorships, Grand Prix entry, and the game-changing Lifetime Grand Prix pregnancy deferral policy—insider details from Sarah Sturm herself.
- Support System: Why building your community—coach, family, friends, partners—is fundamental for pregnancy success and returning to elite competition.
- The Mental Game: Honoring identity shifts, learning to go “day by day,” and why having a solid coach-athlete connection makes all the difference.
If you’re a coach or athlete seeking smarter ways to sync your training with real life, discover how TrainingPeaks makes communication and flexible planning possible.
Tune in to get inspired, demystify training through pregnancy, and see the future for female athletes—on and off the bike.
- 00:00 – Mindset Shift: From Performance to Health in Pregnancy
- 04:07 – When Career Meets Family: Planning for Pregnancy
- 10:17 – Stress, Racing Seasons, and Conceiving as an Athlete
- 14:56 – Privacy, Career Impact, and the Athlete Mindset
- 17:33 – Letting Go of FTP: Embracing RPE and Subjective Training
- 21:02 – Nutrition & Fueling: Adapting Intake for Pregnancy Needs
- 22:36 – Flexible Programming: Communication and Weekly Check-ins
- 29:10 – Grand Prix Notification: Navigating Pregnancy in Pro Competition
- 31:15 – Pioneering Deferrals: Advocating for Maternity Policies
- 33:14 – Sponsor Support: Contracts, Clauses, and Progressive Change
- 35:35 – Identity Shifts: Psychological and Emotional Dynamics
- 38:12 – Planning the Comeback: Hopes and Unknowns for 2027
- 43:02 – The Coach-Athlete Relationship: Trust, Adaptability, and Support
- 49:03 – Data Gaps and Experimentation: Building Knowledge for Future Athletes
- 54:38 – Comparing Experiences: Each Pregnancy is Unique
- 59:46 – Postpartum Roadmap: Day-by-Day Planning for the Comeback
- 1:02:02 – Advice for Athletes: Building a Support System Before and During Pregnancy
- 1:02:41 – Closing Thoughts: Changing the Conversation about Pregnancy, Athletics, and Support
Standout Quotes
Sarah on Navigating Training and Pregnancy with the Support of Her Coach: “That way of training and the way that Dennis does programming is really helpful, especially through pregnancy, because there’s, you know, there’s a lot of disappointment as an athlete. Like, you know, you’re grasping at this life that you once had and excited for the new life. But then you’re also just, like, not feeling great, too.”
“I don’t really need to be putting my body under this stress. And I, you know, those moments I’m like, I just can think of what Dennis would say and, and I know he would support that decision.”
LISTENING TO YOUR BODY AS AN ATHLETE
Dennis on Prioritizing Health Over Performance: “It’s always health first and then fun second. Performance comes third because otherwise the consistency sustainability is all off. And there is also a long life after, after cycling.”
“There’s also a possibility for a loss of identity. Right. The body is changing, you know, fear of losing performance. Right now you have the backup. Like you have a backup from race organizers and your sponsors.”
RACING AND IDENTITY
