Domestic commotion and adulterous behavior by soccer, cricket, or lately even
golf players… the drama’s which tabloids love to report on hardly ever
make it front page in cycling.
Considering the extent and the accessibility of the professional racing scene,
these stories go rather unnoticed and that is mostly due to the lack of
flaunted glamour in cycling!
The traditional cycling WAG engages, as she did decades ago, in a supportive
and nurturing role in the life of the athlete. In general, Cycling WAGs
endow their man with confidence, a balanced private life and serene
surroundings in which the rider can thrive physically and mentally.
Repeated remark I get from non-cycling WAGs: «I don’t know how you cope with
being separated so frequently». Well, it isn’t something you can get used to
easily. I for one never have.
In tumultuous times on the home front, for instance when children get sick, it
can be demanding to manage the household alone. I reasoned I was not to
complain, that there are countless women in a much more challenging
situation. That thought strangled the need to highlight my personal
loneliness.
Whether one lives in a luxurious flat in Monaco, on the slopes of the
mountains in Spain or in cycling mad Flanders the daily routine of a
professional cyclist is taxing and monotonous. The training and racing
responsibilities are at the centre of the rider’s family universe and all
social, fun activities are scheduled to fit in with his program.
Once Scott’s racing season had started the kids and I were virtually «on our
own». Our social life was put on the back burner for 9 months of the year.
Besides the occasional movie and dinner date, the cycling season wasn’t
exactly flooded with many exciting social events. It’s only half the fun
having to go to parties and weddings alone.
To get away from European winter Scott trained at home in Australia. It was
great to spend the Australian summer together and 3 months of lazing on the
Gold Coast beaches; that was just fabulous. Social interaction is more
vibrant during the off-season and it really puzzled me how some riders were
able to party hard, exceedingly hard after «living like a monk» (no pun
intended) for the rest of the year.
Rarely seen au fait with by team management is that a WAG has a very direct
influence on the career of a cyclist, because of obvious reasons, in a good
sense or as a detrimental factor at play – most recently, Marc Cavendish’s
decision to enhance his podium smile made him suffer on the race performance
side of things.
The majority of WAGs are what psychologists might refer to as slightly «erotic
personalities» – I see some eyebrows being raised in anticipation.
I mean Erotic(!) in the sense that they love to be in a supportive role and
feel good about being needed and loved. They enjoy conviviality, create a
warm environment for themselves and their family, rather than use it to
stimulate their own career networking. And no, of course not all WAG’s are
that accommodating. A «high maintenance» partner unknowingly can draw the
precious energy straight out of the athlete and the effects of such a
relationship show pretty quickly.
It is fair to say Cycling WAGs enjoy the success their partner reaps. Sure,
the majority of WAGs do love some attention – just like a woman does. Some
girls are definitely model material and would outshine many soccer WAG in a
Sports Illustrated body paint feature, but somehow only very few have been
enticed to do so.
End of part 2
(next blogs will feature one-on-one interviews with Cycling WAGs)