6 Pro Cyclists Open Up About Their Struggles With Depression

To combat the stigma around mental health issues, these athletes shared raw, honest stories about their challenges. [ view in [browser](. add bicycling@email.bicycling.com to your address book ] [Bicycling.com]( FOLLOW US [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [You Tube]( [6 Pro Cyclists Open Up About Their Struggles With Depression]( When former pro cyclist Phil Gaimon tweeted about his mental health struggles earlier this month after the news of 23-year-old Olympian Kelly Catlin's suicide began to circulate, he was shocked at the response. People reached out and said he'd inspired them to get help. "I contributed to the conversation," he says. "The responses told me that it was sorely needed." That pro athletes aren't immune to depression and anxiety may surprise some, but the road to success is often riddled with emotional turmoil. In addition to the unrelenting pressure to perform, athletes talk about a culture of invincibility, in which admitting weakness feels risky and maintaining a veneer of composure is paramount. "We like to think we have everything in control because we deal with a lot of pain and suffering," says two-time Olympian Taylor Phinney of EF Education First Pro Cycling Team. "But that doesn't mean that we're able to interpret emotions better. Nobody tells you that, you know?" [Read on.]( [bicycling.com]( [This 4-Move Medicine Ball Circuit Will Completely Smoke Your Core]( Blast your abs with this crunch-free workout that will help you build power and speed. [Read On]( [bicycling.com]( [The Open New U.P. Is the Road Bike You Didn’t Know You Needed]( This drop bar beauty is the one bike you'll want to ride everywhere you ride [Read On]( [bicycling.com]( [Man Who Rode Every Single Day Has Died at 111]( Henry Tseng believed regular exercise and staying positive was key to longevity. [Read On]( [bicycling.com]( [Everyone Is Riding Gravel. Here’s How You Can Get in on All the Fun]( Curious about heading off road? Here’s everything you need to know to get started. [Read On]( [bicycling.com]( [How Rice and Cookies Help Alex Howes Fuel His Cycling Comeback]( The pro rider is back on the bike after taking six months off due to illness. Here are his training staples. [Read On]( [bicycling.com]( ©2019 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Email Privacy, 300 W 57th St., Fl. 19 (sta 1-1), New York, NY 10019 [Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Notice](