Concerns over personal safety led a young German cycling prodigy to retire at the age of 21, after a series of fatal incidents involving riders in the peloton.
Louis Kitzki, the 21-year-old former winner of the Zwift Academy, has announced his retirement from professional cycling after a two-year career. The decision was made primarily due to concerns about race safety, which significantly impacted his mental health and performance.
Kitzki's mental struggles intensified following two tragic accidents during races. The chaotic nature of races exacerbated his fears, leading to a loss of confidence and increased anxiety. He described how without mental well-being, physical performance suffers significantly.
The fatal accident at the Giro Ciclistico Valle D'Aosta and the tragedy at the 2024 Tour of Austria weighed heavily on Kitzki's mind, affecting his performance in races. The death of Samuele Privitera at the Giro Ciclistico Valle D'Aosta in July 2022 and André Drege at the 2024 Tour of Austria served as a turning point in Kitzki's career.
Kitzki's retirement was not a decision he took lightly. He felt increasingly concerned about his safety and uncomfortable in races after the 2023 Tour of Austria. The chaos of the peloton and safety fears served as a mental block in competition for Kitzki. He struggled to perform in races, stating that he could not reproduce in races what he had achieved in training.
Despite the support from his team, Alpecin-Deceuninck, Kitzki felt that races were an "annoying side effect" and had lost the fun of racing. Towards the end of his career, he felt a lack of enjoyment in racing.
Kitzki's career as a professional cyclist was marked by a lack of enjoyment in racing. He won a spot on Alpecin-Deceuninck through the Zwift Academy competition in 2023 but felt no pressure from the team during his time with them.
In an Instagram post, Kitzki shared his thoughts on these incidents, expressing his gratitude towards Alpecin-Deceuninck for their support during his short career. He specifically cited the team's awareness of their responsibility towards young athletes. Kitzki thanked the team for their understanding and support, particularly during his mental breakdown.
Kitzki hopes to find time to cycle again occasionally in the future. He expressed his hope that the sport of cycling will address safety concerns to protect both physical and mental well-being in the sport. Kitzki's case highlights the long-lasting psychological effects that race safety concerns can have on athletes, including anxiety, stress, and trauma, which in turn diminish athletic performance and motivation.
In professional cycling, race safety concerns related to crashes and fatalities can produce profound mental health challenges, including fear and anxiety. These psychological impacts can reduce an athlete’s competitive performance and pleasure in racing. Concerns about safety may cause athletes to retire early, as in Kitzki’s case at the age of 21.
Professional teams like Alpecin-Deceuninck are aware of these pressures and aim to support young riders, but the inherent risks remain significant. Kitzki's retirement underscores the importance of addressing safety to protect both physical and mental well-being in the sport.
Science and health-and-wellness should collaborate to address mental-health concerns in sports, especially among young athletes like Kitzki, as race safety fears can impact mental health, resulting in early retirements. Moreover, sports organizations should prioritize sports safety in sports like cycling to ensure both physical and mental well-being for athletes.
