American climber Veronica Ewers (EF Education-Oatly) and her team have mutually agreed to part ways before the 2026 season, after fresh bloodwork confirmed ongoing hormonal disruption linked to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S).
The split represents an early departure from Ewers' contract, with the team stating, "The decision was made to enable her to take time away from the sport to fully focus on her recovery while also removing any contractual pressures associated with being a professional athlete."
The decision was announced on 2 December 2025 via the team’s website, closing a difficult chapter that began when Ewers took a prolonged break from racing during the 2024 season to focus on recovery under medical supervision. Despite that break, recent tests showed that key hormonal markers had not normalised, leaving her unable to safely return to a full WorldTour programme.
"The team has given me time to recover but unfortunately it hasn’t been enough time for my body to heal fully," Veronica said.
“If I ever want to perform at the top level again, I need to take the time to fully recover and then compete in a fully functional body."
EF Education-Oatly confirmed that it will continue to support the 31-year-old’s medical care beyond the end of her contract, underlining that her long-term wellbeing comes before results. General manager Esra Tromp stressed in the announcement that the organisation is prioritising health rather than pushing for a rushed comeback.
Ewers joined the squad, then EF Education-Tibco-SVB, in 2023 after a rapid rise that included winning the Navarra Women's Elite Classic and a top-10 in the general classification at Tour de France Femmes. Her openness about RED-S, and about needing her "body to heal fully" before any return to top competition, has resonated across the women’s peloton.
RED-S describes the wide-ranging consequences of chronically low energy availability, affecting hormones, bone health and performance. It is increasingly recognised in endurance sports, and Ewers’ case will likely add momentum to calls for stronger safeguards and education, alongside initiatives such as Project RED-S.
For now, the American’s future on the bike remains undecided, but the message from both rider and team is unequivocal: health comes first, results second.
Cover image credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
