Cycling is one of the most difficult and demanding sports that exists. We know that our favorite sport requires commitment, sacrifices, even stealing time for daily activities that we would like to dedicate ourselves to. For all these reasons, as the months go by, it is normal for fatigue to occur.
However, we must also deal with another type of exhaustion, a sense of fainting that is not in our legs but in our head. It is the cyclist’s burnout syndrome.
This exhaustion was a syndrome that seemed reserved for professionals until a few years ago. But more and more amateurs suffer from it.
What is it about? What are its causes? How can I avoid it? These are questions we will answer below.
What is burnout syndrome?
The cyclist’s burnout syndrome – or burned cyclist syndrome – is a constant emotional state manifested in the form of mental exhaustion. First of all, we must distinguish it from those punctual occasions when you feel it is not the day to pedal.
Burnout is a prolonged feeling of disinterest that begins to be perceived occasionally and ends up becoming permanent. It is always accompanied by dissatisfaction, both towards the proposed objectives and towards the sensations one has on the bicycle.
Apathy, reluctance or lack of interest in training or routine outings must warn us.
What are its causes?
According to a study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, conducted by Spanish researchers, there is a direct relationship between the burnout syndrome and the stress perceived by the athlete, a stress defined by the psychological and physical load it receives.
Stress is, therefore, the key, since it can function as a stimulating agent before specific demand situations, and even be positive in solving them, but when it becomes chronic it generates that frightening feeling of ……. burnout .. ..
The load that the cyclist perceives, both mentally and physically, can derive from a frustration for not achieving the objectives set, both during the competition and during training.