Former Dimension Data rider is returning to cycling and is the latest to talk in our mental health series
Former South African road race champion Jay Thomson is extremely passionate. Not just about cycling – something central to his existence after 14 years in the professional peloton – but about mental health too.
He speaks about the importance of mental health and his happiness at returning to cycling while also discussing how his idea of a virtual platform that, amongst other things, could link riders to professionals in the mental health field.
TW: suicide Mental health in cycling
Thomson wins the combativity award for Stage 6 of the Tour of Guangxi, 2019. Tim de Waele via Getty Images.
‘Mental health is not spoken about enough,’ Thomson says, speaking from his home in Germany. ‘Both in general for the world, but also in cycling.
‘In the bigger cycling teams, those that have the budgets for it, they can employ mental health coaches or people that riders can talk to. But in general, it’s not something that every team has. Maybe that’s also why I’ve taken this role a little bit.’The full extent of Thomson’s new role is to be revealed imminently. He tells me that he’ll be a head coach of an U23 Continental team.‘When I finished cycling, I thought, I’m done. I don’t want to be back. I went to work in the normal world for a tech company over the last two years.‘I’m not a qualified sports scientist, however I […]
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