Meet Margaux from women’s cycling team, Lifeplus-Wahoo
Physical activity, work-life balance, happiness and community all play a key part in helping others unlock their wellness within and lead happier and healthier lives. There are many contributing factors to your overall wellness, as well as different approaches, and various levels. And when two powerful forces in the world of wellness align, the support extends even further beyond.
We recently had the opportunity to interview French professional cyclist, Margaux Vigié, from our new sponsorship, women’s international cycling team, Lifeplus-Wahoo (formerly known as Drops). Margaux shared how she got into the sport, what her life as a cyclist looks like, and her advice for anyone starting out.
So, Margaux – what inspired you to get into cycling?
It was mostly friends and the social aspect. While living and studying in Barcelona there were a big bunch of riders I became involved with. I just naturally fell into it and loved the sport. It’s tactical, it’s a social, team sport and it’s physical. You have to dig both mentally and physically.
What’s your role within the team?
I have a captain role this year to mentor the young riders coming from amateur level. I’m 27, and have been cycling two and a half years, so I got into cycling very late, compared to the other girls. Some had been having lessons since the age of four. I was an inline speed skater previously, and when I went to Barcelona, I didn’t have anywhere to train or anyone to train with. My side-sport, cycling, just became the main sport.
What does your training schedule look like, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I like the variety. On a seven-day-week, you’re going to have a sprint, you’re going to have a long ride, you’re going to have a regular ride, you’re going to use the gym, you’re going to stretch… training consists of so many physical things. And you need to do it all. It’s complementing your main training that makes it all so enjoyable.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve ever had to overcome with the sport?
I started cycling late so I had to learn everything very fast. That’s why, when I joined my previous team, I thought, ‘I’m going to be a sponge. Tell me everything I’m doing wrong so I can learn faster.’
Who’s your hero?
I’d say the French feminist, Simone de Beauvoir. I read her biography last year. Simone never compared herself to other women, and she was often the first to do things. I’m trying to follow that principle by living life to the full and trying to do things my way.
Out of all your achievements, what are you most proud of?
In cycling, it’s been helping the team get to the inaugural Paris-Roubaix. In life, it’s been getting my degrees and then switching from inline skating to cycling and making a career from it.
What’s been your biggest learning lesson in your career so far?
The best lesson is to learn patience. You work so hard every day, and, sometimes, it takes months or even years to appreciate everything you have achieved as everything comes together little-by-little. You just need to keep going because every step gets you closer to your destination.
Outside of your career, how do you spend your spare time?
I love learning new languages. Now, I’m learning Dutch. Last year I learned Italian. Before that, Spanish, and before that English.
Moving on to nutrition and diet, how does it change leading up to a big event?
You have to control everything you put in your body to arrive for your big race as ready as possible. I follow as clean a diet as possible and make healthy choices. My guilty pleasure is pastries, croissants, chocolate, and cheese, so that can be difficult!
If you could change or improve one thing about professional cycling, what would it be?
I wish it was more women-focused, because the science behind cycling was previously only explored on male groups. Now we are getting a lot more women-focused research and development and it’s so interesting. Like, how your menstrual cycle can impact your performance, for example.
If you were to give advice to someone, whether it’s your younger self or someone that’s just starting out a new sport, what would it be?
My advice would be: invest in yourself fully and don’t waste time looking backwards. The past is already done. You can’t change anything there, but every day you can work to improve your future, even if it’s only by 1% at a time. Over time, those 1% improvements will grow and become even greater.
Inspiring us with their teamwork, tenacity and approach to women’s empowerment, we couldn’t be prouder to sponsor Lifeplus-Wahoo as they strive for greatness in the cycling world. Follow our social media channels to keep up-to-date with their activity and join us in cheering them on!
