New year, same me! I put together this post to give you an idea of my journey in cycling (so far), and also to provide a little update on my life and how 2025 went for me! I’ve also added in some little non-cycling things about me ☺️
My word for 2026 is ✨ SELF-BELIEF ✨ I am going into this year and letting go of my limiting beliefs! You can see the direction that I am hoping to go with my career in these slides. In 2026, I won’t stand in my own way anymore! 🙅🏻♀️ I will finish my Masters this summer, which has been a big goal of mine for a while, but it never felt like the right time to do it. I’m glad I bit the bullet in 2025 🥳
On a personal note, 2026 is also the year I get married 👰🏻♀️ That’s EXCITING! I want to enjoy the prep for it (even if I still don’t have my dress) ☺️
In 2026, I also want to go back to using social media in a way that feels natural and genuine to me. I stumbled into content creation as a job, and this year I want to make sure that I stay true to myself while doing this work!
Thank you all for following along. I am really grateful for the community I have on here. Sometimes, I can forget how special it is to have my own little corner of this internet which is filled with positivity and all of us supporting each other. Thanks for being here 🩷
Little story time 📕 I feel so at peace with what Arnau did these days that it’s hard to remember being angry about it. It was a funny feeling to reflect on it. The first thing I saw when I picked up my phone this morning was the memory from this day 4 years ago, and my stomach dropped. Seeing myself on that day, so excited for what my cycling career could bring and the adventure that I had ahead of me, makes me want to go back in time and just hug myself. I had no idea what was around the corner. It definitely still brings up painful feelings and memories for me, but I also look back now with such pride - because of the jersey and everything that came after that 💕
3 years ago today.
A 19 year old with a month-old licence was driving on the wrong side of the road at 60km/h, and hit me head-on while I was riding at 30km/h. The impact should have killed me. The survival rate of a crash at that speed is almost 0%. And yet, I’m still here.
My life will always feel split into a before and after of this moment. It changed the way I view everything. Life takes on a beautiful and different meaning when you approach every situation through the lens of: ‘*I could be dead* but I get to be here, see this, smell this, eat this, experience this’.
“If you didn’t live it, you won’t understand it” - a quote from Egan Bernal, who had his crash 2 days before mine. I think about that quote often, and three years later, his words still resonate with me. The ones who are part of the Near Death Experience Club will know what I’m talking about.
Grateful for every day and so, so blessed to still be here.
🗣️ “Arguments become moot if you’re not going to give equal coverage!”
🗣️ ”I’m not going to accept that! Let’s change it.”
Former professional cyclist Imogen Cotter on the need for more coverage of women’s cycling 🚴♀️
Have a topic or thought in mind? Send us a DM on @offtheball on all our social platforms or send us a WhatsApp at 087 9 180 180!
I was back in Ireland yesterday to launch @cyclingireland Cycle Fest, a brilliant day out in Dublin Docklands which will take place this Sunday, May 17th 🤩☘️
There’s be something for everyone! From watching the National Crit Champs, to enjoying a family cycle on closed roads, and even getting your little ones involved in the balance bike race 👀
It’s completely free but you do need to register - just so you can be fully safe when you are trying out the amazing test bikes from BMX brands to Specialized to Decathlon! The link is in my bio!
It was a beautiful day at the Docklands today and I can only imagine what a stunning setting it’s going to be for the National Crit Champs 😱 Expect a stacked start list and high octane racing! Crits always deliver 🤩 #CycleFest #BikeWeek #ad
Have you been keeping up with the Vuelta Femenina? No worries if not - here’s everything you need to know heading into the next two crazy and decisive days!!! Eek 😮💨 I cannot WAIT to watch Saturday’s finish 🥳
@tour_of_turkiye ✅ THANK YOU for having me this past week to co-commentate alongside @declan.quigley ☺️ A week of pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, gaining confidence, noting the areas where I need to improve, and taking in amazing racing with some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen as the backdrop 🩷 It feels like I’ve reached a goal I set for myself long ago... but it also feels like I’m only just getting started with what I want to do 🚴🏻♀️
I truly can’t believe that 8 years ago, I hopped on Zwift for the first time 🤯 The rest is history!!! Anyone who follows me knows how much I use it, and now, we’ve made it official 🤝🏼 This online training platform has played such a huge role in my cycling journey. From using it to stay sane while on lockdown, to racing on it, to using it to connect with you all during my crash recovery, and now using it to train towards my first marathon! There are other chapters in between all that, but I think it just goes to show how many different ways you can use the platform, and how you can make it work for you 🧡 So, soooooo happy to be on board with Zwift!!! This one means a lot and feels so genuine to me 🥹🕺🏻
Catch me on Eurosport this week 💅 I am commentating at the @tour_of_turkiye this week! And even better - it’s on site, so I’m also getting to enjoy beautiful Turkey and everything it has to offer! The people, their kindness and generosity, the FOOD, the views 🤩🤩🤩 This week’s role is a step up for me, I love cycling and I know a lot about the sport but the imposter fear has followed me... Or does it follow everyone and do we ever fully shake it? 🤔 I found myself worrying a bit on today’s opening stage that I might say the wrong thing, that people might think I was a fraud or that I know nothing about the sport 🤣 I am learning to back myself and understand my worth, and to realise that hey, I might actually be good at this. And even if I wasn’t, the work I put in to prepare will continue to serve me as I work towards where I want to be. The racing was fun, and as someone who usually writes a script before recording, I don’t think I did too bad at thinking on my feet! The third slide is a personal one. Back in 2022, I made my vision board and look what is smack bang in the middle... EUROSPORT 🤯 Does this count as ticking that goal off? I still want more 😂 Thanks for following along 🩷
This is a question that has been popping up in my inbox every so often - what bike insurance do I have? I’ve been partnered up with Bikmo for the last 2 years! My favourite thing about their insurance is that it’s international. So when I brought my bike to Vancouver last year, I didn’t need to worry, and whether I’m in Ireland or Spain, I’m covered 😮💨 I know better than most how quickly things can go wrong, when you’re least expecting it. So this is one of those extras that just gives me more peace of mind when I’m out riding 🧘🏻♀️
First time in Roubaix Vélodrome, first time commentating on a race, what a day!!! In a few hours, the riders will be sprinting down this straight for the win! So cool to see it all first hand 🙌🏼
Paris Roubaix takes place tomorrow, one of the most exciting races of the year. I bet you can’t wait to watch, right?
Because the entirety of the men’s elite race is being broadcast, all 5.5 hours. Same for the u23 and junior men - I know because I’m commentating on it!
And for the women - we get to see 90 minutes of their race.
We miss almost half of the cobbled sections which they will battle tomorrow. We miss over 2 hours of racing because they will be riding at the same time as the men.
So what comes first - the chicken or the egg? Do we give them the chance to be seen promoting sponsors, or do we not give them the opportunity to gain sponsor and fan interest in the first place, but then complain that women’s cycling doesn’t generate enough interest or revenue?
And I’m SAD about it - sad for the women who work so hard and deserve to be recognised. Sad for the supporters who want to watch what happens to set the end of the race up.
And SAD that I’m not surprised by this. Almost like I expect women’s cycling to be treated like this.
I know that the UCI and race organisers must think about these things, and clearly there is method to this decision. But I don’t understand - why couldn’t they just stream it on an app, and if that isn’t possible, on a YouTube stream?
I’d love if this was a comment section where we could get some answers.
