The 23-year-old Lidl-Trek rider underwent surgery in late October to treat a narrowed iliac artery, an issue that had been affecting her performance for over a year and a half. In an open conversation, Shirin reflects on the tough period, the long road to recovery, and her hunger for a strong comeback.
You’ve been through a tough period due to an iliac artery constriction. When did you first notice something was wrong?
“That moment came during an altitude training camp before last year’s Tour. I felt an enormous burning sensation in my left leg, which didn’t make sense based on my heart rate and power output. My right leg felt fine. At first, I thought it was due to my position, saddle, or shoes. During the Tour itself, I had to receive at least half an hour of osteopathy treatment every day. But on the last stage to Alpe d’Huez, it really didn’t work anymore. My left-right power balance was 70/30. That’s when I knew something was seriously wrong.”
Had you noticed any signs before that something wasn’t right?
“Yes, but they were less pronounced. On bad days, I would struggle without any clear explanation. I’ve been working with Mattias Reck, the team trainer, for five years. Normally, I could peak perfectly for races, but suddenly my form became unpredictable. Sometimes, I performed poorly without any clear reason. In hindsight, after analyzing the data, we saw that the left-right imbalance was getting worse. This issue had actually been present for at least a year and a half.”
Were you relieved when the diagnosis was made?
“Yes, in a way. On the one hand, it was tough to realize that I had to undergo surgery and a long rehabilitation. But on the other hand, it was a relief to know it wasn’t a mental issue. I could finally say, ‘See, I’m not crazy.’ And most importantly, it was treatable.”
Shirin at the start of La Fleche Walonne Feminine 2024.
How was the support within the team?
“Very strong. The performance team also saw that something wasn’t right. They protected me from myself. After the Tour of Flanders, almost every race was a disappointment. Ina Teutenberg, our sports director, stopped the team car on a climb during the Tour de Romandie and told me I needed to get checked out immediately. She told me to forget about the European and World Championships and focus on recovering first. Team manager Luca Guercilena also told me it didn’t matter when I returned as long as I came back stronger. That gave me a lot of confidence. I also worked with a sports psychologist to accept that this was just an injury and not my fault. My body let me down despite me doing everything right in terms of training and nutrition. Now, I’m working on regaining trust in my body, but my motivation is huge. I can’t wait to be back in the peloton.”
How did the rehabilitation process go?
“I had surgery at the end of October. The first four weeks, I couldn’t do anything at all. That was the toughest period—spending all of November in bed or on the couch. From week five, I was allowed to start swimming and riding on the home trainer, but that felt strange. I could barely push 50 watts. In December, I went to a training camp with the team. From week seven, I was allowed to ride a mountain bike for an hour a day. It was nice to be part of the team again, but I could only cycle for an hour each day. From January, I was able to train properly again, but my fitness was completely gone. My left leg is still weaker than my right, so I’m focusing on strength training with my physiotherapist and in the gym. The pain from before the surgery is gone, but I can feel that I still lack strength. The only way to make progress is to train smart and not rush things.”
What is your main goal for the rest of the season?
“I don’t know yet if I’ll ride the Tour or the Giro. My schedule isn’t confirmed yet, except for the Spanish block. The team wants to see how my comeback progresses first. Last year, I rode the Tour, but I couldn’t compete properly due to my injury. This year, I want to feel like I’m the best version of myself again. The team is keeping the pressure off; they don’t want to label me as a leader too soon.”
What have you learned from this injury period?
“That rest is important too. In the first few days after surgery, I realized I had never truly taken a full day off. My body actually needed that rest. I also learned to listen to my own body better. I’m going to rely less on others’ opinions and trust myself more because I know my body best.”
When do you hope to return to competition?
“The plan is to come back in mid-May during the Spanish block with the Navarra Classic, Itzulia, and the Vuelta a Burgos. Secretly, I hope to race some classics in late April, but I assume it will be mid-May. If it’s earlier, that’s a bonus. But I don’t want to return until I feel I’m at my best again. I don’t want to start with a disappointment.”
What have you missed the most in the past few months?
“That satisfying feeling at the end of the day. I love cycling and feel incredibly lucky to be paid to do what I love most. But for two months, I couldn’t do that. I missed the feeling of working out, clearing my mind, and being physically tired after a long ride. Riding for five hours in the sun and just enjoying it… I’m so happy I can do that again. This period has made me realize how much I love cycling and how much I miss it when I can’t do it.”
