The Tour revelation Abrahamsen focused too much on weight in his youth: "My body is made to be muscular"

The breakthrough of the start of the 2024 Tour de France was unmistakably Jonas Abrahamsen. He showed an aggressive, attacking style in nearly every stage and even wore the polka-dot jersey for ten days. Although Richard Carapaz eventually claimed the prize for the most combative rider in that Tour, many believed the Norwegian Abrahamsen truly deserved it. Cycling fans who have followed the Uno-X Mobility rider for a while noticed that during this Tour, his physique was significantly different compared to his younger years. In a personal piece for Rouleur, Abrahamsen reflected on his youth, when he was obsessed with his weight.

"From a young age, I was always very thin," begins the 29-year-old Norwegian. "Too thin, which meant I never reached my full potential. All my idols were very light, so I thought I needed to weigh around 58 kilos. That was the weight I aimed for." As a result of this goal, he didn’t eat enough, and the problems began to pile up. "I couldn’t build my power or strength. My body wasn’t functioning properly, and I also went through a late puberty."

When Abrahamsen was 21, he joined the Uno-X development team. His progress had stalled, and by the time he was 23, he reached a realization with James Moran, the team's nutritionist: "My body is made to have muscles," the Norwegian says. "I wanted to gain twenty kilograms. It was tough, but my body quickly thanked me for it. I think 80 kilograms is my natural weight."

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Abrahamsen also wore the green jersey for three days at this year's Tour

Gaining weight brought Abrahamsen nothing but benefits

Once he reached his new weight, Abrahamsen felt much better. "I had grown seven centimeters, I started dating women, and my testosterone levels increased," the Norwegian reflects on that time. "I felt much stronger and, most importantly, much less fatigued. I no longer had the stress of worrying whether I was eating too much or not. I also had way more energy to spend on people."

Abrahamsen is now adamant about the importance of listening to your body. "It’s very important to know your body and your capabilities. Some people are built to be very thin, but others, like me, are not." He has specific advice for young riders: "Eat more and work on your power. Worry about losing weight only once you're a professional and have experts to help you with it. At that age, you should only be focused on cycling," says the 29-year-old from experience.

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