Sophie Evans has been forced to pull out of next weekend’s WTCS Weihai after tests revealed she has been battling two viral infections.
The British star, formerly Sophie Coldwell, had been due to continue her return to top-level short-course racing in China but has endured a difficult few weeks in which she struggled to understand why she was feeling so unwell.
Evans returned to elite triathlon this season following the birth of daughter Phoebe last year and has spoken candidly about the challenge of combining motherhood with the demands of training and racing at the highest level.
And her latest setback has provided another reminder of that balancing act.
‘I’d convinced myself it was all in my head’
Explaining her decision to withdraw from Weihai, Evans revealed on her social media channels that she had reached the stage where she was questioning whether anything was physically wrong.
“Unfortunately I’ve not had the best few weeks and have had to pull out of Weihai,” she said.
“I’ve been feeling really rough and got to the point where I’d convinced myself it must all just be in my head and that I was actually fine.
“But today some test results showed I’ve been battling two viral infections and, just to top it off, my first period since having Phoebe has decided to make its return too.”
Evans has experienced the highs and lows of a comeback season which has seen her combine racing over different distances with life as a new mum.
Speaking exclusively to TRI247 last month, she explained how becoming a mother had changed her perspective on the sport and admitted there had inevitably been compromises as she attempted to fit elite-level training around family life.
Her latest update offered another candid insight into those challenges.
“It’s definitely not all sunshine and rainbows,” she added.
“The reality of trying to juggle training, racing, being a mum, travelling and just normal life means sometimes, just like anyone else, it all gets a bit too much.
“I think that’s where I’ve been these last few weeks.”
‘A massive rut’
There was at least relief for Evans in finally discovering why she had been struggling.
“I’ve felt like I’ve been in a massive rut, so finally having some answers has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders,” she explained.
“Hopefully with some easy time to properly recover, I can turn things around and get myself back in a good place for Nice World Champs.”
That is the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in September and represents another major target in what has deliberately been a varied comeback season for Evans.
The former WTCS winner has mixed short-course racing with middle-distance competition since returning to the sport after becoming a mum, including finishing second at IRONMAN 70.3 Valencia earlier this season.
Her withdrawal from Weihai puts her latest short-course outing on hold, but the immediate priority is now clear: recover fully from the viral infections and try to arrive in Nice healthy.
Support from fellow triathlon mums
Evans’ update has prompted plenty of supportive messages from within the triathlon community, including from fellow professional athletes who know first-hand about combining motherhood with elite sport.
American star Skye Moench was among those to respond, writing: “Take the rest and time you need. 💜 Mom life + training is next level demanding!!”
It’s a sentiment which echoes Evans’ own description of the realities of her comeback – and the balancing act involved in training, racing, travelling and being a mum.
For now, that means taking a short break. The priority is to recover fully before turning her attention towards September’s IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice.
