“ She collapsed. ”
“ What’s wrong with her? ”
“ Careful.” “Breathe slowly. ”
“ Can you answer me? ”
“ Do you know your name? Your address? ”
I tried to open my eyes. Above me, a blur of faces. Someone asked who the President of the United States was. At the time, it was Ronald Reagan. I was convinced it was Richard Nixon. That certainty earned me an emergency trip to a neurology ward in Washington.
“You have epilepsy,” the doctor said.
“Your license is revoked. No sports. No risks.”
Naturally, I did the exact opposite.
Most fear is born from the unknown. But sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do—for yourself and for others—is to tell the whole story.
Some moments feel impossible to accept when they happen. But with time, you realize they are not the end; they are a beginning.
Fear, Freedom, and the First Ride
The Bike That Saved Me
My job was 30 kilometers from home. Without a car, I bought an old steel-frame bicycle—heavy, weathered, and far from perfect. To me, it was a lifeline.
I started riding 60 kilometers a day, rain or snow. On that bike, the constraints of my diagnosis vanished. In a strange way, epilepsy was a gift: it pushed me out of my comfort zone and into my life. Cycling didn’t just replace driving; it replaced fear with momentum.
2003
Silver at the French National Track Championships (Individual Pursuit).
2000
Olympic Silver (Individual Pursuit). French National Champion (Individual Pursuit) and winner of the Route Féminine Du Vignoble Nantais.
1999
World Champion (Individual Pursuit) and World Cup Winner in Cali.
1996
Olympic Silver (Individual Pursuit) 5th (Road Race). French National Champion in both Time Trial and Pursuit.
When One Door Closed, a World Opened
I wanted to race. I entered the selection for the U.S. National Team, but when the list was posted, my name was missing. I asked the coach why.
She looked at me and said, “We can’t select you. You have epilepsy. You’re a liability.”
So, I went to France. I joined a cycling club in Brittany. Word traveled fast. When the French National Team’s technical director asked if I had dual citizenship, I said yes.
“Do you want to ride for France?”
I packed my life into boxes and moved. I went on to earn 6 World Championship titles, 2 Olympic silver medals, and held the World Record in the individual pursuit from 1996 to 2000.
But this story isn’t about medals. It’s about the fact that during those years at the podium’s peak, women were an afterthought.
Everything was black or grey. No design. No respect for the female form. The industry’s solution was “Shrink it and Pink it”—taking men’s jerseys, making them smaller, and adding a floral pattern.
I knew we deserved better.
JELENEW was born to change the cycling gear game. We developed Curvetec® Technology—a proprietary construction that follows a woman’s natural contours,
ensuring a fit that’s not just adapted from men's gear but specifically innovated for the female body.
Our approach is simple: sculpt, don’t squeeze. Our bibs and jerseys are designed to move with you, providing ultimate freedom and comfort. We use intentional designs with fabrics that feel like silk yet offer the performance of armor. Our true ergonomics are reflected in chamois that are specifically designed for female anatomy, ensuring that every ride is as comfortable as it is powerful.
Why JELENEW Exists
This story isn’t about medals. It’s about a time when women were an afterthought in cycling.
Gear was black or grey, poorly designed, and rarely made for the female body. The industry answer was simple: shrink it and pink it. We knew women deserved better.
That’s why Jelenew was created. We developed Curvetec® Technology, a proprietary construction designed around a woman’s natural shape — not adapted from men’s gear, but built specifically for women.
Our philosophy is simple: sculpt, don’t squeeze. Every piece moves with you, combining silky-soft fabrics, true ergonomics, and female-specific chamois for comfort, power, and freedom on every ride.
Why JELENEW Exists
On April 9th, I underwent a full knee replacement. Five months later, I am climbing mountains again. One peak, then two, then three.
Because movement doesn’t belong to youth alone, and strength has no expiration date.
Ride your own path. Let’s ride together.
Still Riding Forward
Nous vous invitons maintenant à partager votre propre histoire :
Qu’est-ce qui vous a motivée à commencer le vélo ? Que ce soit la liberté, la forme physique, l’aventure ou la communauté, votre parcours compte.
Pour célébrer votre passion, JELENEW offre 20 % de réduction sur les produits au prix plein lorsque vous partagez ce qui vous a donné l’envie de pédaler. Aux côtés de ces équipes, nous souhaitons encourager davantage de jeunes femmes à se mettre au vélo, à découvrir la liberté, la communauté et la confiance à deux roues. Continuons à construire un avenir plus fort et plus inclusif pour les femmes dans le cyclisme.
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