IN THE WHEEL OF ÉLISE CHABBEY
Elise Chabbey, 32, is the Swiss cyclist who combines power, racing intelligence and personality. A former Olympic kayaker and doctor, she turned to professional cycling rather late in life, but quickly confirmed her talent. In 2025, she took the polka-dot jersey in the Tour de France Femmes and won the Tour de Romandie Féminin on her home turf in Switzerland. Behind her victories lies a thoughtful athlete, capable of handling pressure while remaining approachable. Welcome behind the scenes of Elise Chabbey.
Q: Elise, you have a unique background: a former kayaker, a doctor, and a slightly later entry into cycling than most of your teammates. Does this trajectory give you a different vision of the sport?? An advantage, or sometimes a challenge??
Yes, I think it's an advantage to have arrived late in cycling. It's such a difficult sport mentally and physically, and so demanding to be at the top level for so many years. I think that having studied and having a piece of paper at hand takes a lot of the pressure off me. At the end of the day, for me cycling has to remain about pleasure and passion, and the day I feel it's a job, I know I can stop and find something else quickly.
In a peloton, there's noise, speed, tension... How do you deal with it?
It's never something that's weighed too heavily on me. When I'm racing, I'm focused on myself, my sensations and my team-mates, and I forget about everything else.
On the bike, there are days when everything seems to run smoothly and other days when everything gets stuck. How do you recognize when your head needs to take over from your legs?
legs?
The races are getting tougher and tougher, and the level is getting higher and higher, so it comes down to the little details, especially the mental aspect, which is becoming more and more important. You have to know how to suffer and accept suffering for as long as possible.
Can you share a racing fact that few people know about?? A surprising anecdote or an unexpected moment on the bike??
During the Tour de France, the polka-dot jersey wasn't really an objective of the (FDJ-SUEZ) team. On the contrary, during the first 3-4 stages my manager wanted me to lose it. But the facts of the race meant that I was in a breakaway and I was able to score points. He then changed his mind and agreed that I should keep it for the final stages.
In such a demanding sport, we all have figures who pull us up. Who are the ones who really inspire you, and how do their stories speak to you?
I think the people who inspire me most are my family, my boyfriend and my sister. People who bring me back to reality when sometimes you get caught up in high-level sport and it's all you can see, even though there's a whole life around it.
After this very busy season (change of team, winning the Tour de France polka-dot jersey + victory at the Tour de Romandie + World Championships in Rwanda), will 2026 be just as busy, or even more so? Do you already have a new goal in mind for 2026?that you could tell us about?
It's certainly been the best season of my career. I've gained confidence and I hope to be among the best again in 2026, especially during the Belgian spring classics, which are races that suit me particularly well. And also in the Tour de France, which will pass through Geneva and which I hope will be a great party.
