‘The hardest week I’ve done by far all year’ – Amber Pate returns to racing at Tour of Britain Women after six months away due to pancreatic tumour

“It’s really nice being back with the team and my teammates. It’s – no joke – really, really hard coming back into the peloton at this time of the year. And it’s emotional,” she told Cyclingnews ahead of the penultimate stage in Mid Wales.

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“You could almost feel embarrassed about how your form is, but I’m really determined to just not give up and make the most of it. This is really great to start building my form back, and after such an emotional and challenging year, my outlook is different, and I’m just trying to embrace the opportunities and the moments.”

The 170 days away from racing is the longest Pate has spent without a race in some time, having taken on a full European calendar each year since turning pro with Liv in 2023.

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Going from an average of 48 race days a season, including two Grand Tours, to the four she had logged before this week has understandably had an impact.

“So six months away from racing. The first two months when I went back to Australia was dealing with the processes of getting the surgery, and then after the surgery, I had a solid month and a half of very little riding,” she said.

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“Then I built up from there. Starting to cope with the intensity and the training load was really hard, so it’s taken me some time. And this is the hardest week I’ve done by far all year, so it’s been very challenging!

“Even though I might be the first rider dropped at times, I think it’s a really good place to be and just embrace it. Even if I’m looking, let’s say, not so good in form, I’m being positive and just refuse to give up. So, I think it’s very nice.”

Pate hasn’t had much racing in her legs, but five challenging days in Britain will give her a base to build on for the end of the season.

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