At 24 years of age, Kim Cadzow has decided to retire from professional road cycling, moving back to Queenstown where she and husband Brad are plotting the next stages of their lives.
Kim emerged from a background in swimming and triathlon at the 70.3 professional level until covid struck. During this time, she met Wanaka-based coach Patrick Harvey, father of professional Mikayla Harvey and the force behind developing young female Kiwi cycling talent. He suggested she try road cycling.
Early after the move, she won the national under-23 time trial title in 2022, earning a place in Torelli-Cayman Islands pro team in Europe. Many had eyes wide-open after Kim achieved a remarkable win in the double ascent of Mont Ventoux, a legendary climb in the Tour de France. This led to a move to Team Jumbo-Visma.
Kim won the elite time trial in 2024 by two minutes and was second across the line in the road race, and the following year won both the time trial and road race. At this stage she had moved to EF Education-Cannondale on the World Tour.
The highlight came at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, with a brilliant performance in the time trial, which earned her a spot on the Hot Seat before ultimately finishing with an outstanding seventh placing from the 35 starters.
However professional road cycling took a toll. While Kim strictly controlled her food intake, she did not seemingly have the strength to cope with the demands of the sport.
“I think my body definitely took a beating, and it just wasn't responding very well to the training load that I was doing anymore. Then it started breaking down a bit.
“Last year I did two discs in my back. But even when I wasn't training, I was still getting really sick and injured.
“I just couldn't shake that viral fatigue thing where I'd have days where I was fine and then days where I was really struggling to get out of bed in the morning.
“There was a point that I knew my body needed a lot more recovery than what I could give it racing this year. So, I decided that it would just be best for me to step away. Mentally it was getting hard to have a purpose every single day.”
The time off the bike got longer and after nearly a year since she last raced, it was time for the hard decision to step away from the sport.
“If felt like the right decision for me. I guess it is part and parcel of this business. There’s resilience and then there is just being stupid – so I am definitely at peace at moving on.” Her team were understanding and supportive of her decision.
While her injuries and illnesses have been debilitating, Kim has had time to look back on her career, with that day in Paris her highlight.
“The week after the Olympics I was off to race the Tour de France Femme, so I never really got a chance to digest those experiences.
“But looking back it was an amazing time, and amazing experience. And seventh in the world at an Olympic Games, finishing under the Eiffel Tower, sitting out in the Hot Seat ... I am really proud of that.
“To be honest, the Olympics was one of the best days I've ever experienced.”
Kim and her husband are looking to build a home next year, and she is interested potentially some endurance coaching.
“Cycling New Zealand have given me a lot of opportunities I never thought I'd get to get to experience. And they have supported me, along with the medical team.
“And just all the fans and supporters over the years, like, even the small messages have just made a massive difference.
“I have had some amazing opportunities and experiences along with the tough times – and they will all add to my skillset with whatever comes next.”
Cadzow in action at the Paris Olympics