Comeback kid Cotter keen to get the miles under her belt

“Miles to go before I sleep” –
Robert Frost

You might ask what does a quote from a poem published exactly 100 years ago, have to do with Ruan cyclist Imogen Cotter?

The quote is etched on the back of Cotter’s arms with Frost’s words certainly summing up her determination in coming back from a horrific accident in January 2022.

The Ruan woman had just signed her first professional contract, but everything changed when she was hit head on by a car driving on the wrong side of the road when training in Spain.

What followed was months of surgeries, rehab and physiotherapy as she continues to work her way to full fitness with her team Fenix-Deceuninck supporting her by allowing her to compete with the team in 2023, after signing last year.

The words of Frost in his poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening have been used by Cotter as a way of motivating herself to rebound from the adversity she faced during a testing 2022.

“I always loved this poem. My dad (Fintan) gave me a book called Miles To Go when I was running and he wrote a message inside it encouraging me to keep persevering. He thought I had a lot of potential when running and hopefully I’ll be able to show that again when I’m cycling. I always related that Frost quote back to dad.”

“When things were difficult, I told myself I had miles to go and things to achieve. After the accident I messaged my mum (Grania) to write the words miles to go, which went on my left arm, and I asked my dad to write before I sleep which is now on my right hand.”

“The fact that it’s their handwriting that’s tattooed on me makes me feel that they are always with me. I have a lot to achieve before I die so it felt more meaningful last year after the accident.”

The 29-year-old has undergone three wrist surgeries while she continues to strengthen her right knee after suffering a fractured patella in the accident on January 26th last year.

However, eight months after the accident, she was able to return to competitive fare as she competed in Belgium.

Although she states progress has been slow despite being able to compete in a World Tour event in Switzerland, the fear of the unknown is somewhat removed for 2023.

“It was a big jump to take, and I journaled about it. I read it just before this interview and I talked about going into the unknown. I was going in with my eyes wide open and I had a fear of something bad happening.”

“I worked really hard with a hypnotherapist as I want to take calculated risks when racing and I need to take off the cotton wool. I want to leave the idea of just being an injured athlete behind me and I’m glad the coaches on my team gave me a shot.”

Although the journey has been arduous with Cotter admitting that her wrist will never be completely pain free, she does admit that the outside perception that her recovery was quick is different to her own experiences.

“It definitely was a slow recovery despite me returning to cycling last year. My physio said there would come a time where I would look recovered on the outside but that I would need to keep working on the trauma of the accident. I reached that stage where everyone said it was great to see me back, but I wasn’t myself.”

“I felt like I had a different body and I definitely didn’t feel quick. After winning the Nationals in 2021 and being the fittest I ever was to my next race coming after an accident like that was tough. There were so many setbacks and surgeries but I’m glad to be back.”

The recovery process gave Cotter plenty of time to learn more about herself. She admits that she became mentally stronger following the accident while she was forced to re-evaluate every facet of her life.

“I learned that I was strong willed and no matter what if you want something you have to focus on it one hundred and ten percent. I built up mental resolve and going through what I did taught me about the levels of pain we can experience.”

“You identify as a cyclist and an athlete so when that gets taken away from you, what or who am I? I got to spend more time with my family, and I was part of things that I wouldn’t have been able to be before the accident as I would be away training or competing. It was and still is an experience to learn from.”

The Fenix-Deceuninck cyclist is keenly aware that the one year anniversary of her crash is fast approaching.

Cotter has no special plans to commemorate or acknowledge the day everything changed for her as she will be away on a training camp with her team.

“It’s funny because for the anniversary I will be on training camp doing what I fought to do the whole time. I told myself I will ride with the team again. It’s fitting that I will be with the team. I will acknowledge it but I will immerse myself in training and trying to get back competing at a high level.”

With Cotter back on the saddle in 2023 as she tries to kickstart her professional career, the Ruan woman is bullish when she states that her aim is to show her team and herself what she can achieve on the saddle.

“I want to become more consistent. I’d love to rack up results here and there and give strong performances. Whatever the job is for the team I want to be able to do it. I have more motivation than ever after such a bad year last year.”

“I have unfinished business. I would love to win the Nationals again because I never got to wear my jersey from it due to the crash.

“I want to thank the people who believed in me and the best way to do that is to show what I can do.”