> The trouble began for Lafay after a trip to China, where he visited his girlfriend. “At first, I thought it was the jet lag or the journey. I trained very gently for the first few days. But a week later, I started to worry because I still felt tired. I asked the team doctor if I could get a blood test. I suspected a bacterial infection in my stomach, because I’ve had that before in the past.”
> However, the antibiotics didn’t help, and the blood tests didn’t give me a definitive answer. I had already missed my first race, and we really wanted clarity quickly so that I wouldn’t miss any other races. I decided to have more blood tests done and also went to see a doctor, but I just couldn’t get any answers. We suspected a virus ourselves, but if you don’t know exactly what it is, you don’t see a solution very quickly.”
> Several months have passed since then, and Lafay is still in the dark. “I traveled with the team’s medical specialists for more extensive tests. We tested everything, and all the results indicate that I am healthy… We still don’t have the answers we are looking for.”
> The Frenchman is therefore still unable to train or race, but it is also having a huge impact on his daily life. “When I go grocery shopping, by the time I get home, all I can do is sleep. I get exhausted so quickly. That happens even after the slightest exertion. And I’m not just talking about physical activities. Even after a dinner with family or friends, I’m just completely worn out.”
> I can no longer concentrate on the conversations being held, my eyes get heavy, and all I can think about is sleeping. I have spent a lot of time at home. You might be supposed to be able to enjoy that, but when you are dead tired, you can’t do anything. It just kind of sucks. It is not just the physical fatigue that weighs heavily on me. It is also a mental challenge.”