# Why Joe Marler Turned to Cycling
England rugby star Joe Marler has embraced cycling as a cross-training tool to complement his rugby career. Speaking with BBC Sport's Alex Fletcher, Marler detailed how the sport has become central to his fitness and recovery regimen.
Marler, the Harlequins prop with over 70 caps for England, uses cycling to build cardiovascular endurance without the joint impact of running. The low-impact nature of cycling allows him to maintain aerobic fitness while reducing injury risk, a critical consideration for a forward in the brutally physical front row. Rugby players face constant wear on knees, ankles, and hips. Cycling distributes stress differently across muscle groups, targeting the quads and glutes while sparing those vulnerable joints.
The Harlequins veteran emphasized how cycling fits into a broader periodization strategy athletes use during international windows and injury recovery. Rugby's demanding calendar, with matches every week during Six Nations or autumn internationals, leaves limited time for traditional conditioning work. Cycling offers flexibility. He can complete intense sessions in shorter windows or dial intensity down on recovery days without the collision risk of contact drills.
Beyond physical benefits, Marler highlighted the mental component. Cycling provides outdoor time and mental clarity away from the rugby environment. For elite athletes juggling constant analysis, video review, and tactical preparation, solo cycling doubles as active recovery and psychological reset.
This reflects a broader shift in rugby conditioning. Top-tier clubs now employ cycling specialists and Wattbikes as standard recovery tools. Players like Marler represent how professional rugby has adopted cycling from cycling-dominated endurance sports. It's not replacement training. It's complementary, fitting into the total athletic development model that modern rugby demands.