Pro Fanella Langridge’s Sudden Leg Collapse Leads to Rare Diagnosis

British pro Fenella Langridge revealed a challenging medical diagnosis that has impacted her upcoming season. She has been diagnosed with External Iliac Artery Endofibrosis (EIAE), a rare condition that involves hardening of the external iliac artery.

The condition is relatively unknown, but typically affects endurance athletes and cyclists. Hardening of the external iliac artery, which restricts blood flow to the affected area leads to symptoms like cramping and a buildup of lactate during intense physical activity. Langridge is affected on her left side, and the prognosis for her upcoming season is perilous.

Symptoms started last season

Langridge first noticed symptoms during her training sessions, where she experienced unusual sensations and a significant drop in her performance. She described on social media that she had particular difficulty running uphill and at high-intensity efforts. At first she suspected sciatica, but a recent formal diagnosis concluded EIAE.

Signs of trouble first emerged with a lacklustre season in 2024. Outwardly, Langridge put her performance struggles down to fatigue. As her power continued to drop in the bike and run during the off season when she should have felt recovered, she began to investigate her symptoms more seriously.

 

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“We had our first camp in Lanzarote and I had what we thought were neural sensations down my left side,” she shared on her YouTube channel. “I couldn’t run up hills without my leg almost collapsing underneath me.”

Her escalating symptoms lead her to investigate more seriously the root cause. Receiving the diagnosis ahead of Ironman New Zealand earlier this month, she decided to go and compete nonetheless. Despite making modifications including changing her bike position, monitoring her heart rate and limiting her power, she was forced to drop out during the race.

Operating room awaits instead of race course

While the condition is not life-threatening, it poses significant challenges for Langridge’s career as a professional triathlete.

“In layman’s terms, it’s a hardening of the Illiac Artery, an external one, so mine’s on my left hand side,” she explained. “Your artery is supposed to be a nice spherical shape, whereas mine has hardened which has limited the size.”

She is set to undergo surgery to address the issue, and her 2025 season remains uncertain.

“I have reached out to one of the best surgeons who does the procedure in the UK, Professor Robert Hinchcliffe,” said Langridge. “He has done multiple surgeries of Illiac Artery Endofibrosis on professional cyclists and we have booked in to see him in about a month.”

For the foreseeable future Langridge is stepping back from race planning to focus on her upcoming surgery and recovery.