I feel like I'm going through this myself this year, although involuntarily. I have a work assignment that's made it virtually impossible for me to do the kind of consistent training that will let me be competitive. I raced two weeks ago and barely hung on to finish with the pack in a race that I usually can contend for the podium. And in the two weeks since, my only riding has been a handful of commutes. I'm still fitter than your average 52-yo office worker, but that's not saying much sadly.