A New Wave in Women’s Pro-Cycling
What was once an empty canvas is quickly becoming the next hot topic in cycling culture. Women’s pro-cycling has long been an afterthought of a male-dominated sport up until recently. Race promoters, sponsors, and teams have begun investing in growing parity amongst the sport. Although the progression of professionalizing women’s pro-cycling over the past 10 years has been immense there is still a long way to go and we can only hope the best is yet to come. As Susan B. Anthony said it best in 1896:
The relentless pursuit towards bridging the gap between men and women's pro-cycling has highlighted issues of gender discrepancies for prize equity, lack of funding, under-publicized, body image issues, uninhibited sexism, and under-appreciation in the sport. Here in 2022, we find ourselves at a crossroad of ”‘you’re killing it queen” and “women’s racing is boring.”
On the Big Stage
Women’s racing finally began to hit its stride in 2021 with the addition of the Women’s Paris Roubaix. Taking place the day before the Men’s race, women for the first time in history had their moment to endure the “The Hell of The North'' 150 miles and 15 cobble sections…it has its name for a reason. Lizzie Deignan marked a major milestone in cycling history that day by taking an 80km solo attack to victory.
The victories for women’s cycling didn’t stop there, Tour De France Femme was announced for 2022. Following the Men’s Tour de France on July 24th, the opportunity will finally be presented for women to race on the biggest stage for cycling. What was previously known as La Course by le Tour de France, a 1-day event held in various locations, will now be a legitimate 8-day stage tour. Unanimous approval from strong voices in the push for women’s parity say the stages exceed expectations and will be a suitable test in proving that the women's peloton can handle the strenuous stages being thrown at them. We can only expect the addition of these races will aid in the visibility and excitement for the sport.
#BunnyHoppingthePatriarchy
Ellen Noble, pro-cyclist, caught wind of comments around women's cycling being a bore to watch compared to men’s racing. Noble took it upon herself to combat those comments by Bunny Hopping the Patriarchy and giving the broadcasters something to tune into. Ellen Noble was one of the first few women to incorporate bunny hopping the barriers into cyclocross racing. Noble sent the message to many fans worldwide that women indeed, can hop the barriers too. The goal is to show that women can do the damn thing too and they can kick ass doing it.
Growing Pains
The upward battle isn’t over yet, one word to describe the biggest hurdle, MONEY. It’s what makes the world go round, the same is true for cycling. Many of the best women cyclists in the world are riding their bikes for minimal pay. Sometimes even paying for their own equipment and working a second job. There’s no doubt women have to fight and work for their place in the sport.
Up until 2020, motherhood used to symbolize the end of many pro-cyclist careers. UCI’s new standards for maternity leave reflect the value of the athlete as the role of a mother and a rider. Trek stepped up to the plate in offering Lizzie Deignan a contract at six months pregnant.
There’s simply a lack of opportunity, as the men's UCI calendar hosts over 400 races compared to the women's 130 races. The vicious cycle continues to repeat itself every year when women don’t get paid enough and receive minimal publicity. With no minimum salary requirement or push for broadcasters to show more than a brief recap of the sport, it makes it tough for sponsors to justify the cost. Many teams are starting to seize any opportunity by pushing for sponsorship marketing and teaching riders how to become ambassadors to promote the professionalization of the sport.
The UCI, a key player in the game, has been slow to combat these issues. Many other sports outside of cycling have begun to offer equal pay such as the World Surf League and USWNT. Luckily big cycling teams are listening and have begun to recognize women’s value by building a women’s team. EF Education First just announced the sponsorship for a Women’s World Tour team in 2022. Legion of LA has also made a notable push for women to be able to compete at the top level.
All Eyes are On…
By some, women in sports are valued only by their looks. This not only degrades accomplishments but distracts from the issues women face about the abuse their bodies take in order to compete at the top level. Take for example, on the day of the women's Paris Roubaix, after Lizzie’s historic win. CyclingTips wrote a great article documenting the day and what they saw. They included interviews and pictures, and you know what everyone noticed from the article? The ‘scandalous’ photo of the women in the showers. They showed only their shoulders and wet hair! Paris Roubaix showers are an iconic part of the race and year after year, photos are taken of men sitting in the showers with the face of exhaustion yet-- like many achievements in women's sports it was often overtaken with a politicized argument. The infamous moment in the concrete showers should have been deemed more as a moment of celebration for women in the sport.
Listening to the bod
Optimal performance: slender body, low body fat, and a BMI of 18.5 was once praised as a prime body for cycling. Eating disorders are often overlooked in women’s cycling because in pro-cycling there is a constant examination of weight. Weight loss is glorified when in reality lighter is not always better. A few ex-pro-cyclists have spoken up about their journey with eating disorders on their team. The lack of funding in women's cycling has led to improper management and education for nutrition and mental health for riders on the team. When pro-cyclists don’t have periods for 5 years and it’s not seen as an issue, something needs to change.
Onwards & Upwards
Whereas men’s pro-cycling has been bound by tradition for many years, women’s pro-cycling is beginning to lay its unique foundation. We can do our part in supporting the next generation of women’s pro-riders by watching the sport at home, educating and encouraging women of all ages and body types to get on bikes.
