Your news

Get your week started with the latest news in women’s cycling

• In “The Run Up,” a production aimed at giving fans a closer look behind the scenes, Canyon//SRAM Racing, Trek-Segafredo and Team SD Worx provide an insight into their preparations in the lead-up to major upcoming WWT races. On 24 April, the day before Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Voxwomen will provide a link on social media, so you can watch along. Make sure you don’t miss it!
• Blanca Kata Vas, who rode for Doltcini – Van Eyck Sport-Proximus for the past three years, will be joining Team SD Worx for two years, starting in June. In addition to the road discipline, the Hungarian rider is also an accomplished cyclocross and MTB rider.
• With less than 100 days to go, the UCI has published a guide and timetable to the Olympics, with cycling events commencing on 24 July. The Games will feature five disciplines: road, track, mountain bike, BMX Racing, and as an Olympic first, BMX Freestyle.
• The UCI has also updated its newly-introduced rules regarding the disposal of bidons. Throwing bottles and waste outside the dedicated zones remains forbidden, with riders having the possibility to give bidons and waste to a team member on the roadside and to the cars of teams and organisers. However, breaking these rules will now be fined and points deducted in the first instance, and riders may be disqualified on any subsequent infringements for one-day races. During stage races, first infringements will receive a fine and a deduction of points, with second violations receiving a time penalty and the third occasion resulting in a disqualification.
• Sweden has released its list of its Olympics athletes for the Tokyo Games. Emilia Fahlin has been selected to participate, with this being the FDJ-Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope rider’s third time competing at the Games.
• Continental team CAMS-Tifosi has changed its name to CAMS-Basso Bikes. The British squad presented its new kit and bike for the first time at the Amstel Gold Race.
• The Ladies Tour of Norway has revealed the four stages of its 2021 event. It will provide an opportunity for sprinters, breakaway riders and climbers alike.
• Team SD Worx will be donating its Amstel Gold Race prize money, as well as the proceeds from the auctioning of their jerseys and team bike, to a trauma and dementia crowdfunding project.
• A new British team for both men and women, Spectra-Wiggle p/b Vitus, has recently been launched. The squad will support riders to compete on the road, as well as in mountain bike and cyclocross disciplines. Although the team is currently non-professional, its aim is to hold UCI licenses for all major cycling disciplines. In addition to traditional races, such as the Tour Series, National Points Series and CX World Cups, the team also plans to race the TransPyrenees and is also hoping to establish records such as the British coast-to-coast race.
• Far away from the spring classics in Europe, in Sierra Leone, The Tour de Lunsar took place between 16-18 April with a women’s race staged on 15 April. The event was not only a bike race, but also served as an opportunity, whereby mechanics taught men and women from around the country how to maintain bikes, in an effort to provide affordable transport.

Results

Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma Women) won Amstel Gold Race ahead of Demi Vollering (SD Worx) and Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar Team).

International Belgian Track Meeting:

• Scratch: Laura Kenny (GBR) ahead of Martina Fidanza (ITA) and Kirsten Wild (NED)
• Points: Kirsten Wild ahead of Laura Kenny and Lotte Kopecky (BEL)
• Keirin: Katy Marchant (GBR) ahead of Nicky Degrendele (BEL) and Elena Bissolato (ITA)
• Madison: Team GBR 1 (Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald), Team NED 1 (Amy Pieters and Kirsten Wild), Team BEL 1 (Jolien d’Hoore and Lotte Kopecky)
• Omnium: Kirsten Wild ahead of Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald

Zwift Blog

Tanja Erath

The Team TIBCO-SVB rider Tanja Erath explains why Paris-Roubaix is such a special event and reflects on the race’s postponement. Read the German rider’s thoughts on the iconic race, which is now scheduled for 2 October this year.

Lauren Kitchen

Our latest exclusive blog from the FDJ Nouvelle-Acquitaine Futuroscope rider takes you on a journey through her favourite ride in Australia. Share Lauren’s excitement of being out and about on her bike in her home country by checking out her latest piece here.

Shara Marche

Check out this recipe for Shakshuka from Team SD Worx’ Food Coach, Shara Marche.

Five minutes with…

This week in cycling history

Billie Fleming

Fleming, who was born on 13 April, was a long-distance cyclist who in 1938 set the women’s record for the greatest distance ridden in a year. At almost 48,000 km, she rode more than 13 back-to-back Tours de France to set the record, which stood until 2016. She left school at 16 to become a secretary, and at the age of 18, she rode solo around the U.K., promoting the health benefits of cycling. She had several sponsors, among them the bike manufacturer Rudge-Whitworth as well as Cadbury, with her record breaking journey, which was complemented by speaking engagements in the evenings following her rides, attracting immense interest from the public. While riding, she did not carry any water, but stopped at local cafes to refuel. After this achievement, she intended to cycle around the U.S.A, but was prevented by the outbreak of the Second World War. Fleming passed away in North Devon at the age of 100 in 2014.

Nicole Cook

Cook turned 38 on 13 April. The Welsh rider is a Commonwealth, Olympic and World Road race champion. At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, she became the first British woman to win a gold medal in any cycling discipline. Cook also held multiple national road and cyclocross titles, as well as winning several prestigious stage and one-day races. Since her retirement in 2013, she completed an MBA at Cardiff University and has come an outspoken campaigner for gender equality in sport and for stronger anti-doping measures.

From our online shop