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

Multiple World Champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot will be joining INEOS-Grenadiers for the next two years. The team will support her ambitions for the 2024 Olympics, to be held in France. After having won four world titles in the space of two months, an Olympic gold is still missing from her palmares and she is motivated to win in her home country in two years time.

Italian riders Silvia Magri, Sofia Collinelli, Lara Viecelli, Vietnamese rider Thi That Nguyen, and Belgian rider Fien Delbaere will join the Swiss WT squad, Roland Cogeas Edelweiss, in 2023. Irish track rider Mia Griffin has signed with the team as well for next year. Covid had interrupted her season but she is now motivated to make a strong comeback on the track.

Annemiek van Vleuten has won the UCI WorldTour ranking for the second time in a row ahead of Elisa Longo Borghini and Demi Vollering. Shirin van Anrooij takes out the youth classification ahead of Niamh Fisher-Black and Pfeiffer Georgi.

Catalan coach Manel Lacambra, who was previously a DS with Cervélo Test Team, Bigla Pro Cycling, Cylance, and MTN-Qhubeka, announced the formation of a women’s continental squad based in Sant Feliu de Guixols (Girona). Sponsorship for the next five years at a rate of four million Euros per year has been secured. The squad aims for WorldTeam status as soon as possible.

French rider Audrey Cordon-Ragot is slowly recovering from the stroke that she suffered just ahead of the World Road Championships. She is planning to join her team’s training camp and hoping to be in form for her next big race, Paris-Roubaix, and her big goal, the Olympic Games in her home country.

New US women’s team Cynisca Cycling has unveiled their inaugural roster. The squad aims to give riders from North America an opportunity to compete regularly in Europe. The team includes seven riders from the USA and one from Canada, in addition to three riders from France. Zoe Ta-Perez, who won the U.S. U23 TT title, and Katherine Sarkisov, who claimed both the U.S. time trial and road race junior titles, have joined, as well as former junior triathlon champion Kyleigh Spearing. Former accomplished track rider Marion Clignet will manage the team.

The UCI has announced that BBC Sport has secured full broadcasting rights to the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland. For the first time, 13 UCI World Championships events will be held in the same location.

Shell UK has signed a long-term partnership contract with British Cycling starting this month and ending in 2030, while Movistar Team has been connected with Repsol, another oil company, as a main sponsor.

The official UCI World Champion’s jersey of the 2021 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Roubaix, France, which was signed at the the podium ceremony by Kirsten Wild, Ashton Lambie, Filippo Ganna, Elia Viviani, Lisa Brennauer, Emma Hinze, Letizia Paternoster, Katie Archibald, Lotte Kopecky, Lea Sophie Friedrich and several others who won a gold medal, will be auctioned off. The money raised will go towards the Amy Pieters Fund, helping Amy in her road to recovery.

The organiser of the Road World Championships in Scotland featuring 13 disciplines and held between August 3-13 in 2023, hope to bring one million spectators to the events. In addition to the anticipated financial benefits to local communities, they are also aiming to encourage more people to ride bikes, be it for recreation or transportation.

Results

UCI Track World Championships:

Scratch: Martina Fidanza (ITA) ahead of Maike van der Duin (NED) and Jessica Roberts (GBR)
Team Sprint: Germany ahead of China and Great Britain
Elimination: Lotte Kopecky (BEL) ahead of Rachele Barbieri (ITA) and Jennifer Valente (USA)
Team Pursuit: Italy ahead of Great Britain and France
Sprint: Mathilde Gros (FRA) ahead of Lea Sophie Friedrich (GER) and Emma Hinze (GER)
500m TT: Marie Divine Kouame (FRA) ahead of Emma Hinze (GER) and Yufanq Guo (China)
Madison: Belgium ahead of France and Denmark
Omnium: Jennifer Valente (USA) ahead of Maike van der Duin (NED) and Maria Martins (POR)
Individual Pursuit: Franziska Brauße (GER) ahead of Bryony Botha (NZL) and Josie Knight (GBR)
Points Race: Neah Evans (GBR) ahead of Julie Leth (DEN) and Jennifer Valente (USA)
Keirin: Lea Sophie Friedrich (GER) ahead of Mina Sato (JPN) and Steffie van der Peet (NED)

Zwift Blog

We check in with Abi Smith of EF Education-TIBCO-SVB for an insightful recount of this year’s season, from her setbacks, to overcoming obstacles, and all the good memories from the season. Read all about it here.

This week in cycling history

Sheila Grace Young-Ochowicz

Born on 14 October 1950, Young is a retired American speed skater and track cyclist. Her parents competed in cycling and speed skating and encouraged Young and her three siblings to do the same. She won three Olympic speed skating medals, became sprint speed skating world champion, and skated to three world records, in addition to winning the US sprint track cycling championships and becoming the track sprint world champion. Her world sprint speed skating championship of 1973 and her world sprint track cycling championship of that same year made her the first athlete to win World Championship titles in two sports in the same year. She retired in 1976, but resumed competing in 1981 to win one more U.S. sprint championship and as well as taking the gold in the sprint at the World Championships in 1981. After winning silver at the 1982 World Championships, she then decided to retire.

Roberta Bonanomi

The Italian former rider celebrated her 56th birthday on 15 October. She had a long career, representing her country at five Olympic Games, winning national championships, and in 1989 the Giro d’Italia. She also won the World Championships in Belgium in the 50km team time, while in 1987 in Villach in Austria, she took bronze in the same discipline.

Zwift Rides of the week

Zipp Speed Rides with Ashton Lambie

Join the Zipp Speed rides, every week, led by Zipp Ambassador and World Record holder – Ashton Lambie. The ride will be a social ride, where the aim is to stay close to Ashton – you wouldn’t want to miss out if there are any random mid-ride giveaways. Find out more here!

Zwift PretzelFest

It’s time to don your lederhose, fill your stein with electrolytes, and stuff your jersey pockets with pretzels. Celebrate the arrival of October with the inaugural Zwift PretzelFest! It’s the final week to join your friends on some epic routes with some epic lederhose inspired unlocks. More info here!

From our online shop

Be Part of the Journey Mountain Hoodie – £45

Since the launch of Voxwomen, we have always used the message, “Be Part of the Journey.” Women’s cycling has been on a journey and the development of the sport continues. This mountain design links with this message and looks great on this relaxed hoodie. Wear before or after an event, and it will be sure to keep you warm. Get yours here!