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

The CERATIZIT Challenge by La Vuelta will feature several changes next year. It will consist of two more stages (extended from five to seven) and will now be called La Vuelta España Femenina. In addition, it will also now be held in May, ahead of the other two women’s grand tours.

Team SD Worx was awarded the trophy for the best team of the UCI women’s WorldTour 2022 at the recent UCI WorldTour seminar in Monaco.

Marta Cavalli, who has been with FDJ Suez Futuroscope since 2021, has extended with the French team for two more years. This year, the Italian rider had her best season on the road with victories at Amstel and Flèche Wallonne. She also won the first edition of the women’s Mont Ventoux Challenge.

Jesse Vandenbulcke has announced that she is leaving Le Col-Wahoo after a successful time with the team.

Velo d’Or Femmes, an annual prize of Vélo Magazine, which is affiliated with the ASO and the French newspaper l’Equipe, was awarded for the first time this year. 29 international cycling journalists chose the best female cyclist of the year, with Annemiek van Vleuten placing first, ahead of Lotte Kopecky and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won the Velo d’Or France award, the first female winner of this mixed-gender award since 2000.

At the annual UCI seminar, the UCI announced a plan to develop a standard bib number system, possibly pinless, which will make it easier to identify riders during races. It hopes to have a new system in place by 2024. The organisation also ratified a rule to prevent team cars giving their riders an aerodynamic advantage during time trials by raising the distance the car has to remain behind the rider from 10m to 15m. More on the seminar here.

Girona-based Klassmark will be organising Gravel Earth in 2023, which brings together several gravel events around the world and finishes with a championship-style race at the end of the season. Qualifying races will be held in Spain, Kenya, France, Switzerland, Iceland and Sweden. The event begins in April and finishes around November.

Lisa Brennauer, who retired this year after a very successful career, has a lifetime contract with the army, which also supported her during her career, but she is still working out a plan for her future endeavours. She has obtained a coaching license, has done co-commentating for Eurosport and would like to still be part of cycling in some capacity in the near future.

The inaugural Singletrack Series will commence in 2023, and link four mountain bike races across western North America into one event. Kicking off in Utah in March with a three-day stage race, the event will move to Colorado in May before heading to Whistler, BC in June. The series will conclude in July with the 25th annual Downieville Classic in California.

Marion Rousse has decided to leave her position as deputy director of the Tour de la Provence, a role she had since 2019, on the basis of a financial disagreement.

From 1 December, female riders become full members of the CPA, the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés. The organisation hopes that this change will allow professional female riders greater participation in the life of the association.

Trek-Segafredo has presented their new outfit for next season, while the Norwegian squad Team Coop-Hitec Products has also revealed their new kit for 2023.

Results

UCI Track Champions League London
Day 1
Elimination: Jennifer Valente (USA) ahead of Anita Stenberg (NOR) and Maggie Coles-Lyster (CAN)
Scratch: Emily Kay (IRL) ahead of Katie Archibald (GBR) and Anita Stenberg (NOR)

Day 2
Keirin: Martha Bayona (COL) ahead of Shanne Braspennincx (NED) and Steffie Van der Peet (NED)
Scratch: Chloe Moran (AUS) ahead of Sarah van Dam (CAN) and Katie Archibald (GBR)
Elimination: Katie Archibald (GBR) ahead of Jennifer Valente (USA) and Maggie Coles-Lyster (CAN)
Sprint: Mathilde Gros (FRA) ahead of Kelsey Mitchell (CAN) and Shane Braspennincx (NED)
Endurance: Jennifer Valente (USA) ahead of Katie Archibald (GBR) and Maggie Coles-Lyster (CAN)

Superprestige Boom: Aniek van Alphen (NED) ahead of Denise Betsema (NED) and Shirin van Anrooij (NED)

UCI Copa del Mundo Antwerpen
Elite: Fem van Empel ahead of Puck Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij (all NED)
Junior: Shanyl de Schoesitter (BEL) ahead of Sara Sonnemans (NED) and Elizabeth McKinnon (GBR)

Vox Performance Project

Vox Performance Project participant Yannika Propach reflects on how she’s striving to achieve her cycling goals while juggling a busy life at the same time. Check out her blog here!

With the support of the Voxwomen Performance Project Project, Philippa Draper has been getting stuck into her winter training, plus she also secured a place on her university’s top cycling team! Check out her progress here.

Zwift Blog

EF Education-TIBCO’s Abi Smith writes about the art of off-seasoning in her latest blog! She also reveals some of her hidden talents in addition to cycling. Have a read here!

Voxwomen Podcast p/b Liv

Hannah Walker and Lia Hervey recap the inaugural Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and also look to the next edition. Featuring Demi Vollering, Annemiek van Vleuten, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Shirin van Anrooij and Zwift’s Kate Veronneau, you can listen here!

This week in cycling history

Patrizia Spadaccini

Several years after her retirement, the now 62-year-old former Italian road champion rediscovered her passion for cycling and won the individual pursuit in the World Masters Track Championships. She also became involved in the national Paralympic Cycling Commission, where she is scouting for new talent and aiding in their athletic development, having assisted her riders in winning several Olympic gold medals.

Constance Everett-Green

Cycling was taken up extensively by women in the late 19th century, who were seeking independence as a way to express their sportive abilities and a means of transport. But women writing about cycling were a rare occurrence in those days. Constance Everett-Green, however, managed to become one of the leading cycling journalists of her time, promoting cycling as a tool for women to improve fitness and health and to achieve a greater degree of liberty. In her role, she became a forerunner for all women today who are involved in the publication and promotion of cycling.

Zwift Rides of the week

Zwift Pro Training Camp

Consider this your invitation to four different camps, hosted by four top-tier teams. Training camps have a rich history in cycling. They’re where teammates come together, get to know each other, and work hard. Closed to all except official team members…until now. More info here!

AHDR Ladies P/B Liv Cycling

Come join AHDR Ladies ride in the famous AHDR format. A great social ride under 2w/kg MAX. Ride as a group with the aim of keeping everyone together. This group ride is to encourage ladies to push themselves in a supportive environment with tips to get you riding stronger and faster! Find out more 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!