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Get your week started with the latest news in women’s cycling
Already a sponsor of the French team FDJ-SUEZ, SUEZ has furthered its support for women’s cycling by becoming an official partner of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Through this agreement, SUEZ will accompany the race in its quest to reduce its environmental footprint. Read more details here.
For the first time in the Tour of the Gila’s 36-year history, female riders will receive equal pay. Donated funds made this move possible, with a total prize purse of $35,350, which is the same as the men’s prize money. The event will be held 26-30 April around Silver City in New Mexico.
According to a Spanish newspaper, the UCI has examined the financial situation of the Zaaf Cycling Team, and made an exception so that riders may sign with other teams, with immediate effect. Some of the team’s riders have received part of their salaries in the last few days and the team is hoping to still participate at the La Vuelta Femenina, scheduled from 1 to 7 May. According to reports, in the first week of May, the UCI will assess the team’s situation again. Mareille Meijering, who was tenth in GC at the UAE Tour, has decided to leave the team and ride for a Drenthe club team. Teammate Lizzy Standard also left the squad and has signed with Israel-Premier Tech Roland. The Australian rider was part of Valcar Travel & Service in 2022 before joining Zaaf Cycling.
The names of the 22 teams that will be at the start of this year’s edition of Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift have been published. The event will start on 23 July in Clermont-Ferrand.
La Flèche Wallonne has updated its start list for the race on Wednesday. With CERATIZIT – WNT Pro Cycling having withdrawn, Zaaf Cycling will now be participating.
Sanne Cant, who crashed at Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift, required stitches for a wound on her forehead and a wound just below her eye. Meanwhile, Mieke Docx of Lotto Dstny will have to take a break from racing as she continues to suffer from back problems. We wish both riders a speedy recovery.
Cyclocross fans will be disappointed to hear that the Poldercross in Kruibeke and the Rapencross in Lokeren will not be on the racing calendar for 2023. The timing of both events was not suitable for the organisers due to the requirement for repairs, and so far, they have been unable to negotiate other dates.
Silicon Dales, the company which bought the rights to run the Tour de Yorkshire at auction last year after it went into administration, is in talks with the UCI and British Cycling about bringing the Tour de Yorkshire back. The last winner was Marianne Vos but the race had to be cancelled in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The target date for the new race is 2024.
Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes is the final of the three Ardennes Classics, scheduled for 23 April. The course of the seventh edition covers 140km and has had some new additions this year, bringing the total of the classified ascents to eight. Read our detailed race preview here.
Results
Amstel Gold Race: Demi Vollering ahead of Lotte Kopecky (both Team SD Worx) and Shirin van Anrooij (Trek-Segafredo)
Ronde de Mouscron: Martina Fidanza (CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling) ahead of Anniina Ahtosalo (Uno-X Pro Cycling) and Valentine Fortin (Cofids Women Team)
De Brabantse Pijl: Silvia Persico (UEA Team ADQ) ahead of Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx) and Liane Lippert (Movistar Team)
New Podcast: “Just 3 Questions”
Are you seeking to become a better version of yourself? Have you set yourself a sporting challenge and don’t know where to start with training, nutrition, tech or anything else? Then this brand new podcast is an essential tool for you!
In our very first episode, we provide a short and informative listen on helping you to achieve your sporting goals. Three questions asked by you are answered by experts Chris and David from Supersapiens and Precision Fuel and Hydration.
Listen on Spotify here!
Listen on Apple Podcasts here!
Listen on Amazon here!
Zwift Blog
Last year’s Paris Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift winner, Elisa Longo Borghini, reflects on her experience of last year’s Hell of the North in her exclusive blog. Check it out right here!
Vox Performance Project
Cycling in Calpe and Lanzarote, with a marathon thrown in for good measure! You won’t want to miss Vox Performance Project participant Claire’s latest blog.
This week in cycling history
Nicole Cooke
The Welsh road and cyclocross rider turned 40 on 13 April. She is a Commonwealth, Olympic and World champion in the road race. In 1999, Cooke became the youngest ever British cycling champion at age 16, and was the first cyclist – male or female – to win the Olympic and the World Championship Road races in the same year. Cooke is also a two time-winner of the Tour de France and the youngest winner of the Giro. Since retiring in 2013, she has completed an MBA at Cardiff University and become an outspoken campaigner for gender equality in sport and stronger anti-doping measures.
Leontine van Moorsel
Van Moorsel has been the race director of the women’s Amstel Gold race since it returned in 2017. The former Dutch World and Olympic champion was third in the first Amstel Gold women’s race held in 2001 and a year later soloed to victory. Due to a request by some of the top riders for a longer and more difficult race, Van Moorsel extended the length of this year’s edition by 28 km and added more climbs to bring it to a total of 22 ascents.
Tracy Moseley
Born on 12 April 1979, Moseley is one of Britain’s most successful and best-known female mountain bikers. Born in Worcester, her achievements include winning 23 national downhill titles, 16 World Cup rounds, and two overall World Cup titles, among others. During her career, she also completed a degree in biological sciences. After her retirement, she started working for Trek Bikes in an athlete management role and in 2020 she ventured into eBike racing, taking on a role to mentor future mountain bike riders.
Performance Corner
Why do athletes suffer from cramp?
Of course, there are multiple reasons why your ride-ruining cramps could be occurring including neuromuscular issues, not doing enough specific training for your event and electrolyte imbalance.
This blog and video explores the science behind the different causes and gives you some tactics to try to get on top of your cramping issues.
Questions? Email hello@pfandh.com. Click here to get 15% off fuel and electrolytes – proud partners of Lotto Dstny and Team DSM.
Zwift Rides of the week
The Voxwomen Club
Get ready for the next ride on 25th April! Celebrate women’s cycling through our new club on Zwift! Here, you can be part of the journey and complete rides that cater to the busy lives we live and find motivation and enjoyment through riding. The rides will be held every other Tuesday at 7am/11am/1pm PST (3pm/7pm/9pm GMT). Rides are approximately 40 minutes and feature special guests to lead the events.
It’s also open pace and no drop, thanks to the Zwift bubble feature, which keeps everyone together so you can ride at your own pace without being dropped from the group. The first ride is this Tuesday, so be sure to join us here!
