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

At the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the UCI introduced a “yellow card” system, similar to that in soccer, to enforce new safety regulations for the remainder of 2024. During the race’s second stage, Barbara Guarischi of SD Worx-Protime was issued a yellow card by the race jury for “improper conduct that endangers others in a sprint.” She was fined 100 CHF and penalised 10 points. Riders who accumulate multiple yellow cards could face bans and other disciplinary actions. This system applies not only to riders but also to Sports Directors, photographers, moto drivers, and others in the race caravan.

Dutch rider Amber van der Hulst will step up to the WorldTour with Liv AlUla Jayco. In recent seasons, she has gained attention for her performances on the road as well as in cyclocross, and has been riding with the squad’s continental team this year.

Italian rider Nadia Quagliotto joins Cofidis, bringing strength to the team in both the mountains and the classics. Meanwhile, Slovenian Eugenia Bujak, with 13 victories and a wealth of racing experience at age 35, will add invaluable expertise to the French squad.

Swiss U23 road champion Linda Zanetti, currently with Human Powered Health, will join Uno-X Mobility next year, taking on a key role in the team’s lead-out efforts. Her future teammate, Maria Giulia Confalonieri, has extended her contract with the Norwegian team through 2025. Mia Gjertsen, transitioning directly from the junior ranks, will also join the squad, with a contract until 2027 as the team focuses on developing young talent. Two-time Danish road champion Rebecca Koerner has also signed for the 2025 season, while Ingvild Gåskjenn, another valuable addition to Uno-X Mobility, has committed until the end of 2026. Gåskjenn brings significant WorldTour experience, including a podium finish at the Amstel Gold Race.

Young Belgian climber Tess Moerman has joined AG Insurance-Soudal from this month and will be riding in support of the more experienced riders on the squad. In recent seasons, Moerman has shown potential in both domestic and international competitions, often competing against some of the best riders in her category. Her ability to endure tough races and her strategic acumen in breakaways and sprints set her apart as a rider to watch.

Shibden Apex Junior Women’s Race Team of Britain, currently ranked the number one junior women’s team in the world, has set up a GoFundMe campaign. The team’s car broke down in Spain at a race and repatriation and repairs left the team £6000 out of pocket, an amount that the team hopes to be able to secure through donations.

Cynisca Cycling is committed to ambitious long-term goals: placing a North American woman on the podium at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and continuing Team USA’s success at the 2028 LA Olympics. As the squad looks ahead to 2025 and beyond, Cynisca is seeking additional partners and sponsors who share its mission of empowering women through cycling and who wish to mutually benefit from the team’s success.

The demanding stages and competitive field at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift proved to be formidable obstacles for Tashkent City Women. The team management addressed criticism following the abandon of four riders already on the first day of racing. As the first Central Asian team to compete in the Tour de France, whether men’s or women’s, the Uzbek squad faced scrutiny when their young riders struggled to keep pace with the peloton and were forced to withdraw. In defence of their performance, the team’s Sports Director highlighted the significance of their participation. “For cycling, this is a victory,” he stated. “A country completely outside the traditional European racing circuit has made it to the Tour de France.”

Several riders were forced to abandon the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift due to illness, crashes, and injuries. Clara Emont of EF-Oatly-Cannondale felt unwell after stage 3, while teammate Magdeleine Vallieres sustained a concussion in a crash on Stage 5. Elise Chabbey of Canyon//SRAM Racing also had to withdraw following a crash on Stage 3. Christina Schweinberger of Fenix-Deceuninck struggled with illness and did not start Stage 4. Pfeiffer Georgi had a nasty crash on Stage 5 which forced her to abandon with a fractured neck. Marta Lach of CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling left the race to recover from stomach problems. Mieke Docx of Lotto Destny and Anna Henderson of Visma | Lease a Bike also left the race. Anya Louw of AG Insurance Soudal, Charlotte Kool who suffered from fatigue, and teammate Becky Storrie of Team dsm-firmenich PostNL who broke her left collarbone in a Stage 7 crash, were all unable to continue the race. Ruby Roseman-Gannon of Liv AlUla Jayco was forced to withdraw after two crashes, while Amanda Spratt suffered a fracture to her left hand and had to abandon. UAE Team ADQ’s Sofia Bertizzolo had to leave the race due to injuries sustained in another crash. Human Powered Health riders Barbara Malcotti and Marit Raaijmakers were unwell for several days and had to abandon ahead of the final stage. Australian rider Josie Talbot of Cofidis suffered an injury due to a crash and was not able to start on the final day. We wish all riders a speedy and complete recovery.

Financial pressures are reportedly forcing several national federations to reconsider sending full delegations to the 2025 Road Cycling World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, according to Belgian Cycling’s General Director, Nathalie Clauwaert. Several federations are struggling to secure the necessary funds to field complete teams for the event. “Hotels near the capital are charging exorbitant rates, leading to astronomical costs. The expense for our team would be twice as high as it was for the World Championships in Australia two years ago,” Clauwaert explained.

The world’s leading Olympic and World Track Champions will compete across three days of exciting racing in London. The inaugural London 3 Day at the Lee Valley VeloPark will be held in October and features riders such as Katie Archibald and Leah Evans.

In a significant move towards greater inclusivity, female riders have been invited to participate in the Red Bull Rampage in Utah, USA, for the first time. This iconic event, considered the pinnacle of freeride mountain biking since its inception in 2001, will take place on 10 October. The roster includes talented riders from Argentina, the USA, UK, Canada, and New Zealand, marking a historic moment for the sport.

Results

Zwift Blog

Abi Smith’s cycling questionnaire results revealed! Ever wondered how cyclists and non-cyclists think differently about breakfast carbs, coffee preferences and which races they’d most like to win? The results might surprise you! Find out here.

Voxwomen Club!

Calling all cycling enthusiasts. The Voxwomen Cycling Club is hosting a series of exciting rides on Zwift with our ambassadors and we’re inviting YOU to join. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just starting out, let’s pedal together, have fun and stay fit! More information can be found here.

This week in cycling history

Mieke Havik

Dutch rider Mieke Havik made history at the 1984 Women’s Tour de France by winning the first stage and becoming the inaugural wearer of the yellow jersey. She continued to dominate the race, securing victories in four additional stages. After retiring from professional cycling in 1987, Havik transitioned to a new career, establishing a haptotherapy practice in her hometown.

Sarah Kathryn Hammer

Sarah Hammer is one of the most accomplished U.S cyclists in the history of track cycling. Born on 18 August 1983, in Temecula, California, she made her mark as a dominant force in the velodrome, specialising in endurance events. Her versatility and endurance made her a strong contender on the track, and she earned numerous medals at both the World Championships and Olympic Games. Hammer announced her retirement from professional cycling in 2017 and subsequently took on the role of Associate Director of High Performance for U.S. Paralympics Cycling.

WorldTour highlight videos

Catch up on all the action from the latest WorldTour races! Watch highlights of the Tour de Femmes avec Zwift right here.