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Get your week started with the latest news in women’s cycling
This week marks a flurry of transfers, starting with Swiss rider Elise Chabbey, who joins FDJ-SUEZ for the next two years. Chabbey is the first Swiss athlete to have competed in two different disciplines at two Olympic Games: Kayak K1 in London 2012 and Road Cycling in Paris 2024. Chabbey’s impressive credentials include winning the national road championship title in 2020, securing fourth place at Paris-Roubaix in 2022, and claiming the mountain jersey at the Tour de Suisse in 2024.
Czech rider Julia Kopecký has signed with Team SD Worx-Protime. Born in the Netherlands, she has lived in Leiden all her life. Previously riding for AG Insurance – Soudal, she won the Tour de Feminin and finished second at the Volta NXT Classic this spring.
Chloé Dygert has extended her contract with CANYON//SRAM until 2026. The U.S. rider has achieved stage podium finishes at the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta Femenina España, Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, and Ford RideLondon Classique. Last month, she also secured a bronze medal in the individual time trial and a gold in the team pursuit at her third Olympic Games. Reflecting on her journey, Dygert has stated: “Over the past four years, I have faced more challenges than I care to admit, and the team has been there to support me through it all. For that, I am forever grateful.”
Skylar Schneider is making her return to Team SD Worx-Protime as a lead-out rider for Lorena Wiebes, having signed a contract extending through 2025. Previously, from 2018 to 2020, she competed for Boels-Dolmans before returning to the U.S. to ride professionally for Williams Racing Development for four years. In 2022, she also opened a bakery with her sister. Reflecting on her return to European racing next season, Schneider has stated: “While I was baking at night, I found myself watching all the women’s races happening in Europe. It became clear to me: racing is what ignites my passion and makes my heart race. I realised that I had to pursue my dream.”
Spanish ITT champion Mireia Benito has extended her contract with AG Insurance-Soudal for another two years. She aims to enhance her competitiveness in the time trial discipline next season, while balancing her cycling career with her studies in biotechnology.
Alana Castrique, who discovered her passion for cycling at just eight years old, is set to join AG Insurance – Soudal for the next two seasons. With seven years of experience in the peloton, she has her sights firmly set on her goals for 2025. Castrique aims to return to the Tour de France, secure a podium finish at the Belgian Road Championships, defend her title at the Belgian Gravel Championships, and earn selection for the European or World Championships. As a personal highlight, she hopes to finish in the top 20 at Paris-Roubaix once again.
Japanese rider Maho Kakita, the latest mid-season addition to EF Oatly-Cannondale, recently revealed in an interview with the Japanese media that she initially declined the team’s offer in 2022. At that time, she decided to focus on track cycling and her university studies. However, this year, she re-evaluated her options and accepted their renewed offer, making her debut as a stagiaire at the GP d’Isbergues.
Swiss rider Marlen Reusser had to miss the World Championships in her home country due to lingering post-COVID syndrome. Despite her determination to recover and compete, she found herself watching from the sidelines. We wish her a swift and complete recovery and look forward to seeing her back in action.
French rider Gladys Verhulst-Wild has stated that the GP Isbergues was her last race with FDJ-SUEZ, but has not announced a new team or plans fo the next season.
French media have shared encouraging possible news for Saint-Michel Auber 93. Although the team faced the prospect of closing due to the end of its partnership with a major title sponsor, a new partner is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. This financial boost is anticipated to provide the necessary resources for the team to compete at the Pro Team level in 2025. However, the final roster is still uncertain, as some riders may have already secured positions with other teams for the upcoming season. The team has submitted an application for Pro Team status for the upcoming season. In addition, VolkerWessels and Lotto Dstny are reportedly seeking to elevate their classification by also applying to the UCI.
The Uzbek women’s team Tashkent City Women’s PCT, which caused some controversy regarding its participation at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift this year, has reportedly folded. The team was founded and backed by the Uzbekistan Cycling Federation with the purpose of qualifying riders for the Paris Olympic Games. The team’s only finisher at the French race, Yanina Kuskova, posted on her Instagram “our team existed for three years, and it was a great time, and now it’s over.”
Vittoria Bussi has narrowly missed out on breaking the individual pursuit record by just three seconds before announcing her retirement from competitive cycling. The 37-year-old Italian athlete recently competed in Aguascalientes, Mexico, aiming to surpass the 3,000m individual pursuit record of 3:16.937, set by Chloé Dygert in 2020. Bussi finished with a time of 3:19.787, marking a new Italian record. In 2018, Bussi made history by setting the Hour Record, covering 48.007 km, a benchmark that stood for three years until it was surpassed by British time trial specialist Joss Lowen in 2021. Bussi then reclaimed the record last year, outpacing Ellen van Dijk’s distance by over a kilometre.
The UCI has called on all creative minds to design a World Championships jersey of the future. While the iconic rainbow jersey awarded to UCI World Champions across various cycling disciplines will remain unchanged, the winning design will be crafted into a unique jersey by Santini. This special edition will be sent to the winner along with exclusive products from the Santini x UCI collection. The competition is currently underway and will conclude on Sunday, September 29. Judges include UCI officials, Santini staff, and Italian rider Elisa Balsamo.
Kate Bates, Australian former national road champion and close friend of Amy Gillett – who tragically lost her life on a training ride in Germany – has been appointed the new General Manager of the Amy Gillett Foundation. Bates is dedicated to revitalising the foundation’s mission, focusing on enhancing road safety for cyclists and promoting education and advocacy throughout Australia.
Results
Road World Championships ITT: Grace Brown (AUS) ahead of Demi Vollering (NED) and Chloé Dygert (USA)
St Feuillien GP de Wallonie: Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) ahead of Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) and Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility)
Chrono Feminin de Gatineau: Franziska Brauße (CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling) ahead of Nadia Gontova (DNA Cycling) and Marta Kaskulska (CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling)
Tour de Gatineau: Letizia Paternoster (Liv AlUla Jayco) ahead of Marlies Mejias (Virginia’s Blue Ridge – TWENTY24) and Sarah van Dam (DNA Pro Cycling)
AG Tour de Semois:
Stage 1: Cat Ferguson (Movistar Team) ahead of Maëva Squiban (Arkea-B&B Hotels) and Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ)
Stage 2: Thalita de Jong (Lotto Dstny) ahead of Karlijn Swinkels and Mareille Meijering (Movistar Team)
GC: Karlijn Swinkels ahead of Thalita de Jong and Maeva Squiban
Zwift Blog
In her latest exclusive blog, Geerike Schreurs shares personal experiences from recent races to explain why separate starts for women’s gravel races are essential to guaranteeing fairness in the sport. Have a read of it here.
The Women’s Cycling Podcast
In our latest episode, Rebecca Charlton is joined by Olympian Lucy Martin to discuss her racing career and subsequent work in pro cycling. They also explore the progression of women into top roles within the sport. We meet Moroj Adil, the first Saudi woman to sign for a WorldTour team, for an inspirational chat. And finally, we look ahead to the World Championships with Liv AlUla Jayco DS Shawn Clarke Listen to it on Spotify here or on Apple podcasts here.
Voxwomen Club
Calling all cycling enthusiasts! Join the Voxwomen Club on Zwift for some exciting upcoming rides. The next one is coming up soon, so find out more here
This week in cycling history
Kristy Scrymgeour
Born on 20 September 1973, Scrimgeour is a former professional rider and two-time Australian national champion. Now 51 years old, she has worn several hats – from rider and press officer to team owner – working relentlessly to ensure that female riders have a platform to launch and advance their careers. Her journey into team management began in 2007 with Highroad, where she initially managed the women’s team. She later took on the role of communications director for both the men’s and women’s squads. When HTC-Highroad disbanded at the end of 2011, Scrymgeour worked to preserve the women’s team, leading to the creation of the highly successful Specialized-lululemon squad. After stepping away from active involvement in the sport, she founded a cycling apparel company and most recently opened a wine bar with her brother.
Christine Thorburn
The U.S. rider, who celebrated her 55th birthday on 17 September, initially found success as a distance runner. However, arthritis in her knees forced her discontinue. At Stanford University, she discovered a new passion for cycling, which would shape her future. After completing her medical studies and facing $140,000 in student loans, Thorburn was fortunate to secure a part-time position with her new employer, allowing her to continue training. Her cycling career boasts notable achievements, including winning the U.S. individual time trial championship title in 2004 and competing in two Olympic Games, where she only narrowly missed the podium. She was also a member of the U.S. team that earned a bronze medal in the team time trial at the 2006 World Championships in Salzburg. Now working as a rheumatologist, Thorburn still rides her bike for enjoyment and serves as one of nine former riders on the selection committee for USA Cycling.
WorldTour highlight videos
Watch the race recap of the 2024 Tour de Romandie Féminin here!
