Your news
Get your week started with the latest news in women’s cycling
Kristen Faulkner won gold in both the road race and team pursuit at the Paris Olympics, an achievement that catapulted her into the spotlight. Since then, she’s experienced an explosion of attention, with a stream of media requests, public appearances, and speaking engagements. As a result, she has adjusted her schedule for the upcoming season. “I’m going to have a pretty late start this year, just taking things easy,” explains the EF Education-EasyPost rider. “I’m skipping Australia, skipping UAE, and I’m not doing a lot of the classics. I’m taking it slow because my off-season was so busy, and I’ve had some recent health issues. So, I’m not starting the season as strong as I have in the past.” Now, with a more balanced approach, Faulkner has set her sights on the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, aiming for a strong performance in one of the biggest events of the calendar.
Unfortunately, Sarah van Dam of CERATIZIT Pro Cycling Team was clipped by the wing mirror of a van during a training ride in Adelaide. She thankfully didn’t come down but reported pain in her shoulder as a result of the impact. After x-rays it was discovered that she has a broken collarbone, sadly ruling her out of the remaining races in Australia. Luckily, she did not require surgery and so could head home to Canada to rest. We wish Sarah a speedy recovery.
Marianne Vos was unable to start at the Cyclocross World Championships in Liévin last weekend due to a calf injury sustained in a crash in Maasmechelen. The injury led to her decision to skip the event in order to avoid further damage. National Coach Gerben de Knegt expressed his disappointment, saying, “Of course, we find this incredibly unfortunate. As an eight-time world champion, we were all hoping to see Marianne compete for another title. However, we knew it would be tough after her fall.” We wish Marianne a speedy recovery.
Lieke Nooijen of Team Visma| Lease a Bike suffered a broken vertebra after an accident during an indoor strength training session at team camp. She underwernt successful surgery but recovery will take some time, meaning she will not be able to take part in the spring races. We wish Lieke all the best for her recovery.
Demi Vollering has opened up about her mental health struggles during last year’s Tour de France Femmes, revealing that she battled with anxiety on the penultimate stage, particularly due to the pressure of racing through Le Grand Bornand. She described feeling weighed down by pressure as she navigated the expectations surrounding her. Vollering entered the race as one of the favorites for the overall win, but her ambitions took a hit early on. A crash on stage five left her with a fractured tailbone, a painful setback that further complicated her efforts.
Team Roland is one of the few of the 15 WorldTour teams to start the season without an additional title sponsor. Last year’s squad was already extremely thin with 12 riders. As in the previous season, more than half of the squad was replaced. After a two-year guest appearance, Anna Kiesenhofer, Olympic Champion in Tokyo, left the team with an unknown destination. The departure of Elena Hartmann is likely to be another painful loss. The 34-year-old Swiss athlete was by far their most successful rider in 2024.
The 2025 team selection for Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2025 has been published. 15 UCI WorldTour teams and nine invited teams will be at the start. The invitees include, among others, Arkea B&B Hotels, Cofidis, EF Education-Oatley, Lotto Ladies and Team Coop-Repsol.
Cycling Time Trials, which governs time trialling in the UK, has voted through a series of new road bike regulations designed to close down loopholes and clarify the rules around the sport. The new regulations were voted through at the weekend’s CTT AGM in Northamptonshire UK, with more wide-ranging regulations also passed, covering aerodynamic skinsuit padding and handlebar reach.
Zoe Bäckstedt has explained her decision to compete for the U23 title at the weekend’s cyclocross World Championships, despite being one of the top-ranked riders in the world. As the defending champion, Bäckstedt plans to stay in the U23 category for both this year and next year, focusing on building her experience before making the leap to elite competition. Currently ranked as the best U23 rider globally, having clinched the overall title in her age category at the UCI World Cup, Bäckstedt is also sitting in an impressive fourth place in the UCI elite standings. Despite this, she’s not in a rush to move up. “I don’t want to jump too early into elite and potentially regret my decision,” she explained. “So, I decided this year that I will battle for the U23 title.”
While some of the nation’s top U.S. cyclists have secured contracts abroad, many up-and-coming female riders are struggling to gain the experience and exposure needed to compete at the professional level. To help bridge this gap, apparel company JAKROO is once again launching a Women’s Composite Team, aimed at providing aspiring female cyclists with access to high-level competition. The company has opened its invite-only application process for riders to compete at prestigious events such as the 2025 Redlands Bicycle Classic and Armed Forces Cycling Classic. “It’s a tough landscape right now,” said Kristen Arnold, the Women’s Development Road Director for Team USA. “There are fewer women’s elite teams than there have been in the last decade. I personally know many riders looking for opportunities because so many teams have folded, and they simply don’t have the means or resources to move to Europe and try to secure spots on European teams. As a result, they’re searching for opportunities to race here in the U.S.”
The UCI has announced that Italian rider Eva Lechner, who holds the national title in cyclocross, road racing and mountain bike racing, and Felipe Orts of Spain, will represent the discipline of cyclocross on the UCI Athletes’ Commission from September 2025. The two were the only candidates and their role could be confirmed without an election being necessary.
The recent troubling developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo have raised concerns about the upcoming World Cycling Championships, scheduled to take place in Rwanda from September 21 to 28. Although the event is still months away, the current instability in the region and the potential for the conflict to spill over into Rwanda has created uncertainty. As of now, the organisers are optimistic that the event will proceed as planned. However, the UCI has already prepared a contingency plan. If necessary, the World Championships could be relocated to Switzerland, similar to the 2024 edition. The Swiss route would aim to replicate the demanding terrain and elevation features of Rwanda, ensuring minimal disruption to riders’ schedules while maintaining the race’s challenging nature.
Results
Surf Coast Classic: Ally Wollaston (FDJ-SUEZ) ahead of Chloe Dygert (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) and Georgia Baker (Liv AlUla Jayco)
Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx: Thalita de Jong (Human Powered Health) ahead of Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) and Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly)
Cadel Evans Road Race: Ally Wollaston ahead of Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) and Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly)
Voxwomen Cycling Hub
Voxwomen has launched the Voxwomen Cycling Hub, a paid membership packed with exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, discounts, and more. By joining, you’re not only unlocking premium perks, but also directly supporting the growth of women’s cycling. Don’t miss out on this chance to dive deeper into the sport you love and be part of a community that’s driving real change. Sign up today and help us elevate women’s cycling together!
Blog
Why isn’t pro cycling leading the charge on sustainability? From excessive travel to wasteful practices, Lizzie Stannard’s blog explores how women’s cycling can embrace climate action and make meaningful changes for a greener future. Read her ideas right here.
Voxwomen Club
Calling all cycling enthusiasts! Join the Voxwomen Club for some exciting upcoming rides. The next one is coming up soon, so find out more here.
This week in cycling history
Marianne Vos
Vos made history on 29 January 2006 when she claimed her first of eight Cyclocross World Championship title at the age of just 19. This victory marked a turning point in her career and established her as a dominant force in the world of cyclocross. The race took place in Zeddam, the Netherlands, on a challenging and muddy course that tested the riders’ skills and endurance. Despite being one of the youngest competitors, Vos showcased her talent, speed, and ability to handle the technical aspects of cyclocross – skills that would later define her legendary career. At that time, she was already an established name in Dutch cycling, having won multiple national titles, but the World Championship win put her on the map internationally. She won the race by a considerable margin, outclassing a strong field of riders and securing a future that would see her dominate both cyclocross and road racing for years to come. Vos’ victory was particularly significant because it helped elevate women’s cyclocross into the global spotlight. Her combination of technical prowess, mental toughness, and fierce competitiveness made her one of the most well-rounded riders in the sport.
