Your Monday Briefing

It has now been confirmed that the Lotto Thüringen Ladies Tour is cancelled. After the state of Thüringen withdrew its funding for the 37th edition of the event, the organisers were unable to make up the shortfall of 200,000 Euros necessary to run the competition.  At this stage, it is uncertain if the race will be return next season. The Thüringen Ladies Tour has consistently attracted a high-calibre field, featuring multiple WorldTour teams and star riders, and it is a loss to see the race disappear from the calendar.

Details about the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift have been limited so far, but it’s confirmed that the race will begin on British soil, featuring three stages across the U.K. It will be the second start of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift outside French borders — following the Grand Départ in the Netherlands in 2024. British fans can look forward to seeing top riders like Anna Henderson, Cat Ferguson, Pfeiffer Georgi and Zoe Bäckstedt, alongside rising talents such as Carys Lloyd and Imogen Wolff, all going head-to-head with the world’s best riders.

Elena Hartmann has joined CERATIZIT Pro Cycling, with her first race having been Trofeo Binda last weekend. She is a three-time national ITT champion and finished second at the 2023 Road Championships. The Swiss rider was previously part of Team Roland.

Marianne Vos kicked off her 20th professional season at last Sunday’s Trofeo Alfredo Binda, where she placed fourth. The Dutch cycling legend boasts an impressive 255 career wins, including multiple World Championship titles, Giro d’Italia victories, and an Olympic gold medal. Vos remains highly motivated and continues to thrive on challenging herself, showing no signs of slowing down as she pursues new goals in her career.

Double gold medallist Kristen Faulkner of EF Oatly-Cannondale is making her return to racing. The U.S. rider suffered a concussion during a training session in December but has since fully recovered. Her team has provided the necessary time for her to heal, and she felt no pressure to rush back into competition. Faulkner made her 2025 season debut at the start of Milano-Sanremo last weekend.

Voxwomen welcomes Colnago as partner of its news channel, both on its website and Apple News feed. This will enable Voxwomen to publish as much news content as possible from the world of women’s cycling.

Thalita de Jong of Human Powered Health was involved in a crash at Trofeo Binda and as a result suffered a broken collarbone. She had to have surgery and is now recovering at home.  We wish Thalita all the very best for her recovery. Fem van Empel narrowly avoided a crash with a spectator who crossed the road during the race, while Pfeiffer Georgi received a yellow card at Trofeo Binda for deviating from her chosen lane during the sprint. She is the first female rider in 2025 to receive a yellow card.

After years of competing at the highest level in cyclocross, Fem van Empel has made the decision to temporarily step back from racing. At this point, prioritising her mental well-being has become the most important consideration. Fem reflects: “The past few years have been an incredible journey, with three world and European titles at the top level of cyclocross. Achieving this has demanded immense dedication and daily commitment. Right now, I’m facing some personal challenges. After discussing it with my team, we’ve agreed that taking a break from racing is the best course of action for my mental health and overall well-being. I’ll concentrate on my recovery with the goal of returning stronger than ever.”

Rebecca Henderson won her 12th Australian national MTB title in a tight sprint. The 33-year-old rode with a fractured shoulder in windy and wet conditions, having sustained the injury at a crash in the opening lap of the race. Medical examination revealed the injury after the race but fortunately her ligaments were not damaged and no surgery was required. Her injuries mean that she will have to wait a while before launching into the UCI Mountain Bike World Series, set to get underway in Brazil in April, and she will also miss out on the Oceania Championships this weekend.

Two riders have left the British Continental squad Hess Cycling following months of uncertainty regarding the team’s future, which remains unregistered with the UCI.  Esther Wong and Laura Lizette Sander, two of Hess’s 14 riders, have both confirmed moves to new teams. Wong has signed with Irish club team Torelli, while Estonian champion Sander has joined Norwegian Continental team Coop-Repsol. The team has not competed in any events in 2025, although some riders have raced individually, wearing unmarked kit. A representative for the team has stated that Hess Cycling Team’s season will officially start on March 23rd at the Midwest Classic in Belgium.  A statement by the UCI on the team is expected soon.

The first major gravel event in the USA, and one of  gravel racing’s marquee races, Mid South Gravel, had to be cancelled due to high winds and wildfires. Riders were concerned with air quality, and conditions deteriorated a day before the race, officials cancelled the event. Race organisers have said they are putting together a wildlife relief fund to aid those impacted by the fires.

Ribble has launched an all-British gravel squad including Sophie Wright, formerly of Fenix-Deceuninck, and time trial specialist Hayley Simmonds. The Ribble Outliers is a six-rider team made up of seasoned gravel pros and WT riders and will compete in the calendar’s biggest events.

The 2024 Cycling and Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Zurich is facing a financial shortfall of approximately CHF 4.5 million. As a result, the city and canton of Zurich have stepped in to cover the outstanding debts. The city council has expressed its readiness to provide the necessary support to help the association restructure its finances and avoid potential harm from private creditors.

A recent report reveals a staggering 139% increase in ad spending on women’s sports last year. This surge is nearly in sync with a 131% rise in televised coverage across key women’s sports, such as basketball and tennis, contributing to a total ad investment of over $244 million. The numbers present a clear opportunity for growth in women’s pro cycling, but a major hurdle remains: inconsistent coverage. The report aims to inspire sport planners and broadcasters to enhance their programming and expand their reach, showcasing the most exciting races to a wider audience. While niche sports like pro cycling currently contribute a small fraction to these figures, the overall trend is undeniably positive. It underscores the essential need for broader access and consistent television coverage to elevate the sport to new heights.

The winner of the newly rebooted women’s Milano-Sanremo will take home just 11% of the prize money awarded to the male winner, highlighting the ongoing disparity in women’s pro cycling despite its growing visibility. The first rider to cross the finish line will earn €2,256, while the male winner will receive €20,000. Organisers are aware of this significant gap and are hopeful that the payout will be increased in the future.

The 2024 Cycling and Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Zurich is facing a financial shortfall of approximately CHF 4.5 million. As a result, the city and canton of Zurich have stepped in to cover the outstanding debts. The city council has expressed its readiness to provide the necessary support to help the association restructure its finances and avoid potential harm from private creditors.

British Infinity Events Group is planning to bring the Tour of Colorado back to the state in September 2026, marking the return of professional-level stage racing for the first time since 2019. The group has secured support from the Colorado Governor and USA Cycling to move forward with event planning. The next crucial step is securing sponsorships. In terms of timing, the race is expected to coincide with the existing late-season North American racing block in September. The inaugural year will feature a men’s-only race, with plans to introduce a women’s race in the future. The organisers commented on the plans to stage a women’s event at a later stage: “It’s not ideal but let’s get one up and running and get that going and then bring the other one on.”

Milano-San Remo Donne: Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) ahead of Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Noemi Rüegg (EF Education – Oatly)

Danilith Nokere Koerse: Marta Lach (SD Worx-Protime) ahead of Linda Zanetti (Uno-X Mobility) and Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ)

Leontine Zijlaard-van Moorsel

Leontine Zijlaard-van Moorsel, born on 22 March 1970, is a retired Dutch professional cyclist who enjoyed an illustrious career in road racing and track cycling. She was one of the most successful female riders of her time, winning multiple World Championships and earning Olympic gold in the 2000 Sydney Olympics in both the individual pursuit and road race. She also held the Hour Record from 2003 until 2015. For eight years during the 1990s, she battled anorexia before eventually overcoming it.  After retiring from the sport, she started to run Leontien huis, a place where survivors of anorexia and sufferers of the illness come together to learn from and support each other.

Regina Schleicher

The now 51-year-old German-born sprinter Regina Schleicher won the 2005 World Road Championships, and was also a national champion. Her father, who was a cycling coach, played a significant role in her career, guiding her to numerous successes, including U23 national titles, elite national titles, and her victory at the Road World Championships in Madrid in 2005. Schleicher relocated from Germany to Northern Italy early in her career to benefit from better weather and training conditions. However, in 2007, she suffered a serious fall that resulted in major injuries, ultimately leading to her retirement in 2010. Following her retirement from professional cycling, she pursued a career outside of sports. She completed training as a pre-school teacher and later ventured into beekeeping. In recent years, she has been running a bee farm in Camaiore, Tuscany, supplying locally sourced honey to regional markets and tourists.