Thanks for continuing to be part of the journey!

• We’re looking forward to continue bringing you all the news, events, results and exclusives from the world of women’s cycling in 2021.
• Until the end of this month, all our mailing list subscribers can enjoy a discount in our online shop. Just use the discount code ENJOY2021 in our online store to receive a 30% discount on your purchase!

Voxnews

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

• Cofidis team president Thierry Vittu has revealed that Cofidis is planning to launch a women’s team in 2022. The French outfit already has a men’s pro team and a paracycling section and with the majority of the 5,500 people working for the company being women, he announced that a women’s team would represent better what the company stands for.
• Reigning CX word champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot signed with   the Absolute Absalon- BMC cross country team.  The French rider became the first elite rider, male or female, to hold elite titles in road, cyclocross and XC mountain bike concurrently in 2015.
• Sophie de Boer, who rode for Parkhotel-Valkenburg last year, will be racing for a private sponsor Mascot XL until the end of this cyclocross season.
• Team Hitec Products and the Tour of Norway have started a collaborative project. The Norwegian squad, the only Scandinavian UCI women’s team, will serve as ambassadors for the WorldTour race and promote the event on their channels and new team cars.
• The 2021 Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits in Victoria, Australia, has become another casualty of COVID-19, with funding unable to be secured in time for the race, which was planned for the end of January. The event attracted in the past international as well as Australian riders but has now been postponed until 2022.
• A last minute offer by Bingoal Casin, a Belgian cycling betting company, has saved the UCI team of Chevalmeire, which will be riding under the new name of Bingoal Casino – Chevalmeire Cycling Team in 2021.
• The Giant group will be among the sponsors of 2021 for R. Monex Liv Pro Cycling Team. The athletes will ride on Liv branded bikes, a brand that Giant has been promoting exclusively for women since 2008.
• 21-year Italian rider Gala Benzi will join A.R. Monex Liv Pro Cycling Team this year. The young rider was previously involved in windsurfing but showed great promise on the road as well.
• Fausto Scotti, technical commissioner of the Italian national cyclocross team, has announced in an interview his goal to bring the 2026 Cyclocross World Championships to Rome. Until 2025 the championships will be hosted by Oostende, Fayetteville, Tabor and Lievin. The 2026 event will be awarded to the successful bidder in September this year.
• A new British team Pro-Noctis Redchilli Bikes Heidi Kjeldsen will race in 2021.
• IOC member Dick Pound has expressed uncertainty about the Tokyo Olympics in an interview. The Japanese city has recently declared a state of emergency over Covid-19. The Canadian IOC member suggested that athletes should be vaccinated to ensure that as many international participants as possible are able to participate at the Games. What this all means for riders named for their respective national squads still remains unclear.

Results

National Cyclocross Championships:

• Hungary: Kata Blanka Vas, Virag Gergeley, Sara Leanyvari
• Spain: Lucia Gonzales Blanco, Aida Nuno Palacio, Sara Cueto Vega
• Austria: Najda Neigl, Cornelia Holland, Fiona Klein
• France: Amandine Fouquenet, Perrine Clauzel, Marion Norbert Riberolle
• Belgium: Sanne Cant, Lotte Kopecky, Alicia Franck
• Czech Republic: Pavla Havlíková ahead of Nicola Noskova and Karla Stěpánová
• Denmark: Carloline Bohé, Sofie Heby Pedersen, Signe Koch
• Switzerland: Nicole Koller, Zina Barhoumi, Charline Fragniere
• Italy: Alice Maria Arzuffi, Chiara Teocchi, Eva Lechner

Zwift Blog

• In her latest blog, Christine Majerus reflects on the 2020 road season, the return of cyclocross, and starting next year in the colours of SD Worx.
• Junior Road Race World Champion Megan Jastrab has penned a new exclusive blog, in which she tells us about lost opportunities to race during her final year as a junior, and how she coped with this challenging situation.

The Voxwomen Podcast

• Our latest podcast with the winners of the Voxwomen Sharon Laws Rider of the Year Awards is now available right here. Listen to Hannah Walker’s chat with Lisa Brennauer and Liane Lippert about how they tackled the unique 2020 season.
• You can also catch up on our previous podcasts right here.

Videos of the Week

• Wondering how to get properly kitted out for your next ride? In this video, we show you the basics of heading out with the right clothing, so you can take on your ride with confidence!

Exclusive from Voxwomen

• In collaboration with Peloton Magazine, Laura Winter tests the Specialized Women’s Power Pro Saddle with Mimic Technology. If you’re looking for a saddle specifically designed for women’s needs and tested for maximum comfort, this could just be the one! Read all about it here.
• Did you catch our “How To” section on our website? Whether it’s descending, climbing, getting comfortable, or training in winter, we’ve got you covered with our easy and informative guides.

Keep updated about upcoming events

• Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep updated on our latest events and announcements, such as Instagram takeovers by pro-riders during the week, and much more!
• All our latest posts are also featured on our homepage, making it easier for you to keep up with our newest content.

This week in cycling history…

• French rider Lyli Herse was born on 6 January 1928 and competed in the first ever Women’s Tour de France in 1955, where she finished in fourth place. She was a strong climber and between 1956 and 1967 she won the French national road title nine times. Herse was introduced to cycling at an early age, as her father owned a bicycle manufacturing business. After retiring from active competition, she became a coach working with Geneviève Gambillon who won two word titles in  road racing. Later on, she took over her father’s factory. She eventually passed away a few days short of her 90^th birthday in 2018.
• On 6 January 1896, the first Six-day bicycle indoor race for US women started in Madison Square Garden, New York, five years after the men’s first event and a couple of years later than the six day races already under way for the female riders in Britain. These races were grueling and physically demanding events, involving feats of endurance and mental strength.

Voxwomen Online Shop

• Don’t forget your 30% discount on selected purchases in our store with your code: ENJOY2021
• In addition to cycling clothing, we’re also offering off-bike casual clothing for both women and men. Our organic cotton products are printed in the U.K. in a renewable energy-powered factory. Follow the amazing journey of the products from seeds to online shop to learn more about the manufacturing process and the people who make them.
• All your purchases help us to create more Voxwomen content!

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