A note from Voxwomen…
- On 28 February, we celebrated our sixth birthday. So yesterday, across our social media platforms, we reflected on our journey so far. Head over to our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels to have a look!
- Six years ago, we asked women’s cycling fans to #bepartofthejourney to bring more media attention to our sport, as we launched our very first video. We’ve come a long way since that time, and the journey still continues.
- Together with our partners, we’re planning to make 2021 the biggest yet in the coverage of women’s cycling. And we’d like to say thanks to all of the riders, teams, brands and contributors who have worked with us so far, and also to every single fan who has read our content, donated to the blog and believed that this sport truly deserves the coverage which you have helped to create. We’re excited that you’re joining us as we continue the journey!
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Voxnews
Get your week started with the latest news in women’s cycling:
- The Healthy Ageing Tour will be held between 10 and 12 March. The event, which has been reduced to three days this year, will take place on a closed course with no spectators permitted on the roadside. Having lost revenue due to COVID-19, the race organisers have set up a crowd funding campaign in order to gather €9,500 to be able to live stream the race to as many fans as possible.
- The first edition of the Women’s Itzulia stage race has been cancelled, however, the Clasica San Sebastián, scheduled for July 31, will still go ahead.
- The 68th edition of Olympia’s Tour, the oldest stage race in The Netherlands (continental and club level), planned for 9 – 12 March, will not go ahead this year. However, organisers are planning the next edition of the race for 2022.
- The Tour of Flanders has announced the 24 teams that will battle it out at the race on 4 April this year.
- 24 teams will take to the start of the inaugural Paris-Roubaix Femmes, including 9 WT teams and 15 continental squads. Cyclocross riders Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Annemarie Worst, Yara Kastellijn and Sanne Cant will participate in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix via the team wild cards.
- Anna van den Breggen has been nominated for the 2021 Laureus World Sports Women of the Year. The awards, presented this May, honour individuals and teams for various sporting achievements. The awards support the work of Laureus Sport for Good, which assists over 160 community projects in more than 40 countries. These programs aim to use the power of sport to end violence, discrimination and systemic disadvantage.
- The UCI Disciplinary Commission has suspended Patrick Van Gansen from exercising any function in cycling for a period starting retroactively from 16 April 2020 and extending until 31 December 2022. The UCI’s press release further notes that the organisation will set up a platform for whistleblowers and also provide dedicated codes of conduct as well as publish awareness-raising material in regards to any type of harassment or inappropriate behaviour.
- The UCI has announced its updated COVID-19 protection guidelines. While COVID-19 PCR tests, mask wearing and physical distancing are to stay in 2021, saliva-based PCR tests will now also be accepted.
- The UCI previously published its guidelines for rider safety at men’s and women’s races. Some of the measures will come into effect immediately, while others will be implemented progressively. New rules ban certain aerodynamic bike positions, introduce heavier fines for littering and mandate race organisers to implement greater safety measures. This week, the sanctions for those not following the new rules were also published.
- Ayesha McGowan, a satellite rider for LIV Cycling in 2021, will co-host the “The Abundance Summit” together Jools Walker and Olivia Williams on 26 and 27 March via YouTube.
- In some different news, Volkswagen will now be leasing bikes in Germany. The offer for bikes ranges from €500 to €10,000 and can include helmets and other accessories. More than 600 bike shops across Germany will offer the service. A further incentive for employees to sign up for this scheme is that they can also take advantage of tax benefits by paying for the bike directly from their gross salary.
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Results
- At Omloop het Niewsblad, Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx) won ahead of Movistar’s Emma Norsgaard Jørgensen and Amy Pieters (SD Worx).
- Erica Magnaldi (Ceratizit WNT Pro Cycling) won Trofeo Citta di Ceriale ahead of Debora Silvestri (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo) and Leticia Borghesi (Team Aromitalia Vaiano).
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Zwift Blog
- Canadian rider Alison Jackson of Liv Racing gives you an entertaining update on what she has been up to at home. Have a watch of her entertaining vlog here!
- Our newest blogger, Mavi Garcia of Alé BTC Ljubljana, has written her first exclusive piece, where she shares her experience of becoming a pro. The Spanish rider came to cycling rather late, after having been involved in other sports, but upon making the switch, quickly made great strides in her newly-chosen field. The blog is available in both English and Spanish!
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Keep updated on social media!
- 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!
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This week in cycling history…
- The Dutch former rider Petra de Bruin turned 58 on 22 February. In 1979, at only 17 years of age, she won the Road World Championships in Valkenburg in her native country in a narrowly contested sprint. That year, she was crowned Dutch Sportswoman of the year and went on to win – four times – the national championships in the road and track discipline and four stages at the Tour de France Féminin.
- This week in 2006, the inaugural Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, formerly known as Omloop Het Volk, took place in Belgium. Its first winner was Dutch rider and former national road champion Suzanne de Goede.
- Ethel Brambleby passed away on 22 February 2011 at the age of 93. The British rider did much to achieve the acceptance of women in cycling. The start of her time trial career, which was her strongest discipline, took place in men’s events. However, the Road Racing Council quickly banned this practice, declaring women were only to ride against women. Brambleby was not only active in the competitive side of cycling, having held several records, but also organised events including national championships, held committee positions and wrote for various cycling publications. She went on to become a lifelong campaigner for women’s participation in the sport of cycling.
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