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Get your week started with the latest news in women’s cycling
Olympic road race champion Anna Kiesenhofer is stepping into a new role in the world of cycling, joining the Dutch team Picnic–PostNL as a trainer. The Austrian rider, who stunned audiences with her solo victory at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, brings a combination of academic expertise and elite racing experience to the role. Known for her analytical mindset and knowledge of training science, Kiesenhofer holds a PhD in mathematics and has long been celebrated for blending intellectual rigor with athletic excellence. Her appointment marks a strategic step forward for Picnic – PostNL, a team often recognised for developing emerging talent. With Kiesenhofer on board, the squad is expected to benefit from a data-driven, highly individualised approach to performance training.
Ellen van Dijk of Lidl-Trek sustained injuries following a crash late in the Ronde van Lekkerkerk. Earlier in the day, she had competed in the time trial, finishing second behind Marianne Vos, with Anna van der Breggen placing third. The crash occurred toward the end of the event, prompting organisers to cancel the remainder of the race for safety reasons. We wish Ellen all the best for her recovery.
The 2025 European Gravel Championships have been awarded to the city of Avezzano, in the heart of the Abruzzo region in Italy. The event will take place on 21 September. The European Championships have already found a host for 2029 – and it’s Italy. More specifically, the province of L’Aquila, in the Abruzzo region. The choice of this date is symbolic, with 2029 marking the 20th anniversary of the earthquake that struck the region.
Kristen Faulkner of EF Education-Oatly successfully defended her national road race title last week in Charleston, outsprinting Lauren Stephens in a thrilling three-way dash to the line. It was the first major win of the double Olympic Champion. With less than a dozen racing days under her belt, she had a slow start to the season coming back from injury, remarking: “this season began very differently compared to last year. This was the first race where I really felt strong, and I really wanted to win.” Faulkner knew the finale would be tough, especially with Stephens closely marking her throughout the race. “I knew it would be hard to attack because Lauren was covering my moves all day,” she explained. “I’ve never won from a sprint before, but I told myself, if there was ever a day to make it happen, it has to be today. I’ve been working on my sprint all winter, and thankfully, it paid off.”
The organisers of the third edition of the Tour de l’Avenir Femmes, which will take place from 23 to 29 August, have released the course for 2025. Fifteen national teams will be at the start. The stages will be shared with those of the men’s race, with a few route variations. The winner will succeed Marion Bunel, who now rides for Visma-Lease a Bike. Team rosters will be published gradually on the race’s official website.
When Geerike Schreurs of SD Worx-Protime crashed in the early stages of the Traka 360 in early May and fractured her elbow, she faced a race against time to recover for one of the season’s most gruelling yet prestigious events: Unbound Gravel. Although the Dutch rider was unable to train and prepare as she had hoped due to the injury, she still managed to make it to the start line in Emporia. Read more here.
Audrey Cordon-Ragot has been awarded the prestigious title of Knight of the National Order of Merit. The Breton rider was recognised for her dedication to advancing women’s cycling, particularly through her involvement as vice president of an association supporting the sport. A former professional rider who retired earlier this season, Cordon-Ragot received the honour from the Ministry of Sports, Youth, and Community Life. Now serving as a consultant for Eurosport, she has also embraced trail running, notably winning the 19 km race at the Trail Glazig in February.
Fresh off securing the women’s record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe, ultra-endurance rider Lael Wilcox is now setting her sights on a new goal: breaking the overall world record. That means chasing the eight-year-old benchmark set by British ultra-endurance cyclist Mark Beaumont, who completed the 18,032-mile journey in 2017 in 78 days, 14 hours, and 40 minutes. To surpass Beaumont’s time, she will need to average nearly 230 miles per day – cutting an entire month off her previous attempt. For Wilcox, the mission is about more than just time. She hopes her efforts will inspire other women to pursue similar feats, pointing to a lack of visibility and access as key reasons why more women aren’t represented in ultra-endurance adventures.
Results
U.S.A. Road Championships: Kristen Faulkner ahead of Lauren Stephens and Katherine Sarkisov
Upcoming races
5-8 May: Tour of Britain
6-8 May: Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina
7 May: Antwerp Port Epic Classic
8 May: Dwars door de Westhoek
8 May: Alpes Gresivaudan Classic
Voxwomen Cycling Hub
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Members can check out the latest piece that delves into Lorena Wiebes’ mind as a sprinter: “I’m just really focused on the timing of the sprint. I was also a little bit surprised that Marianne went so early. I think she went at 250 meters to go or something. In my mind I was counting. I was looking at the signs next to the road. Okay, 300 meters to go, it’s still too early.” Check out how it unfolds here!
Voxwomen Club
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This week in cycling history
Diana Žiliūtė
Born on 28 May 1976, in Rietavas, Lithuania, Žiliūtė enjoyed a distinguished career that spanned more than a decade and was marked by numerous victories and accolades. She burst onto the international cycling scene in the late 1990s and quickly established herself as one of the sport’s most formidable competitors. Her breakthrough year came in 1998 when she claimed the UCI Road World Championship title, a defining moment in her career. That same year, she also triumphed in the prestigious Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale, often regarded as the women’s equivalent of the Tour de France at the time. A strong all-rounder, Žiliūtė excelled in both one-day classics and multi-stage races. Her palmarès includes numerous classic victories, stage wins, and high placements in Grand Tours. In 2000, she earned a bronze medal at the Sydney Olympic Games in the road race. She also dominated the UCI Road World Cup series, winning the overall title in both 1998 and 2000. After retiring from professional cycling in 2009, Žiliūtė remained active in the sport as a coach, sharing her knowledge and experience with aspiring riders and contributing to the development of the sport in Lithuania. She has also been engaged in various charitable endeavours, leveraging her platform to promote health, fitness, and community development.
