Your Monday Briefing

Voxnews

Get your week started with the latest news from the world of women’s cycling:

Lizzie Deignan has announced that she will make a return to racing at Amstel Gold Race on 21 April. She had initially planned to re-commence her season in June, however, she will be pinning on the race numbers earlier than originally expected. Her first few events after the Dutch race include Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour de Yorkshire, and the Tour of California.
Ale Cipollini announced that it will be requesting a WorldTeam license in 2020. If the team’s application is successful, it would become the only Italian team to so far hold a license at this level. This comes as part of the UCI’s plans to create a tiered system of women’s racing, consisting of WorldTeams and Continental Teams, with there being 5 top-tier teams in 2020 which have to pay a minimum salary, among other requirements.

Lotta Lepistö (Trek – Segafredo) won the first stage of the Healthy Ageing Tour, while Mieke Kröger (Team Virtu Cycling) took out the second stage. Kirsten Wild (WNT Rotor Pro Cycling Team) prevailed on Stage 3. Ellen van Dijk (Trek – Segafredo) won Stage 4a, while Lisa Brennauer (WNT Rotor Pro Cycling Team) won Stage 4b. Kirsten Wild (WNT Rotor Pro Cycling) took out the final stage, with Lisa Klein (Canyon // SRAM Racing) prevailing in the general classification ahead of Ellen van Dijk (Trek – Segafredo) and Kirsten Wild (WNT Rotor Pro Cycling Team).
At East Cleveland Klondike, the opening round of this year’s HSBC UK National Road Series, Anna Henderson (Drops) won ahead of Joscelin Lowden (Brother.uk Fusion RT) and Leah Dixon (Brother UK – Tifosi p/b OnForm).
Chloe Dygert (Sho – Air Twenty20) won Stage 4 of the Joe Martin Stage race ahead of Emma White (Rally UHC Cycling) and Lily Williams (Hagens Berman / Supermint). Dygert ended up winning the general classification as well, with Shannon Malseed (Mix Team – Tibco) and Sara Bergen (Rally UHC Cycling) rounding out the podium.
Marta Bastianelli (Team Virtu Cycling) took out the Ronde van Vlaanderen ahead of Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton – SCOTT) and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Bigla).
Jutatip Maneephan (Thailand Women’s Cycling Team) won the Women’s Tour of Thailand.

Voxwomen podcast host Abby Mickey penned this moving piece about friendships within pro cycling teams: “Friendships so strong they last past retirement. Recently my team was shaken. Actually, shaken isn’t quite a strong enough word… torn. Ripped right down the middle.” You can read the piece here.
“How are you so good at mountain biking when you live in Norfolk!?” Sophie Wright answers this question in her latest exclusive blog for us. And you can catch it right here!
Did you catch Audrey Cordon-Ragot’s thought-provoking blog about the formation of a new French riders’ association? Read all about it here.

Listen to our second podcast of the year right here. Your host Abby Mickey talks to Laura Winter about the races which have unfolded so far. You can also hear exclusive rider interviews direct from the races, right here via the podcast!

We sat down with Anna Christian of Drops Cycling, to hear how she got into cycling, her aims for 2019, and much more. Watch the video on our Youtube channel here.
Check out this exclusive video, featuring our own Abby Mickey: “The reason I love cycling is because of the people, people who completely changed my life. I met the love of my life through this sport.” Get to know more about our podcast host right here in this not-to-be-missed video!

Places are running out for the Voxwomen Big Week Off! Fancy a week of social riding, nutritional advice and yoga sessions in the picturesque Spanish countryside? You can now secure your place in this fantastic event by paying a non-refundable deposit of £150. There are a maximum of 14 places at the event, so you can have peace of mind that you are going to be part of the event, and then pay in installments. If you would like to take advantage of this, then click here.

13 April is the birthday of Welsh former professional rider Nicole Cooke. In her career, she won races such as La Fleche Wallonne (three times), Amstel Gold Race, the Ronde van Vlaanderen, and the Giro Rosa. She also won the Olympic Road Race, World Championships Road Race, Commonwealth Games Road Race, National Road Race Championships (1999, 2001-2009), and the National Cyclo-cross Championships. She retired at the age of 29.

13 April is also the birthday of Billie Fleming. In 1938, she set the record for the most miles cycled in a year: 29603. She passed away in 2014 at the age of 100, and her record stood until 2015.

Want to shop our range of quality cycling clothing and accessories? It couldn’t be any easier than heading over to our online store. Plus, you’ll be supporting Voxwomen so we can continue to bring you the best content that women’s cycling has to offer!