Balsamo is back 💥
+ Laura Kenny announces her retirement
Hello lovely subscribers and welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly! 🚴♀️
After a turbulent 2023, Elisa Balsamo is well and truly back to winning form. I’ve always had a slight question mark over whether Balsamo is quite as fast as the likes of Charlotte Kool and Lorena Wiebes but, if the last two races are anything to go by, she’s the fastest woman in the peloton. Of course, the caveat is that Wiebes didn’t race and Kool has been ill but she still showed Lotte Kopecky a clean set of wheels at Binda. At De Panne, Human Powered Health’s Daria Pikulik rode to an impressive third in the sprint inching Chiara Consonni off the podium — there’s more sprint competition than ever.
Speaking of Wiebes not racing, I don’t really understand SD Worx not showing up at all to De Panne on Thursday. They cited too many injured riders but only mentioned Wiebes and Chantal van den Broek Blaak who crashed at Nokere, could they really not have gathered a 6-woman team at all?
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I got into the sport watching track as it was one of the few times it was possible to watch women race. Laura Kenny was one of the riders I was inspired by during that time and I am definitely not alone. After she announced her retirement this week here’s a look back at some of her best moments.
Enjoy the newsletter,
Amy x
News 📰
After an incredible career, Laura Kenny has announced her retirement from cycling.
Chloe Dygert was back racing at Classic Brugge-De Panne this week after an injury in December.
Fem van Empel will be on the road at Gent-Wevelgem for her season debut.
The route for the 2024 UCI Gravel World Championships has been revealed.
For the first time at Crankworx, there will be a women's category in Slopestyle this Sunday. You can watch it live on Red Bull TV.
Read 🗞️
Five Rides that changed me: Kathryn Bertine - Escape Collective
'I'll miss her laugh, her work ethic and her determination' - Elinor Barker on Laura Kenny's retirement - Cycling Weekly
Chloé Dygert: I’m bummed to miss Paris-Roubaix but I can’t take risks this year - GCN
Lauren De Crescenzo Goes Three-for-Three at The Mid South - Velo
Watch 📺
Listen 🎧
Paid supporters got a sneak peek of this last week but now my chat with Sarah Gigante is out in the world 🕺
Wheel Talk have the breakdown on Binda and look ahead to Gent-Wevelgem this weekend.
Results 🏆
Road
Tour de Normandie Féminin (2.1)
Stage 3:
Lauren Stephens (CYN)
Victoire Berteau (COF)
Gladys Verhulst-Wild (FST)
Stage 4:
Josie Nelson (DFP)
Ava Holmgren (LTK)
Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (UXM)
Overall:
Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (UXM)
Josie Nelson (DFP)
Ellen van Dijk (LTK)
Trofeo Alfredo Binda (1.WWT)
Elisa Balsamo (LTK)
Lotte Kopecky (SDW)
Puck Pieterse (FED)
Classic Brugge-De Panne (1.WWT)
Elisa Balsamo (LTK)
Charlotte Kool (DFP)
Daria Pikulik (HPH)
Upcoming races 📆
Road
Sunday 24th March: Gent - Wevelgem (1.WWT)
How to watch:
Wednesday 27th March: Dwars door Vlaanderen (1.Pro)
How to watch:
Live on Eurosport/Discovery+ from 15:55 CET.
Startlist here.
Friday fun 🕺
How hard can it be? 🦸🏼♀️
That’s all 👋
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Amy x