Hello! Welcome to Womenās Cycling Weekly š“āāļø
Everyoneās off down under (except us š¢) ready for worlds and not to sound like someoneās nan but AS IF itās already mid-September ā time flies!
Given the time differences and the general pandemonium around who can and canāt go, itās looking like it could be a bit of a weird one this year. While the womenās peloton arenāt facing the same difficulties that the ārelegation battleā on the menās side is causing, various logistical and financial barriers mean that some wonāt be able to go. Also the time difference means that people in Europe face a v early morning if they want to catch the road races! (Aussies and Kiwis donāt @ me for complaining about this š) On which note: read on for a v handy table with what time the races will be live in each time zone.
Iām getting ahead of myself anyway because thereās a whole TWO other issues of WCW between now and the womenās road race but the ITT is already taking place on Sunday (or is it Saturday, or Monday?) If, like me, youāve barely had chance to even look at the courses yet then luckily thereās an ITT preview here written by the one and only Abby Mickey!
P.s if you like slightly wonky disposable camera photos of bike races then youāll LOVE this weekās addish content for paid subscribers. ICYMI you can catch it here and if you havenāt yet then please consider supporting WCW by signing up!
Amy x
News š°
The Tour Down Under revealed the route of the first womenās edition of the race. The three-stage race will feature a sprint stage, a punchy day, and a final-day challenge on Corkscrew Road.
The Cyclistsā Alliance released the results of their annual Rider Survey this week, revealing the extent of pay disparity that still remains in the peloton.
After Coryn Labecki was sidelined through injury, Heidi Franz has been added to the USA team for Worlds.
The crowdfunding project to set up a new Australian womenās team has reached its goal of $100,000 after a big anonymous donation.
The Tour of Scandinavia organisers have reported impressive viewing figures for this yearās race, estimating a combined total of 16 million viewers across platforms across the six day race.
Spainās cycling governing body has revealed more details about the proposed minimum salary requirements for womenās UCI teams.
One of the teams that look ready to implement the new requirements is Laboral Kutxa, the Basque team who are now aiming at the WorldTour with a ā¬1.8 million budget.
The Mountain Bike World Championships will be held in Valais, Switzerland in 2025.
AusCycling has revealed its kit for the Wollongong Worlds, a special take on the green and gold bands that features artwork by Chernāee Sutton, a contemporary Indigenous artist from the Kalkadoon people.
A few transfers/extensions/retirements from this week (keep up here):
Fem van Empel will join Jumbo-Visma in 2023, where she will mix road racing with cyclocross and MTB.
Floortje Mackaij is following Liane Lippert to Movistar.
Teniel Campbell will stay with BikeExchange-Jayco through 2024.
Still recovering from iliac artery surgery, Tayler Wiles has re-signed with Trek-Segafredo, as has Elynor Backstedt.
Former Zwift Academy winner Tanja Erath announced her retirement, after finding it hard to return to the peloton after a big crash.
Read šļø
(strap in bc thereās a lot this week!)
Our very own Tilda spoke to a WCW fav (I know, I know weāre not meant to have anyā¦) Evie Richards about finishing on a high after a tumultuous season in the rainbow jersey.
On the MTB theme, Jess Blewitt unfortunately crashed and didnāt race RedBull Hardline last weekend, but she spoke to Pinkbike about being the first woman ever to attempt the huge features on the course.
Five conclusions from the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta.
ā¦but did it live up to its Grand Tour expectations? Tilda thinks not.
The three solo moves that earnt Annemiek van Vleuten āthe tripleā.
What rainbow curse? Elisa Balsamo couldnāt stop winning this year (can she do it again in Aus? š)
A reminder of why womenās cycling needs a proper U23 category.
Veronica Ewers is āliving is a nomadā in her first full year racing in Europe.
How Australian rider Georgie Howes made the leap from rower to cyclist.
Why Beryl Burton was the best of the best - āThink Serena Williams beating Roger Federerā
Another WCW fave Marley Blonsky on her journey on the bike and why cycling needs more body inclusivity for all.
Friend of the newsletter Rachel Jary turned gravel pro for the weekend - hereās how she and her BCM URS 01 got on.
š Analysing the French, Australian and USA teams heading to Wollongong.
š An interview with reigning junior champion Zoe Backstedt.
š After a difficult year of injurires, Leah Thomas is ānervous excitedā about Sundayās TT.
š A big chat with British national champion Alice Towers ahead of her first World Champs.
Watch šŗ
For the first time, the Movistar doco series The Least Expected Day features the womenās team too! Focusing mainly on Annemiek van Vleutenās exploits in 2021, watch the new series on Netflix (content warning: menās cycling š¤Ŗ)
Listen š§
Cross is coming, and Maghalie Rochetteās podcast is back!
TCP FĆ©minin is back with a big bumper episode:
And we talked about all things Ceratizit Challenge, and a few things Worlds (canāt escape it) on Freewheeling š£
Results š
Road
Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta:
Stage 4: Silvia Persico (VAL)
Stage 5: Elisa Balsamo (TFS)
Overall:
Annemiek van Vleuten (MOV)
Elisa Longo Borghini (TFS)
Demi Vollering (SDW)
Tour Cycliste FĆ©minin International de lāArdĆØche:
Stage 5: Antonia Niedermaier (CSG)
Stage 6: Silvia Zanardi (BPK)
Stage 7: Coralie Demay (AUB)
Overall:
Antonia Niedermaier (CSG)
Loes Adegeest (IBC)
Paula PatiƱo (MOV)
A Travers les Hauts de France: 1. Mischa Bredewold (PHV) 2. Marie-Morgane Le Deunff (ARK) 3. Yuliia Biriukova (ARK)
La Choralis Fourmies FĆ©minine: 1. Clara Copponi (FSF) 2. Valentina Basilico (BPK) 3. Maria Martins (LEW)Ā
Grand Prix de Wallonie: 1. Julie De Wilde (PLP) 2. Justine Ghekiere (PLP) 3. Yara Kastelijn (PLP)
AG Tour de la Semois: 1. Mischa Bredewold (PHV) 2. Maria Confalonieri (WNT) 3. Eleonora Gasparrini (VAL)
RƔs na mBan:
Stage 3: Kate Richardson (Alba Development Road Team)
Stage 4: Lara Gillespie (Ireland)Ā
Stage 5: Kate Richardson (Alba Development Road Team)
Stage 6: Maddie Leech (CAMS-Basso)Ā
Overall:
Kate Richardson (Alba Development Road Team)
Lieke van Zeelst (Greenmount CA)
Becky Storrie (CAMS-Basso)
Upcoming races šĀ
Road
18th-25th September: š UCI Road World Championships, Wollongong, Australia š¦šŗĀ
Sunday 18th: elite ITT
Preview here
Tuesday 20th: junior ITT
Wednesday 21st: mixed relay TT
Watch live on Eurosport, GCN+, BBC, FloBikes or SBS, depending on territory.
Not even going to try and put in all the different time zones (aka too early in Europe) but friend of the newsletter Sadhbh OāShea has put together a handy guide. Thanks Sadhbh! š
Ā
16th-17th September: AG Tour de la Semois (2.2)
Start list here
18th September: GP d'Isbergues - Pas de Calais FĆ©minin (1.2)
Friday fun šŗ
Weāre not crying, youāre crying š„ŗ
Follow Elisa Longo Borghiniās adventures in Aus! š¦
No ketchup on pasta or salad in risotto to be seen here ā
Thatās all š
Thanks for reading Womenās Cycling Weekly! š
If you want to see more from us then you can now become a paid subscriber!
Amy and Tilda x