More mums making a comeback 💪
+ the cross world is heading to Val di Sole
Hello lovely subscribers and welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly! 🚴♀️
Since I spent last Friday on the sofa recovering from food poisoning I didn’t get to say much about the fact that next week we’ll find out more about the route for the Giro d’Italia Women, newly acquired by RCS. Although the race will be just 8 days long, down from ten, we can (hopefully) expect an actual, professionally-run event which will make up for the loss of two stages. I’m intrigued to see what the new organisers will do with the route and while I’ll be miffed if they under sell the women (and us) on stage distances and challenging terrain, I’m not all that fussed about the number of stages just yet. Quality over quantity, right?
Anyway, just a few days before we’ll know more. In the meantime there’s plenty of great reading this week plus the news that Ellen van Dijk and Chantal van den Broek-Blaak are planning their respective returns to racing after becoming mothers in 2023.
Enjoy!
Amy x
News 📰
New mum Ellen van Dijk has told Dutch outlet AD that she intends to continue her career after 2024, as long as it doesn’t negatively affect her family life, explaining that she intends to target the Olympic Games in Paris next year and has not ruled out an attempt at re-claiming the Hour Record.
On the subject of new mothers: SD Worx announced last week that Chantal van den Broek-Blaak will be joining their December training camp, six months after giving birth to her daughter, Noa.
The route for the women’s ITT at the 2024 Zurich world championships has been released.
Mid-week races will return to the calendar during the week of Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in the Australian state of Victoria next January. The women will race the Geelong Classic on the 24th before the UCI Women’s WorldTour level road race on the 27th.
The route for the 2.1 level Tour de Normandie Femmes has been announced. The route comprises four stages including an ITT in Bagnoles-de-l'Orne.
Read 🗞️
Should women’s cycling have three week grand tours? - CyclingNews
Unsung Heroes: Katrine Aalerud on Going from Partying to Racing, Working with Annemiek Van Vleuten - Velo
A suitcase full of maple syrup and dreams of Europe - Escape Collective
“Physically I wasn’t done, but mentally I was“ - Victoria Pendleton on leaving cycling and what came next - Rouleur (originally from magazine issue 119)
Double off-road World Champion Isabella Holmgren sets sights on road racing in 2024 - CyclingNews
New year, new team, same goal, a conversation with EF Education-Cannondale's Esra Tromp - Escape Collective
Drama, duels and dominance: Why the 2023 women’s cycling season was one to remember - Rouleur
Veronica Ewers Felt ‘Pretty Low for Quite Some Time’ after Tour De France Femmes Crash - Velo
Women’s glucose levels dip lower than men’s after exercise, study finds - Cycling Weekly
Danni Shrosbree: Bring on the off season, then Unbound again - CyclingNews
As British Gymnastics introduces regulations about weighing athletes, should cycling take note? - Rouleur
The problem with Strava messaging is not Strava messaging, it's an environment where women don't feel safe exercising alone or existing online - Cycling Weekly
Zoe Bäckstedt: ‘Obviously, I Want to Win Everything, That Is Why I Ride a Bike’ - Velo
Rocks to riches - gravel racing soars with bigger cash purses, flashy prizes, and rising stars - CyclingNews
Watch 📺
Maja Wróblewska on training at the UCI World Cycling Centre
Listen 🎧
Abby Mickey chatted to EF General Manager Esra Tromp for Wheel Talk
Alison Jackson in conversation with Matt Stephens
An interesting in-house pod from EF
Results 🏆
CX
Superprestige #5: Boom
Fem van Empel 🇳🇱
Puck Pieterse 🇳🇱
Annemarie Worst 🇳🇱
🇫🇷 UCI Cyclocross World Cup #5: Flamanville, France
Lucinda Brand 🇳🇱
Marie Schreiber 🇱🇺
Leonie Bentveld 🇳🇱
Upcoming races 📆
CX
Sunday 10th December: 🇮🇹 UCI Cyclocross World Cup #7: Val di Sole, Italy
How to watch:
Live on Eurosport/GCN+ from 13:00 CET.
Startlist here.
Friday…fact?
It’s been ten years of Ceratizit-WNT in its various forms.
That’s all 👋
Thanks for reading Women’s Cycling Weekly! 💘
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Amy x
Have EVERYTHING crossed that the Giro works out!