Opening Weekend is upon us! 🔔

+ some big contract extensions in the WWT and some BIG sends down under

Hello lovely subscribers and welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly! 🚴‍♀️

Opening Weekend is finally here! We made it, guys. Early season races, you have been fun — and at times unexpected — but it’s time for the curtain raiser for the European season proper. The Omloop startlist is stacked, obv, and if the first few months of the season have been anything to go by the level has risen yet again meaning we’re in for a treat. Of course, the SD Worx train is still full steam ahead and their entire squad for this one race is made up of potential winners, but if FDJ Suez’s fighting talk is anything to go by then they might have a fight on their hands.

Elsewhere, Lotte Kopecky has an eventful start to the year, she went skydiving, won in UAE on a mountaintop finish, and now, just before she lines up as defending champ at Omloop, she’s signed a new deal with SD Worx until 2028. The deal puts a huuuuge question mark over whether Demi Vollering will stick around, especially amidst talks of a €1M deal on the table from UAE Team ADQ. Personally, I think it wouldn’t be such a bad thing for the talent to be spread around a bit more and also I am here for the potential transfer drama that this year could bring.

Meanwhile, (in a story that is v. much up the street [hehe get it] of WCW’s Queen of BTS, Lulah) far, far away from road and far, far away from Belgium (Tasmania, to be exact) women are breaking records at one of the toughest downhill mountain bike races going: Red Bull Hardline. Specifically, 19(!!)-year-old Gracey Hemstreet who became the first woman to ride a Hardline course from top to bottom.

redbullbike

A post shared by @redbullbike

Obsessed.

Enjoy the newsletter and happy Opening Weekend!

Amy x

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News 📰

• Gaia Realini has extended with Lidl-Trek through to 2027.

• Gracey Hemstreet has become the first woman ever to complete a top to bottom run at Red Bull Hardline. 

• The Tour of Britain Women has been added to the UCI calendar, set to take place 6th-9th June.

• Lotte Kopecky will stay at SD Worx-Protime until the end of 2028.

• Anna Henderson has suffered a broken collarbone after a crash at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana.

• After the Zwift Academy Finals, South Africa’s Maddie Le Roux has been awarded a contract with Canyon//SRAM Generation.

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Read  🗞️

• Lauren De Crescenzo: Gravel feels like the Super Bowl of cycling - Cyclingnews

• Defying SD Worx: Lizzie Deignan Swinging for Wins at 'Opening Weekend' in Classics Reboot - Velo

• Letizia Paternoster brings track legs, winning sprint to the Spring Classics - Cyclingnews

• €1 million offers ‘not good for long term sustainability’ of women’s cycling, says FDJ-SUEZ boss - GCN

• Can anyone bring SD Worx’s dominance to a halt at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad? - Rouleur

• Dreaming big for the future - Safiya Al-Sayegh's pathway to the Olympic Games - Cyclingnews

• 'Progress Is Not Always Linear, It's Ups and Downs': Urška Žigart Building Results with Experience - Velo 

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Watch 📺

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Listen 🎧

Rachel Atherton was on Just Ride this week to discuss her incredible career in downhill and her adjustment to becoming a mother.

 Wheel Talk have blessed us with two episodes this week!

 Elisa Longo Borghini joined Bobby and Jens ahead of the UAE Tour.

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Results 🏆

Road

Setmana Ciclista Valenciana (2.Pro)

Stage 3:

1. Niamh Fisher-Black (SDW)

2. Gaia Realini (LTK)

3. Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR)

Stage 4:

1. Elisa Balsamo (LTK)

2. Arlenis Sierra (MOV)

3. Nadia Quagliotto (LKF)

Overall:

1. Marlen Reusser (SDW)

2. Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR)

3. Niamh Fisher-Black (SDW)

CX

X2O Trofee #8: Brussels

1. Lucinda Brand 🇳🇱

2. Marion Norbert Riberolle 🇧🇪

3. Manon Bakker 🇳🇱

X2O Trofee Overall

1. Fem van Empel 🇳🇱

2. Lucinda Brand 🇳🇱

3. Annemarie Worst 🇳🇱

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Upcoming races 📆  

Road

Saturday 24th February: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (1.WWT)

How to watch:

• Live on Eurosport at 16:00 CET.

• Startlist here.

• Preview here.

Sunday 25th February:

Clasica de Almeria (1.1)

Omloop van het Hageland (1.1)

How to watch:

• Live on Vimeo from 15:00 CET.

• Startlist here.

Tuesday 27th February: Le Samyn des Dames (1.1)

How to watch:

• Live on Eurosport from 13:30 CET.

• Startlist here.

MTB

Saturday 24th February: Red Bull Hardline, Tasmania 🇦🇺

How to watch:

Live on Red Bull TV from 8:00 CET.

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Friday fun 🕺

Tahnée's sending it down under 🤯

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That’s all 👋

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Amy x