Sprints galore 🚀

➕ FINALLY some details on the Vuelta Femenina

Feb 17, 2023

Hello! Welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly! 🚴‍♀️

🚨One week until opening weekend 🚨 It really feels like the season it underway now!

I am typing this from my sofa which I have been stuck to for all of yesterday and today because tonsillitis — yes, tonsillitis at 28-years-old — has got me good. My immune system appears to be on strike lately but at least it graced me with one week of health while I went to UAE Tour and I can spend my sofa days watching racing!

I hope you’ve all had a much better week than I have and you’re enjoying following Valencia. One thing I’ve loved so far is seeing how well AG Insurance - Soudal Quick-Step are working to deliver Lotta Henttala to the sprints, and what a comeback for her after some tough years and taking time away to give birth to her son.

Meanwhile, Elisa Balsamo is looking fast but is she Charlotte Kool/Lorena Wiebes fast? I can’t wait to find out later in the season.

SO much racing coming up this weekend and HEAPS of content for you to peruse in this newsletter.

Enjoy!

Amy x

News 📰

In sad news, legendary British cyclist Eileen Sheridan passed away this week, aged 99. A specialist in long, record-breaking rides, she broke the Land's End to John o' Groats record in 1954, with a time that remained unbeaten for nearly 40 years.
PJ @pj_bof
@BBCRadio4's the Last Word features Eileen Sheridan tomorrow. I was honoured to be asked on the programme to talk about her amazing life and achievements. I feel incredibly lucky to have met her. We talked about cycling and ate biscuits... 1/5
8:59 AM ∙ Feb 16, 2023
60Likes11Retweets
SD Worx have released an update about Amy Pieters’ condition and recovery, detailing both the progress and setbacks the Dutch rider has been facing.
La Vuelta Femenina has finally revealed that the revamped 2023 edition of the race will start on the Costa Blanca at the start of May this year. Full details of the route will be announced in a presentation scheduled for the 28th of February.
After being the sole contenders in a bidding process earlier this year, RCS Sport (organisers of the men’s Giro) have been granted permission to take over the organisation of the Giro Donne from 2024.
The women’s Amstel Gold Race will be a tougher race this year, with 28km and two more climbs added to the route of the opening Ardennes Classic.
The Classics are clearly coming because we’ve also had confirmed routes for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix this week (though they remain largely similar to previous years).
Marianne Vos will undergo surgery to correct an iliac artery constriction that has been plaguing her cyclocross season next Thursday, but says she hopes to be back in preparation for the spring oosn.
One year on from her death in May, the Wilson family have announced the ‘Ride for Mo’, an event to mark Moriah Wilson’s life and raise funds for the foundation that has been created in her name. The event will happen in Vermont, with virtual rides also being organised.
Elisa Balsamo has extended her contract with Trek-Segafredo through to the end of 2026. Which is cool, but really we’re just here for the announcement video:

Trek-Segafredo @TrekSegafredo

We've got something even better for you than a fluffy unicorn 🦄 this #ValentinesDay 🫶

Read 🗞️

An interview with multi-disciplinary Aussie rider Peta Mullens (who, side note, used to be my coach although I’d like to stress that my pitiful ‘career’ was entirely on me.)
New Beginnings for Ashleigh Moolman Pasio on AG Insurance - Soudal Quick - Step.
More AMP action, this time on the subject of e-sports.
An interview with Zoe Backstedt on BBC Sport.
An analysis of *that* sprint from Charlotte Kool on the final stage of UAE.
More sprint analysis including Lorena Wiebes and Charlotte Kool’s UAE battles.
Meet Mischa Bredewold: A new rising star at SD Worx.
Could Annemiek van Vleuten’s final season be her best one yet?
Safiya al Sayegh on representing the UAE in the WWT.
An interview with BMXer turned sculptor, Holly Bendall, who truly lives a colourful life: “working in design, sustainability and sports marketing for Rapha, Red Bull and Cannondale, alongside being a stunt double in TV commercials and doing sports modelling on the side.”
On the Backstedt family.

Watch 📺

Elisa 4 president

🔥🔥🔥🇳🇿

One for the tech lovers x

Learn more about esports!

Listen 🎧

Results 🏆

Road

Clasica de Almeria

Emilie Fortin (CYN)
Alison Jackson (TIB)
Floortje Mackaij (MOV)

Setmana Ciclista-Volta Comunitat Valenciana Fèmines

Stage 1: Elisa Balsamo (TSF)

Stage 2: Elisa Balsamo (TSF)

CX

Superprestige Middelkerke

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
Lucinda Brand
Annemarie Worst

X2O Trofee Lille - Krawatencross

Fem van Empel
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
Annemarie Worst

Track

🇪🇺 UEC European Championships, Grenchen 🇨🇭

Sprint: 🥇 Lea Sophie Friedrich 🥈 Pauline Grabosch 🥉 Sophie Capewell

Omnium: 🥇 Katie Archibald 🥈 Daria Pikulik 🥉 Lotte Kopecky

500m TT: 🥇 Emma Hinze 🥈 Marie Divine Kouamé 🥉 Hetty van der Wouw

Points race: 🥇 Anita Yvonne Stenberg 🥈 Shari Bossuyt 🥉 Marie Le Net

Keirin: 🥇 Lea Sophie Friedrich 🥈 Emma Finucane 🥉 Emma Hinze

Madison: 🥇 Great Britain(Katie Archibald and Elinor Barker) 🥈 France (Victoire Berteau and Clara Copponi) 🥉 Italy (Elisa Balsamo and Vittoria Guazzini)