What about the women's teams?
➕ it's off-road szn!
Hello lovely subscribers and welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly! 🚴♀️
It’s been a weird ol’ week in the world of cycling. Much of the madness has little to do with the women’s side of the sport, but one of the big headlines: a potential Jumbo-Visma/Soudal-Quickstep merger has had people wondering what it could mean for the women’s teams attached to the men’s squads. Strange things are happening at Jumbo-Visma women’s team and have been for much of the season, but all signs were pointing to AG Insurance Soudal - Quickstep applying for a WWT license and building on their current success.
There’s been very little communication about the potential fates of either squad, save for this weird press release from TJV which said very little but the TL;DR is: ‘we got rid of all our staff and replaced them’ which is rarely a good sign. Whatever is going on, let’s hope for the riders’ sakes that it works out.
While all that drama plays out on the road, I’ll be turning my attention to muddier matters (in the literal sense!) with the final two MTB world cups of the season plus cross is coming, baby!
Enjoy the newsy!
Amy x
News 📰
Samara Maxwell, current XCO U23 world champ, has joined Rockrider Ford Racing Team for the final two rounds of the 2023 season, as well as the following three seasons.
After retiring from professional road racing, Annemiek van Vleuten confirms she'll be riding the Gravel World Championships next Saturday.
The Gravel World Series will be expanding next year with six new races, including Sea Otter Europe.
With the 2023 season drawing to a close, it looks like Cofidis and Tashkent will take the wildcard spots going into next year.
Ella Wyllie to Jayco-AlUla for 2024.
Looks like there will be a lot of changes at Jumbo-Visma next year.
As the season comes to an end, Elisa Longo Borghini reflects on what has been a difficult year for her.
On October 11th, Vittoria Bussi will attempt to reclaim the Hour Record.
Read 🗞️
In 2023, the Red Bull Rampage Riders Will All Be Men. Again. - Outside
The Annemiek Van Vleuten Exit Interview Part 1: 'I Didn't Believe the Reaction Would Be This Big' - Velo
& Part 2: 'I Don't Want to Go Fast on the Bike Anymore' - Velo
Even when the plan doesn't go to plan, the Dutch still win - Escape Collective
Justine Ghekiere reflects on her first season with AG Insurance - Soudal Quickstep - AG Insurance - Soudal Quickstep
Cycling through pregnancy: How Joss Lowden kept riding into the ninth month - GCN
What is going on at Jumbo-Visma's ... women's team? - Escape Collective
Watch 📺
Catch up with Puck Pieterse as we head towards the final rounds of the world cup.
And in case you hadn’t had enough Puck, here’s her recon of the course at the test event for the Paris Olympics.
Eurosport explore the rise of Demi Vollering
Listen 🎧
Zoe Bäckstedt joins Matt Stephens to discuss switching teams, family, and her favourite rainbow bands.
Cyclocross is officially back!
Wheel Talks here to chat all about the European Championships.
Vaea Verbeeck sits down to give her thoughts on Red Bull Rampage and women’s freeride.
Results 🏆
Road
European Championships
Elite RR: 🥇 Mischa Bredewold 🇳🇱 🥈 Lorena Wiebes 🇳🇱 🥉 Lotte Kopecky 🇧🇪
Junior RR: 🥇 Fleur Moors 🇧🇪 🥈 Federica Venturelli 🇮🇹 🥉 Léane Tabu 🇫🇷
MTB
🇺🇸 UCI MTB World Cup: Snowshoe, USA DH #7 & XCO+XCC #7
XCC U23: 🥇 Ronja Blöchlinger 🇨🇭 🥈 Samara Maxwell 🇳🇿 🥉 Noëlle Buri 🇨🇭
XCC Elite: 🥇Evie Richards 🇬🇧🥈Puck Pieterse 🇳🇱 🥉Rebecca Henderson 🇦🇺
DH Junior: 🥇Erice van Leuven 🇳🇿 🥈Taylor Ostgaard 🇺🇸🥉Valentina Roa Sanchez 🇨🇴
Upcoming races 📆
Road
Saturday 30th September: Giro dell'Emilia Internazionale Donne (1.Pro)
Tuesday 3rd October: Binche-Chimay-Binche pour Dames (1.1)
How to watch:
Live on Eurosport/GCN+ from 13:00 CEST.
Startlist here.
Tuesday 3rd October: Tre Valli Varesine Women (1.1)
MTB
🇺🇸 UCI MTB World Cup: Snowshoe, USA DH #7 & XCO+XCC #7
Saturday 30th September: DH Elite Semi Final and Final
How to watch:
Elite Semi Final: Live on Eurosport/GCN+ and YouTube from 16:30 CEST.
Elite Final: Live on Eurosport/GCN+ from 18:45 CEST.
Sunday 1st October: XCO U23 and Elite
How to watch:
U23: Live on Eurosport/GCN+ and YouTube from 16:55 CEST.
Elite: Live on Eurosport/GCN+ from 18:30 CEST.
🇨🇦 UCI MTB World Cup: Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada DH #8 & XCO+XCC #8
Thursday 5th October: XCC U23
Friday 6th October: DH Junior and XCC Elite
How to watch:
DH Junior: Live on Eurosport/GCN+ and YouTube from 18:45 CEST.
XCC Elite: Live on Eurosport/GCN+ from 22:15 CEST.
Friday fun 🕺
That’s all 👋
Thanks for reading Women’s Cycling Weekly! 💘
If you want to see more from us then please consider becoming a paid subscriber!
And you can also
Amy x