Women's Cycling Weekly issue 55
A weekly curation of women's cycling news and content straight to your inbox
Hello! Welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly issue 55🚴♀️
When Tilda pinged me the info for this week’s newsletter I thought ‘that’s come around quick’ then I realised that we’re back to weekly newsletters again which means one thing — the season is finally upon us!
So, I am in Belgium for Opening Weekend and here is some evidence of that:
The answer to the question nobody asked, (‘why has Lizzie Deignan never beaten Peter Sagan?’) is MASSIVE BLOOD LOSS every month and her lack of ‘stamina’. Now you know.
Anyway, apart from that there’s been plenty of positive things to come out of this week so onwards with the newsletter!
News 📰
Equal prize money at the Tour of Flanders! Flanders Classics have announced an equal prize pot of €50,000 for both the men’s and women’s races in 2022.
Lizzie Deignan will not race this season as she is expecting her second child in September. She is planning to return in 2023 and has extended her contract with Trek-Segafredo to the end of 2024. Her team’s announcement was 👌
Thalita de Jong will return to her former team Liv Racing Xstra from June 1st after leaving Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport earlier this month.
The Cyclists’ Alliance has introduced a new Rider Hotline where riders can seek confidential advice in urgent or sensitive situations.
The ever-unpredictable Patrick Lefevere has said he wants a Women’s WorldTour team in 2023…
The Cyclists’ Alliance are looking for rider mentors for their TCAMP initiative.
Results 🏆
Road
Setmana Ciclista Valenciana
Stage 3: Annemiek van Vleuten (MOV)
Stage 4: Marta Bastianelli (UAD)
Overall:
Annemiek van Vleuten (MOV)
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ)
Marta Cavalli (FDJ)
Upcoming Races 📆
26th February: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Start: 13.25 CET, finish: ~17.15 CET
Watch on Eurosport and GCN+ from 16.30 CET
Start list here
Preview here
27th February: Omloop Het Hageland
1st March: Le Samyn
Start: 12.20 CET, finish ~15.00 CET
Watch on Eurosport and GCN+ from 14.00 CET
Start list here
Read 🗞️
This fantastic piece on how ‘Having kids mid-career is now a viable option for female pro cyclists’ by the one-and-only Abby Mickey.
Marlen Reusser on her journey from amateur to Olympic medallist.
Lotte Kopecky on Flanders equal prize money.
Q&A with Ashleigh Moolman Pasio on defending her esports world title.
Listen 🎧
On this week’s Freewheeling we discussed Lizzie Deignan and maternity leave in the pro peloton, the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana (ft. a random cameo from my boyfriend) and the upcoming opening weekend races! Plus Abby spoke to Ashleigh Moolman Pasio about the esports world championships.
Answers on a postcard
That’s all 👋
Thanks for reading Women’s Cycling Weekly, I hope you have had a lovely weekend.
If you liked what you read you can buy WCW a ‘coffee’ on Ko-Fi.
Until next time!