Cyclopunk: Ladies

Showing posts with label Ladies. Show all posts

Saturday, 4 August 2012

Route de France féminine 2012

The stages, the starters and the steep bits - race guide here

Tuesday, 31 July 2012

Eileen Roe (Team Ibis Cycles) won today's 31st Profronde van Surhuisterveen, making full use of her strong sprinting ability to cross the line ahead of Anouska Koster (2nd, Dolmans-Boels) and Trieneke Fokkens (3rd) after a race that saw difficult conditions caused by very heavy rainfall.

22-year-old Roe used a similar tactic to win the Colchester round of the Johnson HealthTech Women's GP in June, beating Vanderkitten's Ruth Winder and Twenty3c.co.uk-Orbea's Alice Barnes on that occasion. Her sprint seems, therefore, to be a powerful talent and is one that will be sure to bring her many more victories.

Chapeau Eileen - we'll be looking forward to seeing you race in the 2016 Olympics!

Armitstead on the issues facing women's cycling

Lizzie Armitstead

In an interview with Cycling News, Olympic silver medalist Lizzie Armitstead has hit out at "sexism and inequality" in cycling. That inequality exists is beyond doubt - it's common knowledge that many women even at the top level receive no salary at all while their male counterparts are paid a guaranteed minimum wage and the prizes awarded to race winners in women's cycling are, quite frankly, laughable compared to those in the majority of men's races. Many people will say that Armitstead is wrong in linking this to sexism and insist it's due to the harsh realities faced by the sport resulting from the simple fact that there is far less money in women's cycling. However, what the article doesn't make immediately clear is that she isn't saying that race organisers and UCI officials are overtly sexist (some of them may well be sexist, of course, but few of them would allow themselves to be seen as such) - she's saying that women's cycling's problems stem from a more deeply-rooted sexism, a belief in society that athletic competition between females can never be as exciting as athletic competition between men, and that the resulting smaller audience is why women's cycling doesn't get the attention it deserves. This is a point of view that may not necessarily be correct; but it's a valid one shared by many and the UCI, as the body responsible for developing competitive cycling, has a duty to explore it.

Armitstead believes that one possible solution would be "forcing ProTour teams to have a women's team." That is certainly an option, and seems a good one at first - many people also support the idea of forcing race organisers to hold women's races alongside their men's events. But would it work? Would teams devote the time, money and media to their female riders as they do to their men?

When whether Team Sky should sponsor a women's team, Armitstead hits the nail on the head - "I think Team Sky is missing an opportunity," she says. That is the real answer: persuading, rather than forcing, teams that it is in their interest to have a women's team. That way, they'll give them the backing they deserve. Force them to run women's teams and they'll do so resentfully, fielding athletes who have been given the cheapest minimum of coaching, riding bikes that are only a fraction of the value and quality that the men on the team ride. Result: in the eyes of the public, who in many cases will not understand the underlying issues, female cyclists appear less talented and less competitive than the men. Sky have had plenty of opportunity to put together a women's team and have a budget more than high enough to run several; it seems clear, therefore, that they have no interest in doing so (note that they do sponsor female track cyclists - who enjoy a higher public profile than female road cyclists).

So, how can they be persuaded that women's teams will bring them more glory and, crucially, more sponsors? The riders themselves are already doing all they can - they ride to their limits, even if they've had to work a forty-hour week in order to be able to afford to be at the races in which they compete, and they raise the issues facing their sport whenever they can, just as Armitstead is doing. There are a few team officials and managers doing a superb job too - Stefan Wyman, owner of Britain's Matrix-Prendas, is a glowing example and has recently written a series of informative articles on the subject (the latest of which can be found here); so to is Karl Lima, manager of the Hitec Products-Mistral Home - both have fought for many years to get a fair deal for the athletes on their own teams and in women's cycling in general. Rabobank is another admirable case and provides excellent support for its highly successful women's team.

"The race with the Dutch girl and the English girl" -
Armitstead and Vos follow Olga Zabelinskaya

It seems, then, that it's up to fans. We can do a very great deal to save and improve the sport we love, especially right now - it's notable that people who have previously had no interest in cycling at all suddenly know the names Marianne Vos and Lizzie Armitstead because of the Women's Road Race at the Olympics (or at the very least are talking about "the race with the Dutch girl and the English girl" - hey, it's a start). We can help to make sure they keep talking about it - all we need to do is tell anyone who will listen why women's cycling is as great and as fascinating a sport as it is, write blogs about it, Tweet anything we find about it, share our knowledge and enthusiasm, go to races and encourage others to do so too. That way, we pass on the love to new fans and increase the audience, which in turn makes women's cycling far more tempting to potential sponsors - and it's their money that will persuade the teams and race organisers to make space for the women.

Monday, 30 July 2012

New backer for Holland Ladies' Tour

Organisers of the Holland Ladies' Tour - among the most prestigious European women's cycling events now that the Giro Donne is the sole surviving women's Grand Tour - have revealed that they're successfully recruited a new main sponsor.

Chairman Marten de Lange announced at the end of January this year that the race had been temporarily suspended due to financial difficulties. However, around four weeks later he was able to confirm that the race would go ahead after other sponsors agreed to provide more backing, but that it would have to be a more "economical" event. "It would be a shame if this race was to disappear, especially now that it offers such a perfect prelude towards the world championship in Limburg one a week later," he said. "We are still negotiating with a potential sponsor. If that happens, we can make the race as good as previous years - which is what the successful women of Dutch cycling deserve."

The new backer, Brainwash, is a chain of hairdressers that will already be familiar to many fans, having maintained links to women's cycling for some years - it previously sponsored its own Brainwash team before becoming co-sponsor of the Rabobank Women's team. However, company managers had let it be known when the team closed that they remained keen to continue their support and presence in the sport: that they have now extended it is a promising sign that they've found the returns satisfactory. In difficult economic times that have seen numerous races and teams vanish due to financial problems, this goes a long way to encouraging other firms to become involved.

The race, which has been won in the past by such illustrious names as Leontien van Moorsel, Petra Rossner, Kristin Armstrong and new Olympic champion Marianne Vos, is due to take part between the 4th and 9th of September and will now become known as the Brainwash Women's Tour.

Congrats Lizzie!

Lizzie's success in winning Team GB's first Olympic medal of 2012 - even if she was unable to beat the fantastically-talented Marianne Vos of the Netherlands - is the best advert that British women's cycling could ever have hoped to receive. Many people who watched the race will have had little or no interest in cycling prior to Bradley Wiggins' historic Tour de France victory and were probably unaware that there is a whole world of professional cycling existing just beyond the range of most media; Lizzie's triumph and appearances on the nightly news brings the sport to the public's attention and attracts new fans.

Chapeau to her and the entire women's team!

Left to right: Lizzie Armitstead, Marianne Vos and Olga Zabelinskaya

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Holland Ladies' Tour suspended

Just when we think things are looking up for women's cycling, a new disaster - the organisation behind one of the sport's premier events, the Holland Ladies' Tour, has announced that it has been forced to temporarily suspend preparations for the 2012 edition due to lack of sponsorship.

Chairman of the organisation Marten de Lange says, "We need a miracle for the race to go ahead at this late stage, but we will continue to look for one. However, the towns that would have been hosting stages need to be aware that there are uncertainties."

It is understood that a main sponsor has pulled out and several smaller firms have also withdrawn their support from the race, which was due to start on the 4th of September and would have provided a rehearsal for the 2012 World Championships. Women's cycling has had a tough time of it in recent years with many races being brought to a halt for the same reason, among them some of the sport's greatest events such as the Women's Tour de France. Several teams have also closed after loss of financial backing.

Women's races are unable to generate attendance figure rivaling those of men's races for a number of reasons - a general feeling that they are somehow less exciting (not helped by certain UCI figures), lack of exposure on TV and in the press and other factors - which has the effect of convincing sponsors that they're not getting value for the money they put in. This means the sport has always lived hand-to-mouth on budgets that are miniscule compared to men's racing; but the problem becomes worse each time an event is forced to close, as racing is what generates exposure - thus the problem fuels itself. It's a tragedy when any race comes to an end, but the damage done is far greater in women's cycling - especially when it's a race as prestigious and important as this one.

Monday, 30 January 2012

Women's Tour of Qatar starters and course guides

Click for enlargement
(image credit: ASO)

Stage 1, 1.02.12
Camel Race Track - Al Khor Corniche (97km)
Stage 2: 2.02.12
Al Zubara Fort - Madinat Al Shamal (114.5km)
Stage 3: 3.02.12
Katara Cultural Village - Katara Cultural Village (92.5km)
Total: 304km

Click for Stage Guides

Starters (subject to change)

1: China Chongming - Giant Pro Cycling

1 CHEN, Li
2 HUANG, Dong Yan
3 LIU, Xin
4 LUO, Xiao Ling
5 SHENG, Yongyan
6 YUAN, Yunyun

2: Diadora-Pasta Zara

11 ANDRUK, Alona
12 BATAGELJ, Polona
13 BRONZINI, Giorgia
14 CILVINAITE, Inga
15 DONATO, Giulia
16 JANELIUNAITE, Edita

3: France

21 AUDE, Biannic
22 CORDON, Audrey
23 JEULAND, Nathalie
24 JEULAND, Pascale
25 LESUEUR, Mélodie
26 VERHOEVEN, Aurore

4: Germany

31 BUBNER, Janine
32 GEBHARDT, Elke
33 KASPER, Romy
34 POHL, Stephanie
35 SANDIG, Madeleine
36 SCHNITZMEIER, Anna-Bianca

5: GreenEdge-AIS

41 ARNDT, Judith
42 GUNNEWIJK, Loes
43 HOSKINS, Melissa
44 MACLEAN, Jessie
45 RHODES, Alexis
46 SPRATT, Amanda

6: Team Hitec Products UCK

51 BERGSETH, Johanne
52 HATTELAND, Tone
53 LONGO BORGHINI, Elisa
54 MUSTONEN, Sara
55 NØSTVOLD, Lise
56 WAERSTAD, Froydis

7: Italy

61 DONADONI, Alice
62 CANTELE, Noemi
63 CONFALONIERI, Maria Giulia
64 PATUZZO, Eleonora
65 SCANDOLARA, Valentina
66 VANNUCCI, Chiara

8: Lotto Belisol Ladies

71 DUYCK, Ann-sophie
72 HANNES, Kaat
73 HENRION, Ludivine
74 SCHOONBAERT, Kim
75 TAYLOR, Cherise
76 LOOY, Katrien Van

9: MCipollini - Giambenini - Gauss

81 BACCAILE, Monia
82 BASTIANELLI, Marta
83 BORCHI, Alessandra
84 CECCHINI, Elena
85 GUDERZO, Tatiana
86 TAGLIAFERRO, Marta

10: Dolmans - Boels Cycling Team

91 BRAS, Martine
92 LAVRIJSSEN, Birgit
93 SPOOR, Winanda
94 BREGGEN, Anna Van Der
95 KAMP, Laura Van Der
96 WILD, Kirsten

11: Skil - 1t4i

101 BRUINS, Regina
102 KANIS, Janneke
103 PIETERS, Amy
104 TROMP, Esra
105 RIJEN, Linda Van
106 VISSER, Adrie

12: Rabobank Ladies Team

111 VOCHT, Liesbet De
112 DÜSTER, Sarah
113 KITCHEN, Lauren
114 KNETEMANN, Roxane
115 SLAPPENDEL, Iris
116 TALEN, Rebecca

13: Team Specialized- Lululemon

121 BECKER, Charlotte
122 BRENNAUER, Lisa
123 COLCLOUGH, Katie
124 HOSKING, Chloe
125 DIJK, Ellen Van
126 WORRACK, Trixi

14: Topsport Vlaanderen - Ridley 2012

131 BEYEN, Ine
132 BRULEE, Latoya
133 CROKET, Gilke
134 POLSPOEL, Maaike
135 BRANDE, Edith Vanden
136 VEKEMANS, Anisha

15: Exergy Twenty12

141 CROWELL, Jacquelyn
142 OLDS, Shelley
143 RIVERA, Coryn
144 RYAN, Kendall
145 SCHNEIDER, Samantha
146 WILES, Taylor

Thursday, 12 January 2012

Ladies' Tour of Qatar starters