The 10 best moments for female cyclists in 2017

 

Over the past year there have been plenty of moments when women in cycling have rocked our world. Here, Hannah Troop rounds up a few of them…

1. Ellen Noble – #BunnyhopThePatriarchy 

Forget about breaking down barriers. All you need to do is hop over them, as Ellen Noble has demonstrated. The hashtag #bunnyhopthepatriarchy was first used by Ellen after she bunnyhopped the barriers in a cyclocross race – a tactic not often seen in women’s cyclo-cross. 

In addition to that awesome demonstration of agility and ability, the hashtag she embraced off the back of it has captured the attention of the cycling world and beyond with its punchy pop at anyone who says women can’t perform at the same level as men; organisers who have failed to give women competitors equal pay and the media who have failed to provide equal coverage.

“Anytime people think there’s something women can’t do in a patriarchal society, I want to show them, ‘No, we’re going to do it and we’re going to kick ass while we’re doing it”

“For me, I don’t think what I am saying is all that debatable or controversial. Pushing for equality isn’t a bad thing,” says Ellen in an interview to Cycling Tips.

The movement has gained such momentum that Rapha has created this video (above) showing some of the best bunnyhop moments, with Ellen paying homage to fellow bunnyhopping compatriot, Pauline Ferrand Prévot, who was the first female to rock the move in a UCI cyclocross race.

2. Chantal Blaak winning the World Champs 

The depth of talent in the Dutch national team is PHENOMENAL, and going into the 2017 World Championships, it was basically theirs to lose. But, as with most things in sport, nothing goes to plan.

Despite hitting the deck early in the race, Dutch superstar Chantal Blaak got back up and pulled off this winning move. Is there any sweeter metaphor for life? What a champ!  

3. Sarah Hammond rockin’ it

Photo:Bob Barrett

Photo:Bob Barrett

If there’s one athlete you need to keep an eye on this year, it’s ultra-endurance athlete Sarah Hammond. After winning both the first and second edition of the Race to the Rock, she is now firmly etched in the history books as the winner of a race that no man has won…

So, what does the Race to the Rock involve? Taking self-sufficiency to a whole new level, the feat requires competitors to ride a torturous 3,000km across the Australian outback to Ayres Rock (Uluru), sometimes having to ride 400km between places of civilisation to buy additional supplies. We’ll certainly be rooting for her to keep the guys off the top spot for a third year in a row.    

4. Chloe Hosking calling out Cycling Australia 

Thanks to the power of social media and people having a gut-full of hypocrisy, Cycling Australia were called out by the ever-excellent Chloe Hosking and forced to rebalance things.

When they announced that they would only be filling 5 of the women’s 7 spots for the World Champs in Bergen – but were taking a full team of men – there were a group of Aussies (including Chloe) who weren’t prepared to let that kinda behaviour slide. Objections were heard and Cycling Australia’s coach, Simon Jones, relented and took a full squad. Amen to the power of making a stand.

5. Movistar’s women’s team 

When teams as big as Movistar realise that launching a team of women is OBVIOUSLY a bloody awesome idea, you realise there’s a chance the old cartwheel is finally starting to roll into the 21st Century. Kitted out with the same apparel and bikes, and given the same performance coaching, the women’s team are part of a “project that seeks to dynamise women's cycling as a competitive sport, boosting the number of licence-holders and ensuring that Spanish female cyclists have the best sporting means to compete in the international peloton.” We can’t wait to see how they perform this season. Vamos! 

6. Anna Van de Breggen’s triple crown

At last! A full Ardennes week to gorge on, and what a delightful gorge from Anna VDB. She snaffled every one of the top podium spots during the week to land herself the truly tasty triple crown.

All we’re waiting for is a women’s Paris-Roubaix to round off the spring classics… Come on ASO pull your finger out.  

7. The Cyclists’ Alliance 

With its aim to improve economic opportunities for female pro cyclists and advocate fairness and equality in treatment, the newly formed ‘The Cyclists’ Alliance’ has been established to help progress attitudes with regards to women’s racing at the UCI and farther afield. Made up of bad-ass cyclists Iris Slappendel, Gracie Elvin and Carmen Small, they’re certainly not the kind of peeps who will take no for an answer. Surveys were sent out to the female pros asking if they felt there was a need for the alliance: “The response rate was incredible. Riders from every UCI-registered team participated and we garnered well over 200 unique responses. The overwhelming message from the women’s peloton was clear: change needs to happen for the sport to grow, and the time is now,” says Iris Slappendel. Let’s hope 2018 is the year.     

8. Coryn Rivera – the FIRST American to win the Tour of Flanders 

Let’s just get this straight, Coryn Rivera was the FIRST American to win the Tour of Flanders, EVER. No American man has managed to win their equivalent race to date. The pocket rocket from Southern California was a thrill to watch as she gasped in amazement when she crossed the finish line and made history – another moment that made us feel a little emotional while watching this bloody awesome sport. 

9. Laura Kenny Team GB selection for the Track World Championships 

Image: Britain Cycling

Image: Britain Cycling

So, this didn't technically happen in 2017, but this is too good not to mention. After giving birth six months ago, Laura ‘Golden Girl’ Kenny has made the GB team for the World Track Championships at the end of this month. UNSTOPPABLE. Playing it super cool and saying she feels no pressure we can imagine that once she gets that skin suit on it’ll be as if she’s never been away.  

10. Adventure Syndicate doing it for the kids

Image: www.theadventuresyndicate.com/

Image: www.theadventuresyndicate.com/

Yet again, the fruits of this labour won’t show itself until this year, but it was the work that the ladies of the Adventure Syndicate put in throughout 2017 that have made their ‘schools programme’ possible. 

The project aims to help girls from five schools across Scotland change their relationship to exercise and outdoor activities permanently by showing them how much frickin’ fun there is to be had on two wheels. Paula Regener, ultra-cyclist and Project Coordinator, says: “This project is designed to address the lack of female participation in cycling. It will introduce the girls to the freedom bikepacking provides and inspire them to take up the sport.” Fist pump.

If you know of any great projects or women we should know about, call them out on our Twitter feed

Read here about Ayesha McGowan’s mission to become the first African-American pro road cyclist

 
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