For a long time now I’ve felt like I’ve neglected to give women’s cycling much attention. However, I can’t really say that I know a great deal about women’s cycling so I was delighted when Rachel Neylan contacted me about writing a guest post. Rachel is a member of Australia’s AIS women’s squad, the current holder of the Amy Gillett Foundation Scholarship and also a Sports Physiotherapist. I think you’ll find that all of these women are extremely talented and driven individuals who are more passionate about their cycling than almost anyone I know.
As strong as the Aussie pro men are in cycling at the moment, the women are definitely showing strength in their own right. I’d like to thank Rachel for bringing it to our attention and giving us a brief insight to their world.
Aussie PRO Cyclists Set to Take on The Tour This Week…
by Rachel Neylan (www.rachelneylan.com and follow on twitter)
Fourteen of Australia’s best cyclists will take to the roads of Italy on Friday to begin a 915 km long ten day tour.
Friday not Saturday.. Italy not France.. 915 not 3642km you might be asking? Have I got my days, countries and km’s confused?
I’m not talking the Evans, Lloyd, O’Grady or Rogers type but rather the professional variety of a different gender; Gilmore, Ryan, Whitelaw, and O’donnell…
Our Aussie female road cyclists.
Who would have thought!
The 2010 Giro Donne, otherwise known as the Women’s Giro D’Italia, commences on Friday with a record fourteen Australian women representing various professional teams along with the 8 rider strong AIS / National team (Kirsty Broun, Tiffany Cromwell, Shara Gillow, Lisa Jacobs, Lauren Kitchen, Emma Mackie and Carlee Taylor).
The tour winds its way across northern Italy from Trieste through a remarkably tough series of stages including the iconic ‘Passo Stelvio’. The Giro Donne has never climbed so high, up to 2725 metres, the Stelvio will be the last major climb of the race before the final stage around the Monza motor racing circuit on July 11.
At any one time our fleet of Aussie female cyclists racing abroad include doctors, lawyers physiotherapists, podiatrists, massage therapists, budding journalists and a swag full of future honor students, religiously studying between races with their text books in tow.
More often than not these women come to the sport later in life as in my case – after education, careers and even motherhood, and make the decision to spend years away from potential careers, family and risk financial instability.
Most of you wouldn’t realise our Aussie women’s road cycling champion is a humble quiet achiever. Ruth Corset form Townsville, is 33 years of age and a mother of two!
The good news is that Aussie women’s cycling is on the improve. Especially since the inception of the Australian Sports Commission’s National Talent ID Program. However the Aussie Women’s National / AIS team is currently operating without a sponsor, with little funding and still competing at the pinicle of the sport.
To rise and meet an international standard as a cyclist requires a yearly 7 month stint combined of UCI races throughout Europe and / or North America. These long embarkments are necessary to elevate essential race experience. Fundamentally the early stages of one’s cycling career are often unpaid requiring frequent dipping into the life savings account.
The global entities offering to splay logos across rider’s lycra outfits are few and far between. Hence there are no houses in Monaco, business class airfares or celebrity status involved in our cycling world!
To give you an idea.. the numbers that make the wheels turn were recently pointed out by Aussie Cyclist Chole Hosking in an article published in Bicycling Australia earlier this year. ”Consider this; the rumored $AUD50 million budget of David Brailsford’s British dream team, Team Sky, is enough to sponsor a maior women’s team 60 times over”
At this level of cycling it is never just a job its a life choice and a want that is completely driven by passion. It’s a quest for sporting glory and ultimately to wear the green and gold at the World Championships and Olympic Games. I know I go to sleep at night dreaming of standing on top of podiums in Green and Gold.
While the men are battling the mountains of France and you are battling that 8am meeting after staying up half the night watching SBS, stop and think about the girls going just as deep and just as hard in Italy at the Giro Donne.
So when you’re checking up on the cycling news results during the TDF, scroll a little further down and check up on how our Aussie women are going.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tough-route-for-giro-donne
I hope you are pleasantly surprised.
Rachel
{ 48 comments }
“Fourteen of Australia’s best cyclists”… “fifteen Australian women” — so one of them isn't one of Australia's best? :-)
oops…my editing mistake. thanks
thank you! and.. more please :-)
You had me excited until I realised this post was about women's cycling. Then I turned around and decided to watch the paint dry instead :P
I agree, we need more women's cycling covered! We ride just as hard as the men and our reward is more likely to be the satisfaction of a race completed to our best rather than financial remuneration that will cover the costs of getting there. The Aussie women have been doing very well on the road and the track.
After a few days of looking at Wade riding a bike version of a tractor all over Europe I load up the blog today to be greeted by a very good sort. What a refreshing change! :)
As a 40 something male, it hurts to know that these women riding the Giro Donne could ride rings around me and then do a 200km stage.
I will be keeping an eye on the Aussie chicks in the Giro Donne. Good luck to them all and more news and photos of the ladies Wade.
It strikes me as odd that the stages are so short. Is this a scheduling problem or an endurance one? 910km in 10 days is an average of only 90km a day. Looking at the site (all in Italian) there are only 2 stages that have decent climbs and the max distance for any day is only 130km. Surely professional female athletes would have the endurance to do at least the same distance as their more popular male counterparts, if not as quickly. Perhaps there is just less EPO?
Also, why do lawyers need their own physiotherapists?
I wish there was an unlike button! I bet you'd get your tail whipped by these talented individuals, then maybe you'd take some notice.
Good luck ladies. Hope to get to see some of the women's action in the worlds :)
It is an unfortunate reflection on all Womens sport, with the exception of maybe tennis (although only the top there is still less depth) and Beach Volley ball, the world is not created equal. Doesn't make it right
On the other hand since there is no money and little fame then at least there are less issues with people being on the “program”
BTW kudos to Cervelo and Highroad for continuing with joint branding, more teams should do that. It does help with international profile and we have seen standing alone isn't an option (yet) I never understand whey they don't run a Wonams race infront of the main race on the same day, especially since the roads are close at the elite level anyway
pull your head it chief.
Not cool. Hope you enjoy getting your ass handed to you by a woman one day.
Good on you Rachel, womens cycling does not get the press it deserves. Any cycling (road) is good cycling in my opinion, was good to watch during the Bay crits in Melb, and will be good to watch for the Worlds! All the ebst for the season!
Re: lawyers. It's a very specialised area – torts physiotherapy.
I was going to reply to surg but then I realised it was a waste of my time… I've seen women crits and wow, they go out just as hard as the men and to my inexperienced eye, they were more aggressive. Really, really impressive (and scary at the same time).
Wade – if i beg, will you post results of the Giro Donne? Come on, do it for the girls who are loyal to your blog.
Oh, he will. And besides, any of our girls racing in Giro Donne would squash him like the worthless bug he is. He's probably just jealous because Rachel has a way nicer bike than he does.
I was watching the Downhill MTB on the weekend, and the women's event was every bit as exciting as the mens…. and a hell of a lot sexier. [no chauvinism intended… I'm a male, and a realist]. Watching the posted video was great. Thank you Rachel and Wade for enlightening me on the Women's Racing Scene… bring it on, I'll watch anyone race on a bike. I'd much rather stare women in lycra for hours than guys!!!
Oh, and Surg…. one day, comments like that will make you're tiny little willy fall off.
With a wife and five daughters, this was a really exciting post to read. Thanks for sharing.
4 more daughters and you have your very own women's pro tour team!
Get to work! LOL
Great post Wade and Rachel.
I will not be at all surprised to see Aussie women cyclists doing well on the international front! They have been doing it for a while!
Yesterday there was a comment about us all loving cycling, in all its forms (road, MTB, cyclo cross) (Not so sure about Tri or BMX yet LOL)
The same goes for the gender divide – If it is on wheels, and fun, with at least a touch of competition about it and probably very fast bring it on!
Oh, and yes, I've been dropped by enough women riders to know how quick they can be (or how slow I am ;-)
What kind of a pussy writes a comment like that and signs of Surg? If you are going to write crap, be a man and put your name to it.
Absolutely applaud the post and the decision to have it up, nice one!
Along with the insight into the Pro Tour, I think we 100% need articles that go beyond the usual topics. I sometimes comment (rather directly lol) on other forums/websites when i see journos rehashing the same old stories about the big names, looking for an easy meal ticket. Really ticks me off (especially when they can't even get that right, hahaha).
So reporting on women's racing (provided with insight such as Rachel's here) is great to keep up my interest in cycling. Along with Wade's posting on various topics including but not limited to local racing, road use issues, and how to manage that wife/cycling balance, this is the kind of thing that keeps me coming back.
5 daughters? you guys need a (new) hobby
Great stuff Wade.
We are going to get overloaded with TDF news over the next month, so some regular more insightful posts on the Giro Donne would be fantastic!
Sorry guys, i admit I posted this for the pure entertainment value of watching everybody get fired up ( ithought the cheeky tongue gave it away!). I have a lot of respect for women cyclists. We all know how hard it is, i can't imagine being a chick trying to hold wheels in a group ride!
Enjoy your weekend peeps, and remember dont take things too seriously! :)
Whether “seriously” or not, you're still a patronising troll. I don't lighten up for misogyny because it isn't actually funny
You want spice, check this pre-Tour teaser out:
http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/contador...
What's the bet Spartacus takes the prologue, holds yellow for the first week again and during which spits a few more “Vaffancullos!” the way of Contador as the little Spaniard bounces badly over the cobbles on stage 3?
Bring it on!!
Ride like 10 Women! … I like it! :D
I didn't know detective Rush from Cold Case was a pro cyclist;)
We don't need people firing things up… there's enough negativity on the net already, and backhanded humour is terribly hard to portray in text. I'd change my username and start again Sludge.
Wade,
This is a great read and it is great to see a positive response in the comments too. BUT…
Please don't make yourself a slave to the demands of every part of your audience. We are all here because we want to be and because you are doing great stuff already. This was a very interesting post, and more of these (light, focussed, well researched, informative), about women's, men's cycling, all our cycling (any cycling!) will keep me coming back!
I can't wait to get to work on Mon to read the CT version of the TDF 2010! Enjoy!
If you lived (and raced) in regional Australia you would have seen men beaten by women (like Ruth) in the local club races (where there are not the numbers to separate the sexes). Exposure to the way real men sincerely congratulate a woman who is faster than them would have made you a better person.
ps, I don't try to hold a wheel in the group ride, I take my turn at the front.
Wade,
Lisa Jacobs came to ride the SHCCC in March and while she won the Queen of the Mountain comfortably, she was third fastest time of the day overall, only beaten by two blokes in the King of the Mountain! (Our KoM/QoM is a timed climb up Mt Buller.)
She then found out about our Crit in Mansfield on Saturday night and beat all the other girls but Helen Kelly! Even after a crash and a lap out. It was an awesome effort … really inspiring!
I really hope Lisa has a great Giro and I for one will be a keen viewer of the 'Women's Giro!'
Great post and really looking forward to your Tour exploits. Go Gerro!
Hi all!
I just wanted to say how much I appreciate all your enthusiastic and supportive comments, and very happy you ejoyed the read!
I am really overwhelmed by the great response to the blog.. I am glad to provide just a little insight into the world of women's cycling and women's sport in general.
The more public support we generate gives sponsors a reason to be interested which then enables teams to be established, racing to develop and so on.. your support is in many ways the start of what keeps us afloat at the elite level.
So thank you..
An Aussie women's pro team wold most certainly dominate and something we would like to see eventuate in the near future.
Cheers and thanks, hope to be able to write more soon!
Rachel Neylan
http://www.rachelneylan.com
Thanks for the nice comeback Lauren.. for sure the Bianchi is the best bike i've ridden!
Hi Tim,
If you look at the stage profiles and the altitudes you will see that there are actually some big climbs among the tour – it is the hardest one yet and the first time the women have climbed to this altitude in the Giro. Also remember this includes a time trial stage.
Normally our road races are 3-4 hrs / 110-140km depending on terrain. Of course women have the endurance to race longer but at these distances you can be assured of tough dynamic racing from start to finish.
The paragraph mentioning lawyers etc was to highlight that many of your women are educated professionals not just bike riders!
Cheers
Rachel
Surg is a bitch…..there is that cheeky enough?
Ass
Actually, the stage length and tour format is largely governed by the UCI rules, and if you remove the TT stage (17km) it's 893km in 9 days. Also, no rest days.
Your point about doing the same as the men (ie – 200km+ stages) “albeit not as quickly” identifies exactly why the stages are shorter – it's more exciting, tactical and spectator/sponsor friendly having a proper race over a reasonable distance than a simple race of attrition.
I can assure you, racing 130km in c.40* temperatures at high speed is absolutely worthy.
With regard to your joke about doping, of course there's less (I'd wager the smallest fraction of a percentage), women simply aren;t paid enough as pros to justify the risk or even afford a “doping” programme.
A question:
In this years Ronde van Vlaanderen, who split the field on the Molenberg… and then crushed their breakaway companion on the Muur… and then rolled across the line solo? Fabian Cancellara you say?! WRONG! Grace Verbeke!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yTVPLSvRl4
And it was run on the same day as the men's race only a few hours before. Yes, the course was shorter but the final sequence of hellingen was the same. Why is this not the case for all races?!
Rachel – I'm sure Tim, like me, wasn't haven't a go at you about lawyers. Just a feeble joke noting the missing comma! We know you're professional, both on and off the bike.
Lance, this is a fantastic post! This was also the same situation at Fleche Wallone, the Mur De Huy was completely packed and the atmosphere was surreal. You have hit the nail on the head here.. more Women's racing staged along with Men's is the key to improving the sport. More exposure and possibility of TV coverage means more sponsorship.. more sponsors mean more and better teams and in turn enhances the racing as riders are supported adequately!
Rachel
Great to see a story about women's cycling. Women's sport in general should get more coverage, it's not just all netball and tennis!
Have a great tour!
No worries guys..
It's part of our nature as Aussie sport lovers to have fun and joke isn't it??
thanks for clarifying! I'm just glad you got the point.
This also a fantastic point raised here.. not enough room in my article to mention it! Cervelo and Highroad should be made a brilliant example of combining Men's and Women's teams.. these two are the most successful Women's teams in the world.. more of this needs to happen.
Great story Rachel, hopefully those males that DO NOT realize the level of the professional women will wake up ( or take there hand off it ) you are obviously a very serious pro cyclist that does do it hard,good luck with the rest of the season.
Not a bad photo too.
My wife is a woman cyclist, she has been racing 2 years now. Its just as tough as mens racing that is for sure. She is a climber, I am more a track turtle, I have to hang on for my life up the hills! Dont ever underestimate how good these women are! I was on the hill at Bunningyong when Ruth Corset attacked in the Nationals last year, she made a fantastic tactical attack that would have blown most men away for sure. Go our Aussie women in the Tour, we will be watching the results with great anticipation.
Awesome post Wade and great article Rachel. Go hard in Italy. Allez allez!!
BTW Surg – Some of the Prime Estate girls that ride with our group on occasion, don't just battle to “hold wheels”, they have a red hot crack – particularly up the hills! Great to see! I think you'll find that mysogynistic humour is still a form of mysogyny.
Dewulf, you are spot on. Like real estate, it's all about exposure, and the more quality exposure women's racing gets, the better it is for cycling as a whole. All cyclists benefit.One of the BIGGEST issues women's racing has is lack of coverage, lack of appropriate media attention. It becomes chicken:egg. It doesn't get covered because apparently it doesn't rate. It doesn't rate if it doesn't get good coverage (compare some of the UCI/Pro men's events. The ones that rate best are the ones that are covered best). And variety, a different angle beats repetitive boring cyclingnews rubbish hands down ;-)
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