How can I say this without sounding like a douch? Maybe this will help, I used to be coached by an ex-Olympian woman and former top professional. She was tough, smart and a great motivator. She's a good friend. So I have nothing against women's cycling, per se.
But...I frickin hate womens racing. It's like watching a cat 4 race. I mean, it's horrible. I scream at the TV. I cover my eyes. I cry.
Women like Nicole Cooke, a big name champion who cannot read a race to save her life. She would have won twice as many races if she had a quarter of the tactical nous of say, Gilbert or Vino.
Attack from the front. Attack for 10 seconds and then look around. Go with an attack but don't pull through and look at the girl in front with a face that is half surprise and half annoyance. Sit on the front of the bunch and pull your own teammate back. Sit 3rd wheel and don't seem to understand that 1st wheel is blocking. Blocking! In pro cycling!? Teammates unaware of where other teammates are in a race or in gc. Etc.
This is womens racing.
I never understood how you could race your bike 80 times a year as a professional and have no idea about how to ride a bike. It's worse than watching a triathlon. Logically it makes no sense. The director sportif are often ex-pro men who know what they are doing as should the women. But for whatever reason, it just doesn't work.
Sorry.