Lesser Known Road Racing for Women Thread

[ManicJack]

speaking of the Netherlands...riders, Charlotte Kool seems to be setting the pace at the Baloise Ladies Tour, taking the prologue and Stage 1 so far, there is live coverage for each stage on youtube via https://www.youtube.com/@baloiseladiestour_/streams or hosted on the race website https://live.baloiseladiestour.com/

Lots of DNF's on stage 1?

 

[awavey]

Charlotte Kool took stage 3a but it looks like Lucinda Brands ITT on stage 3b took that stage and the overall GC at Baloise ladies tour by quite a margin.

Also why does Anna Hendersons TT setup annoy me so much, she seems to expend so much effort holding a very unstable bike position, and yet she's still quick, if they could just dial out some of the instability, she'd win stages like this imo at least, at a canter.

 

[Dk one]

Lots of DNF's on stage 1?

I saw the last kms on youtube, and there were at least two crashes in the last kms.

 

[Dk one]

It is a first in Stuttgart, I think that was Pirrone’s first pro win, 6 years after she beat, among other, Norsgaard, Georgi, Wiebes at the Jr wc. Great 7th place for young Dane Solbjork Anderson. Surely, a bigger team will pick her up for next year.

 

[RedheadDane]

Great 7th place for young Dane Solbjork Anderson. Surely, a bigger team will pick her up for next year.

Noticed that she's been picked for the Worlds, and couldn't help but wonder if Braikia deliberately picked a rider, who'd have a chance in the U23 sub-competition, apart from her being an important helper for the leaders.

 

[Dk one]

Noticed that she's been picked for the Worlds, and couldn't help but wonder if Braikia deliberately picked a rider, who'd have a chance in the U23 sub-competition, apart from her being an important helper for the leaders.

Well, she will be eligible in the u23 category for many years to come I guess she was an obvious pick based on this years results by Danish riders, not a lot of riders out there scoring consistent uci points.

 

[RedheadDane]

Well, she will be eligible in the u23 category for many years to come I guess she was an obvious pick based on this years results by Danish riders, not a lot of riders out there scoring consistent uci points.

Hopefully UCI will introduce a proper U23 race soon.

 

[Izzyeviel]

What a fantastic finish that was. The breakway wins by a few inches

 

[Izzyeviel]

De Vries was robbed

 

[awavey]

De Vries was robbed

needs to learn to throw the bike better at the line

 

[JR1012]

Almost all top GC riders will be present at the Tour. Only Fisher-Black, Realini and Niedermaier are missing. This will be a great battle.

Vos, Kool, Wiebes, Balsamo and Consonni will clash at the sprint finishes. But of course Wiebes, Balsamo and Kool are the strongest among the sprinters.

Will be intersting how SD Worx will handle Kopecky in this race. Will she have a similar role like MVP had this Tour?

 

[yaco]

Its a poorly designed route - Having an ITT as the last stage is ridiculous - I don't think you need a an ITT in a eight stage race and if you must it should be a prologue in stage one or two - Reckon, Wiebes could win four stages.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Will be intersting how SD Worx will handle Kopecky in this race. Will she have a similar role like MVP had this Tour?

She'll have the usual role she has, which is to say, she'll do what she wants when she wants.

 

[Izzyeviel]

The UCI issued a press release the other day saying sweat monitors are legal & can be used in a race. Didn't Faulkner get dnq'd for this at Strade Bianche? Can she be reinstated?

 

[ManicJack]

The UCI issued a press release the other day saying sweat monitors are legal & can be used in a race. Didn't Faulkner get dnq'd for this at Strade Bianche? Can she be reinstated?

Wasn't Faulkner using a glucose monitor?

 

[RedheadDane]

If you want to watch some live racing from Poland:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igrQTuAY3vA

 

[RedheadDane]

I have a bit of a question regarding team-levels.

Officially, there are only two levels: WorldTour, and Conti. However, could you argue that some of the conti-teams have sort of unoficially become "ProTeams"?
Also, are riders from the AG U23 team allowed to guest-ride for the main AG team? They're kinda like a devo team, but they're also officially on the same level?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I have a bit of a question regarding team-levels.

Officially, there are only two levels: WorldTour, and Conti. However, could you argue that some of the conti-teams have sort of unoficially become "ProTeams"?
Also, are riders from the AG U23 team allowed to guest-ride for the main AG team? They're kinda like a devo team, but they're also officially on the same level?

There aren't a ProTeam tier, but teams like Ceratizit and AGI-SQS obviously have bigger budgets than Team ABC for instance (they will most likely both become WWT teams next season).

Since the two AGI teams are currently both Conti teams, they can't borrow riders from each other.

 

[RedheadDane]

There aren't a ProTeam tier, but teams like Ceratizit and AGI-SQS obviously have bigger budgets than Team ABC for instance (they will most likely both become WWT teams next season).

Hence why I said unofficially.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I was crossing my fingers for a Laboral Kutxa victory in Kreiz Breizh, but Debora Silvestri overcooked the corner before the small climb to the finish, which also made Barbara Malcotti go off road. Giorgia Vettorello was then able to drop former triathlete Quinty Schoens to take her first UCI win.

 

[Izzyeviel]

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Sadness

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Hence why I said unofficially.

But it's just been announced that there will officially be women's ProTeams from 2025 onwards.

 

[Izzyeviel]

The UCI takes decisions in favour of the professionalisation of women's cycling, and commits to a fairer and safer sport

In addition, the UCI Management Committee approved the creation of a second division of women's professional teams. This means that UCI ProTeams for women will appear from 2025. The introduction of this division, positioned between the existing UCI Women's WorldTeams (1st division) and UCI Women's Continental Teams (to become 3rd division), was initially scheduled for the 2026 season. However, in view of the current boom in women's cycling, and following consultation with stakeholders, the decision was taken to bring forward the launch by one year. This new initiative will also enable a greater number of female riders to benefit from a professional framework. With the introduction of the women's UCI ProTeams, women's teams are now structured according to the same model as men's teams. As professional teams, the women’s UCI ProTeams will follow the same registration procedure as the other professional teams (UCI Women's WorldTeams, UCI WorldTeams and men’s UCI ProTeams) by registering directly with the UCI. The UCI will be assisted in this task by the appointed external auditor, PwC.

Not entirely sure this is the best move for the sport

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Esra Tromp named general manager of the new EF Pro Cycling women’s team | EF Pro Cycling

Dutch former cyclist brings six years' managerial experience to EF Education-Cannondale

efprocycling.com

EF Education to start their own women's team.....

 

[Wyndbrook]

Esra Tromp named general manager of the new EF Pro Cycling women’s team | EF Pro Cycling

Dutch former cyclist brings six years' managerial experience to EF Education-Cannondale

efprocycling.com

EF Education to start their own women's team.....

Really hope this is not bad news for Linda Jacksons current EF team who have already lost Tibo and SVB sponsors, seems like an all new team and not an amicable takeover or whatever..
Swaping one team for the other does not really help cycling.