Lesser Known Road Racing for Women Thread

[Libertine Seguros]

Tour of the Gila got underway yesterday with a World Championships-length ITT of the kind we don't have many of on the calendar, and there was some career bookending going on - the stage was won by 38-year-old Lauren Stephens on her return to the domestic scene after over a decade of racing internationally mostly with TIBCO; ahead of 17-year-old Canadian prospect Sydney Swierenga - she was only 10th in last year's Junior Worlds TT so this could be a very high progression curve.

However, it is tempered somewhat by the fact that the race is coterminous with the Pan-American Championships, which are taking place in Uruguay and have attracted some of the names that we might have anticipated seeing in New Mexico as a result - Ruth Edwards won gold in the ITT in Punta del Este and is on a WWT team, so may not have been in Gila, but Emily Ehrlich with the silver probably would have been. Teniel Campbell with the bronze as her first notable result since losing her WWT gig, ahead of experienced hands like Diana Carolina Peñuela. 20yo Colombian prospect (currently with Picnic-PostNL) Juliana Londoño was 6th, and in news of interest to me if nobody else, Lilibeth Chacón saw her first runout of the season, but it was a rather mediocre 11th place - so either she's not up to speed this season yet, or that rather subpar ITT she delivered in the Vuelta a Colombia last season that nearly lost her the GC after her domination of the preceding mountain stage was not a matter of one day's fatigue and may be more what we should expect going forward from her in the contrarreloj.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Tour of the Gila got underway yesterday with a World Championships-length ITT of the kind we don't have many of on the calendar, and there was some career bookending going on - the stage was won by 38-year-old Lauren Stephens on her return to the domestic scene after over a decade of racing internationally mostly with TIBCO; ahead of 17-year-old Canadian prospect Sydney Swierenga - she was only 10th in last year's Junior Worlds TT so this could be a very high progression curve.

However, it is tempered somewhat by the fact that the race is coterminous with the Pan-American Championships, which are taking place in Uruguay and have attracted some of the names that we might have anticipated seeing in New Mexico as a result - Ruth Edwards won gold in the ITT in Punta del Este and is on a WWT team, so may not have been in Gila, but Emily Ehrlich with the silver probably would have been. Teniel Campbell with the bronze as her first notable result since losing her WWT gig, ahead of experienced hands like Diana Carolina Peñuela. 20yo Colombian prospect (currently with Picnic-PostNL) Juliana Londoño was 6th, and in news of interest to me if nobody else, Lilibeth Chacón saw her first runout of the season, but it was a rather mediocre 11th place - so either she's not up to speed this season yet, or that rather subpar ITT she delivered in the Vuelta a Colombia last season that nearly lost her the GC after her domination of the preceding mountain stage was not a matter of one day's fatigue and may be more what we should expect going forward from her in the contrarreloj.

Stephens looks like the favourite considering she won from a stronger field last year. With Roxo/Boneskaher and DNA dying off after last year and neither EF, HPH or Cynisca riding the start list isn't too great. Alia Shafi, who dominated at the Redlands Classic earlier this month, is not there either, so Swierenga could indeed do well here, as her performances in the harder junior races (the WC RR excluded) last year suggests she can climb quite well. Our hot pick from last year's Emerging Riders Game, Lorena Villamizar, should also be up there after a good showing in the ITT.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Stephens ended up winning again as expected ahead of her teammate (in this race at least), former US champion Emma Langley, and with Swierenga and Villamizar taking the next spots on the road.

And Paula Blasi has just taken her first elite win at the GP della Liberazione in Rome.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Women's Tour of Britain 2025: Record 18 teams taking to start line

This year's Women's Tour of Britain is set for its largest field, with 18 teams taking to the start line.

www.bbc.com

 

[Wyndbrook]

Record field as teams announced for Lloyds Tour of Britain Women

Eighteen teams will take to the start line of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women this June, as the largest field in the event’s history has today been announced.

www.britishcycling.org.uk

Teams announced for ToB Women

Will be interesting to see team selections, another Lotte and Lorena show perhaps.
No Fenix again.