Women's Cycling Weekly

What day does this newsletter even go out anymore? It’s been a bit wonky lately but I figured it’s better to send on a random day than not to send at all. Plus, with the Worlds schedule spread out across a few weeks and some mid-week races I thought I’d divide it up between the TTs and the RRs. Canada is having a moment, even the MTB racing is happening there this week, albeit on the opposite side of the country with the 8th round of the DH World Series in Whistler (so jealous) this weekend.

Hello! Welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly :) Dutch rider Mischa Bredewold will miss World Championships due to her injuries sustained from a crash at Faun Tour Femmes last week. Urška Zigart has fractured her jaw for the second time this season at a crash in the same race, the Slovenian rider will therefore also miss World Championships. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot has ended her season early to ‘take the time to rest and recover’.

Hello! Welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly :) Not much happening tbh, is it road Worlds time yet? Tiffany Cromwell ended her 16 year road career at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic. The 38-year-old will continue to race gravel for the rest of the season but announced that 2026 will be her last season as a professional. Sarah Gigante will race Faun Tour this week in her first race in over a year after a long and disrupted recovery from a broken femur.

Hello! Welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly :) Transfers Pfeiffer Georgi Team Picnic PostNL ➔ UAE Team L’IMAD Shirin van Anrooij Lidl - Trek ➔ Canyon // SRAM (from November) Lily Williams Human Powered Health ➔ UAE Team L’IMAD Caroline Andersson Liv AlUla - Jayco ➔ AG Insurance-Soudal Anja Grossmann Trinity Racing ➔ FDJ United Suez Julia Kopecký SD Worx - Protime ➔ Lidl - Trek ‘This is completely unknown’ – Tour de France sportive winner set for gruelling 500km challenge - Cycling Weekly...

Hello and welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly! Lotte Kopecky was forced to abandon the Tour of Britain Women before the start of stage 3 due to illness. 31-year-old South African rider, S’annara Grove, was forced to exit the Tour of Britain Women after being served a provisional suspension following an adverse analytical finding of Ipamorelin in a sample taken at the recent Commonwealth Games. More here. Kiwi mountain biker, Sammie Maxwell, returned to World Cup racing last weekend in Les Gets.

Before we start I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family of Finlay Tarling. An incomprehensible loss and at such a young age. A loss that brings the safety of this sport into question yet again. My heart goes out to his loved ones. Rest in peace, Finlay 🪽. Here is the link to a Go Fund Me that has been set up in his memory. Welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly! TDFF breaks French TV viewing figure record including 5.1 million viewers on the Ventoux stage.

Every year when the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift draws to a close the most recent edition is labelled as the ‘best one yet’. Far from some kind of recency bias or a case of people getting swept up in the excitement of it all, there is truth behind the sentiment. Since 2022 and the first edition of this modern-day women’s Tour, each subsequent year has brought better racing, a higher level, greater traction and more challenging parcours. This year, the growth has been even more evident.

Helloooo One more stage to go, how are we here already??? This week has flown by and it’s no wonder with all the action that’s been kicking off every single stage. I have many thoughts and opinions on Corner Gate (spoiler: Gery was in the wrong) but if you are interested in hearing more tune into the Stanley St. Social pod. So, how’s it all going to end? Will Demi Vollering keep yellow? Will Kasia Niewiadoma claw back the 8 second deficit?

One of the images most frequently evoked alongside this race is of a young girl watching and gaining inspiration. Of following the protagonists and not, like Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, having to wish she were a boy so she could race for yellow. If ever there was a performance at this race to inspire others it’s Kasia Niewiadoma - Phinney’s. Not just yesterday, not even during this race but before she even took to the start line in Lausanne last weekend.

Good morning <3 What an incredible win from Kim Le Court - Pienaar yesterday. From being off the back with a mechanical earlier in the stage, to bridging (with help from Riejanne Markus) across to the break, lighting up the final and then sprinting for the win. And just like that it’s Ventoux day! It’s going to be hot, it’s going to be windy, the GC is close, who’s got the legs? Of course, whatever happens, remember: it’s just a bike race, apparently.