Female pro cycling

[Thompson]

Hi, i've always loved cycling and have always wanted to race. When I was very young (younger than ten) I would always imagine winning male races as I had never seen a female race. Now I'm older I know that I cant masquerade as a man.

I was just wondering about the whole female pro cycling idea. What the races are like, how much do they earn (though I dont really care about money, though I will need a decent amount as it is an expensive sport). But the main question is how to get into a pro group. Im nowhere near their standard but i'm getting better and would love to go pro.

Any advice/information would be fantastic.

Thanks.

 

[monnet]

There are a couple of female pros that occasionally ride with my club. TO be honest, it sounds like a pretty tough life that they do for the love of the sport. One of them, riding for one of the biggest women's road teams, gets about €1000 a month and then gets given a race bike, training bike and TT bike plus a set of clothing. Most of her travel is also covered. It seems a tough and nomadic life - when she's in Europe she's usually based in a shared house in Switzerland unless she's racing or visiting the UK. She's often over here for a bit over winter and then it's out to Australia for early season training.

For all that it's tough she clearly loves it and gave up a really good job (which she enjoyed) to do something she wouldn't be able to do as she got older. She's also phenomenally strong for a supposed weedy climber - last year she was doing five hour training rides and then tearing up our chaingang.

The races are often shorter versions of the mens races, although there specific courses for the women. The Tour Feminin used to be run a couple of hours before the men's event (sadly no longer the case) but the female tour of Flanders is run on the same day as the men's race.If you look on British Cycling there are female only races, though they seem few and far between at the lower level (Stratford RC ran a women only road race a few weeks ago). A lot of 3/4 and 2/3/4 races have places for women (prizes for first female and junior etc) but I know most women who are serious about their racing usually race with the men - and they're usually pretty handy too! There's still a chance of winning men's races - Nicole Cooke has certainly done that and I bet the likes of Emma Pooley have too.

Have crack at the races, if you're good enough to go pro you'll be beating the 3/4 cat men and join a club/ team with a strong contingent of female racers.

 

[Thompson]

Thankyou very much, I had found it difficult to find much on female cycling as the men seem to dominate the sport. I am relatively annoyed at the fact that the female races are shorter as I do alot of long distance and the groups im with the majority are male.

This may sound daft, but I hadnt realised there were any male and female races. Are they big races?

The main race I would love to be in would be the Tour De France. It is a big ride and will take alot of effort. It is annoying that female races dont tend to be aired much (I've never seen one properly) but if I do end up being pro, I would love it if Team Sky formed a female team as it would be great to be a part of them.

Thanks again.

 

[vickster]

Have a look around the British Cycling Association website, search on women or similar and look at the events

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership?gclid=CMadkvrTi6oCFcEKtAodxkznfA

This caught my eye too, there is lots of interest around for women's cycling (probably in response to the Olympics)

Presumably you are a club member?

 

[Thompson]

Presumably you are a club member?

[/quote]

No i'm not. Ive been meaning to but I am uncertain on whether i'll actually make it as a pro as i've been going for a doctor for many years but as things are going and my results so far not being great that is getting less likely and being a pro cyclist has always been a dream for me.

I have been waiting to see if it is possible before becoming a full member and investing in a racing licence.

 

[Big T]

Thankyou very much, I had found it difficult to find much on female cycling as the men seem to dominate the sport. I am relatively annoyed at the fact that the female races are shorter as I do alot of long distance and the groups im with the majority are male.

This may sound daft, but I hadnt realised there were any male and female races. Are they big races?

The main race I would love to be in would be the Tour De France. It is a big ride and will take alot of effort. It is annoying that female races dont tend to be aired much (I've never seen one properly) but if I do end up being pro, I would love it if Team Sky formed a female team as it would be great to be a part of them.

Thanks again.

You want to be a Pro cyclist, but you appear to know nothing about the sport. Good Luck!

How old are you?

On the plus side, there isn't much strength in depth in women's cycling and, with hard work, a relative novice can progress quite quickly to a good level in the UK. However, being a Pro on a Continental team is a whole different kettle of fish. Unless you are exceptionally talented or very young (preferably both), I think you may have already missed that particular boat.

There is a series of races in the UK called the Women's team series. I would suggest that this is the place to start. If you are not part of an established team, then there are composite teams you can join. The standard is quite varied and ranges from near novices to seasoned riders. If you can do well in these, then you could try some of the National series races - not sure what it's called now but it used to be the Jo Bruton series.

There are several Elite level women's teams in the UK - Motorpoint, Horizon Fitness, Mule Bar and For Viored. If you show a lot of promise in the races you ride, you may get signed up by one of these. You will then be riding with the cream of the domestically based riders - names like Lucy Garner, Helen Wyman, Hannah Barnes and the like. If you are able to beat riders like these, then you stand a chance of a ride on a Continental team, but the standard is that much higher again. The recent National Women's Champs was dominated by Europe based riders like Nicole Cooke, Lizzie Amitstead, Emma Pooley and Sharon Laws. The UK based riders just couldn't live with them.

 

[Thompson]

You want to be a Pro cyclist, but you appear to know nothing about the sport. Good Luck!

How old are you?



Well you re wrong in saying I know nothing about it as I didnt just wake up one day and think 'yeah I want to be pro'. I have thought alot about this and done quite a bit of research etc. I admit I don't know everything and have alot to learn but I am just starting out and so havt had a chance to do much, especialy ith exams.

And im 17, nearly 18 and I would like to get started in the process as soon as I can.

Thankyou for the information though it is very helpful.

 

[Baggy]

You don't have to have a race licence to join a club - and by joining a club you'll get more of an idea of how you compare to others in your age group, have access to coaching etc. Most clubs will also have sponsors who will help out with race costs etc and help you to get started out.

 

[Thompson]

You don't have to have a race licence to join a club - and by joining a club you'll get more of an idea of how you compare to others in your age group, have access to coaching etc. Most clubs will also have sponsors who will help out with race costs etc and help you to get started out.

Well I have recently become a member of the Hetton Hawks which train you up in racing skills and enter races. I did my very first individual and team time trial that went well (even in the torrntial rain )

 

[Baggy]

Just had a lookk at their website - they look like exactly the right kind of club to point you in the right direction and am sure will give you loads of advice and support. Good luck with it all!

 

[cloggsy]

Can I wish you the very best of luck?

I hope you are successful and start climbing the ladder soon!

 

[Big T]

You want to be a Pro cyclist, but you appear to know nothing about the sport. Good Luck!

How old are you?

Well you re wrong in saying I know nothing about it as I didnt just wake up one day and think 'yeah I want to be pro'. I have thought alot about this and done quite a bit of research etc. I admit I don't know everything and have alot to learn but I am just starting out and so havt had a chance to do much, especialy ith exams.

And im 17, nearly 18 and I would like to get started in the process as soon as I can.

Thankyou for the information though it is very helpful.

You do seem very motivated and you are the right age. However, Lucy Garner is a year younger than you and already one of the best riders in the country. She regulalrly beats the men in races at Mallory Park. You've got a steep learning curve ahead of you but you've made the first move. If you are good enough not to get dropped, then racing against the lower category men is an excellent way of giving you race practice and good hard workouts. There's quite a good cycling scene in the north east, so should be plenty of races for you to ride locally.